I've noticed when stop starting in busy traffic conditions that light throttle applications give a lumpy pick up and hesitation almost like it's running on 3 cylinders. It happens for only a second or two but can be repeated with the applying the same throttle/load. I was trying to think of a cause. Has anybody had the same experience of this with their 2.0 TDCi engine?

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It is a common thing on modern turbo-diesel engines, if you do not use full throttle the cylinders are not filled with fresh air/ fuel, and still contain some burnt exhaust gasses, this i turn does not energise the turbo, on top of that the EGR valve opens at certain revs/ loads, compounding the problem (or may be the main cause of the problem)

The 2'0L 163PS has quite high gearing and a realatively narrow power/ torque band which tends to magnify this

Fitting a solid EGR blanking plate may cure this, but the engine management light is liable to come on on a Euro 4/5 PSA engine (some prefer this to the alternative "flat spot") you need a solid blanking plate - one wih a hole is no good

Thanks for the reply. I do find the car very flat for a car with a supposed 163bhp. At motorway speeds if the throttle is snapped open in 6th it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. do you think cleaning the egr is an option, i.e. is it sticking? is it an easy job on these?

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Car has started to do this again. Could it be EGR valve sticking?