VW T-Cross Runs Rough: Fuel System Troubles Explained

Had a very similar issue with my VW Polo from 2019 with the 1.0 TSI engine. As someone with moderate experience working on cars, I first suspected a simple air filter problem, but it turned out to be more complex. The symptoms were identical, rough running, poor acceleration, and the check engine light came on. The fuel injection system was the culprit, specifically a faulty injector that wasnt delivering the correct air-fuel ratio. The throttle body response was also inconsistent, which contributed to the jerky acceleration. The workshop performed: 1. Full diagnostic scan 2. Fuel pressure testing 3. Individual injector testing 4. Test drive to confirm symptoms Total repair cost was 515€, which included: Replacement injector, Labor, System cleaning, Programming The car has run perfectly since the repair, with smooth idle and proper power delivery. To provide more specific advice about your T-Cross, could you share: Engine size and type, Current mileage, Any recent maintenance, Whether fuel consumption has increased, If there are any unusual sounds when starting This information would help determine if youre dealing with the same injection system issue or something different.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My last service was just 2000km ago, and nothing unusual was noted then. Running a scan yesterday revealed trouble codes related to the mass airflow sensor and oxygen sensor readings. The technician sprayed the throttle body with cleaner which helped temporarily, but the symptoms returned within a day. The fuel injection problem you mentioned sounds similar, especially regarding the jerky acceleration. Did your repair also include checking the spark plugs? Just wondering if I should have those tested since they were not part of my recent service. Curious if your total repair time was under a day? Need to plan whether to arrange alternate transport.

The spark plug check was actually the first thing my mechanic did after the initial diagnosis since poor sparking can create similar symptoms to a rich mixture problem. In my case, the plugs looked fine, which led us to focus on the fuel injection system. The complete repair took about 5 hours. The most time-consuming part was testing each injector individually to identify which one was malfunctioning and then reprogramming the system after replacement. The intake manifold also needed cleaning to ensure optimal air-fuel ratio delivery. Since your check engine light triggered codes for both the mass airflow sensor and oxygen sensor, your issue might be more complex than mine. These components work together to maintain proper fuel mixture, so when multiple sensors show issues, its worth having them all checked systematically. A temporary fix from throttle body cleaning suggests carbon buildup might be contributing to your problems. My mechanic explained that carbon deposits can affect sensor readings and disturb the air-fuel mixture, leading to rough running and power loss. Given your recent service history, I would recommend having both the spark plugs and injectors tested before replacing anything. In my case, rushing to change parts without proper diagnosis would have missed the actual injection system problem.

The symptoms you describe plus the diagnostic trouble codes definitely point toward air-fuel mixture issues, similar to what affected your Polo. Your experience with the temporary fix after throttle body cleaning matches my situation exactly, it helped briefly but wasnt addressing the root cause. Based on your repair timeline of 5 hours, I will schedule the work and arrange transportation. The catalytic converter also relies on proper air-fuel ratios, so getting this fixed quickly is important to prevent secondary damage. My engine codes specifically point to sensor issues rather than a direct fuel injection problem like yours, but its helpful knowing how interconnected these systems are. Will make sure the shop checks the spark plugs even though they werent part of my recent service. Good to know that carbon buildup can affect multiple components, that could explain why cleaning helped temporarily. Going to have them do the full diagnostic process you outlined rather than just replacing sensors. Getting it fixed right the first time is worth the extra diagnostic cost. Thanks for sharing the detailed repair experience. Will update once I know the exact cause and repair cost.