Rasping noise when accelerating, along with reduced MPG!?

[Lewism3]

Happens all the time, it will be the baffles inside the exhaust that can loose. Mainly in the centre section.

[JaminDub]

So will they have to take the exhaust off and replace/reomve the baffles? What are baffles? Sorry for being such a golf amateur!!

[JaminDub]

Oh - forgot to mention something completely separate. It also seemed to be running quite rough as it was ticking over, any potential issues you guys can think of first hand? Tganks for all your help in advance! 

[JaminDub]

I think things are going from bad to worse... I'm sure i noticed some white smoke coming from my exhaust whilst it was idling roughly earlier! 

[Pete Taylor]

Get it on VAG COM would be the first thing to do mate. Options could be a vac leak where you've not blocked the airbox hose on after fitting induction cone, leaking manifold/downpipe or an ECU coolant temp sensor

[Lewism3]

White smoke will be emitted when its cold especially in this weather, start to worry if the car's warm.

Baffles are the "wall" sections inside the exhaust and sometimes get loose, hence the noise. A sign that the inside is going rotten. You can cut the box open and weld the baffles in place but it isn't really worth it.

Incidently, if it is the center box, you can buy a straight through pipe instead of the standard box system. Think R98 RUF (Simon) posted something on this. Remus do a s/steel version.

[JaminDub]

Pete - Would the air box hose be quite a large(ish) hose. There was one that I didn't know what to do with and it is just stuck to the side now!? I blocked the small exit from the engine with the plastic cap provided (where there was a small hose going into before). The instructions where quite shocking, so kinda free-styled a bit when fitting it. I pretty sure it's all correct tho, just not sure about the big hose as mentioned before.

Lewism3 - Thanks for the advice, i hope it is just the cold weather! Been noticing a drop in my mpg recently and getting worried it's something more serious.

Thanks alot for all your help so far guys!! 

[Pete Taylor]

The small 4mm vac hose should of been taken off and blocked at the throttle body. The other larger tube going into the throttle body next to it goes to the carbon cannister. The even thicker hose that comes from the ISV (idle stabilisation valve) above where your dipstick is should go back to the induction cone. Hopefully the mass aiflow meter meter from your airbox should be plugged into the back of the induction cone too otherwise the ECU has no hope of measuring what air the engine is getting to compare it with lambda sensor readings and adjust fuelling