2002 GTI 1.8t Problems/CEL/Possible boost leak?

[Captain.Kirk]

Hey everyone, new to the forum. Have been searching for a long time and cannot seem to find any specific answer to my question. It has been very cold here the last couple of months (living in Michigan) and my car seems to be hating every second of it. Have been noticing a weird shake (minor but noticeable) when pressing the accelerator but other times it will run smoothly, especially after being warmed up and driven for a little while. The CEL is on right now (brought it to an advance auto to run the code and said fuel running too lean) and my boost gauge has been acting weird (when hard accelerating it will read 22psi but then drop to 15-10psi and will fluctuate. Boost leak? I cant find any specific correlation between the gauge reading and the turbo leaking on forum discussions. I am running APR stage 2..

Thanks a lot for your help and I am excited to be apart of the group!!

[Captain.Kirk]

Code P0171 for more information, brought it in again. Maybe fuel injectors?

[R-Dog]

dont quote me lol but it seems almost like a fuel pressure regulator you should check your fuel preesure or look up how to check the regulator

[keepitsideways]

Do you hear your BOV going crazy when your boost levels drop?

[Captain.Kirk]

I am going to look into the fuel pressure regulator because it was completely iced over after one of the snow storms we encountered up here now that you mention it. I was also wondering if my car dying frequently had anything to do with it? My car dies every single night if it is extremely cold outside. Dont know if thats just a battery problem or not but maybe my battery dying and it being so cold really messed up my car's computer or something? I am running a stage 2 tune and after my car got stuck out in that snow storm it totally erased the program I was running and I had to reenter my code. I am just trying to search for solutions because my car was running perfectly fine until it got unbearable outside (college student, no garage, and the best I have is an extreme weather car cover).

[Captain.Kirk]

Also, sorry I did not see your post on my phone, but I do not hear anything crazy going on with my turbo when the boost level drops, but there might be a slight hissing sound that resembles a leak. I do not have a BOV setup but a DV setup. My car idles a little rough (jerking forward feeling) and their seems to be more shaking at higher speeds as well (but sometimes not). I might try to clean out my throttle body, replace the spark plugs and re-gauge them, and maybe check out the fuel pressure regulator while I am at it. Any other thoughts?

[R-Dog]

well maybe also check the battery terminals to make sure they are tight and also make sure thery are clean hit them with some sandpaper if anything, terminals on battery and inside the red and black terminals just in case oh and also do you have a CELthat is on?

[DUBBED06]

Try changing your coil packs

[Captain.Kirk]

well maybe also check the battery terminals to make sure they are tight and also make sure thery are clean hit them with some sandpaper if anything, terminals on battery and inside the red and black terminals just in case oh and also do you have a CELthat is on?

Yes, I have a CEL that throws. I have the APR fault code erase function and have been using it to turn the CEL off (makes my car run better) but after a few days of driving it returns.

Cleaned the throttle body, replaced spark plugs, and also just replaced my fuel pressure regulator. Problems still seem to be there but a little less then before. Also while changing my spark plugs out I noticed some oil in there, so I am going to replace the gasket this weekend.

Would oil leaking into the spark plugs cause a CEL with the code p0171?

[Captain.Kirk]

Try changing your coil packs

I am actually waiting for my 2.0 adapter setup to come in so I can replace my coil packs with the upgraded ones.

[Crozarius]

Would oil leaking into the spark plugs cause a CEL with the code p0171?

Hmm, I dono know. Seems like it would be running too rich if it was a bad plug. Here is what the code is for and some possible causes: P0171

[Captain.Kirk]

Hmm, I dono know. Seems like it would be running too rich if it was a bad plug. Here is what the code is for and some possible causes: P0171

Might clean/replace the MAF then and see if that does anything. *crossing fingers*
one good thing that comes with a CEL my whole engine will be brand new/completely clean before i figure out the problem lol