VW Transporter Lean Run & Stuttering During Acceleration

As a VW Golf 2010 owner, I dealt with very similar symptoms. The check engine light came on intermittently and the engine would stutter during acceleration. The diagnosis revealed faulty fuel injectors causing improper fuel atomization, leading to a lean condition. The symptoms match closely: weak acceleration, stuttering, and the engine running lean. This directly impacted the air-fuel mixture, triggering the check engine light. In my case, carbon buildup had clogged two injectors, preventing proper fuel delivery. A proper diagnosis included: Testing fuel pressure, Checking injector spray patterns, Monitoring oxygen sensor readings, Verifying intake manifold for leaks, Inspecting throttle body operation The repair required removing and cleaning all injectors, plus replacing two that were beyond salvage. This was a serious issue that needed immediate attention, as running lean can potentially damage the catalytic converter and cause more extensive engine problems. Best approach would be getting the trouble codes read first and having a full fuel system diagnosis. The injector issue is common on these VW engines when they reach this mileage range.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The symptoms you described match my issue perfectly, especially regarding the fuel injectors and lean running condition. I went ahead and had my car checked based on your advice. The throttle body was fairly dirty and the intake manifold had a small vacuum leak, both contributing to my problems. The mechanic also found that the oxygen sensor readings were off, indicating it needed replacement. Would you mind sharing what the total repair cost was in your case? Also wondering if youve had any similar issues pop up since the fix?

Good to hear you had it checked. My VW Golf repair resolved the lean running condition completely. The mass air flow sensor readings are now perfect and the engine runs smoothly without any check engine light warnings. The total bill came to 515€ for replacing the faulty injector. While it wasnt cheap, getting the air-fuel ratio back to normal was crucial to prevent engine damage. The mechanic showed me the old injector which was severely clogged with carbon deposits. Since the fix six months ago, the engine performance has been excellent with no stuttering or hesitation during acceleration. Regular fuel system cleaning and quality fuel have helped maintain proper injector function. Based on your findings with the throttle body and vacuum leak, make sure to address those issues too. A compromised oxygen sensor can definitely throw off the air-fuel mixture, leading to similar symptoms we both experienced.

I took your advice and had everything fixed last week. The mechanic found multiple issues causing the lean condition. The throttle body cleaning, intake manifold gasket replacement, and new oxygen sensor cost 680€ total. The EGR valve was also showing signs of carbon buildup, so I had that cleaned while they were working on it. After the repairs, the difference is night and day. No more check engine light, and the engine pulls strong through all gears without stuttering. Initially went to a different shop but they just wanted to replace the catalytic converter without proper diagnosis. Glad I found a mechanic who took the time to track down the real problems. The car runs better than it has in months. Would definitely recommend others with similar symptoms get a thorough fuel system diagnosis rather than jumping to expensive parts replacement. Running lean can cause serious issues if left unchecked.