Turbo goes

beertons

Has anyone ever heard of a turbo switching off mid driving? I have a golf, 03 130 bhp. It doesn't happen al the time, but when it does, it's rather annoying. I could be overtaking a lorry or car, and as soon as the speedo goes over 75mph, poof, rev counter won't go over 3000rpm. Have to drop it down 2 gears to get any movement out of it then. However if I pull in, or pull up to traffic lights, turn off engine, then turn it back on, it' brand new. Has happened since I bought the car, outside warranty when I found out first. Have changed fuel filter, and one or two other thing we thought was the problem, but it still keeps reoccuring. Any idea's out there?

Ferris

beertons wrote: »

Has anyone ever heard of a turbo switching off mid driving? I have a golf, 03 130 bhp. It doesn't happen al the time, but when it does, it's rather annoying. I could be overtaking a lorry or car, and as soon as the speedo goes over 75mph, poof, rev counter won't go over 3000rpm. Have to drop it down 2 gears to get any movement out of it then. However if I pull in, or pull up to traffic lights, turn off engine, then turn it back on, it' brand new. Has happened since I bought the car, outside warranty when I found out first. Have changed fuel filter, and one or two other thing we thought was the problem, but it still keeps reoccuring. Any idea's out there?

Sounds like what happened to my golf tdi. That was the turbo alright. A faulty MAF sensor can have the same effect but it puts the engine constantly down on power.

Is the car using oil? When reved from cold (don't go mad!) does it produce blue smoke? If so then it's likely to be the turbo, and it needs to be changed asap as inevitabley the bearing will go and empty the sump of oil.

voxpop

MAF ?

kayos

I would be taking it to a garage if I was you. Quick plug in of VAG COM and they should get a good clue as to whats going on.

By any chance is the engine management light coming on when this happens? Sounds like the ECU is cutting power for a reason if its always happening above a certain speed. If the ECU detects a problem it can cut boost very quickly. Of course I could be speeking out my arse so again get to a garage before the turbo goes bye bye

beertons

Nope, not burning oil, or using loads. And unless I give her the boot, usually when she has been warmed up, you wouldn't see a great amount of smoke in the mirror.

Ferris

kayos wrote: »

I would be taking it to a garage if I was you. Quick plug in of VAG COM and they should get a good clue as to whats going on.

By any chance is the engine management light coming on when this happens? Sounds like the ECU is cutting power for a reason if its always happening above a certain speed. If the ECU detects a problem it can cut boost very quickly. Of course I could be speeking out my arse so again get to a garage before the turbo goes bye bye

VAG COM will not diagnose a blown turbo, a good mechanic will however. VAG COM + good mechanic will diagnose a faulty MAF. You don't need to go to VW dealers for any of this.

mickdw

I wouldnt rule out the MAF (Air flow meter).I had a non turbo car which behaved like this due to a faulty MAF.

beertons

No lights come on. Brought it into Sheedys in Naas about a year ago, and they said it was fine. There's a guy in Portarlington I'm thinking bout bringing it down to next. He seems to know what the garages don't. I don't have his name to hand but will stick it up tomorrow when I hunt out his card.

BoardsRanger

A friend of mine had a similar problem on his golf - the cause was a "tunning box" retro-fitted. A proper remap and removal of the box solved his problem. Probably unlikely to be ur problem but just in case...

beertons

Got the Air Flow Meter changed about 18 months ago, the guys in GSF recommended it.

mickdw

beertons wrote: »

Got the Air Flow Meter changed about 18 months ago, the guys in GSF recommended it.

That doesnt mean it is ok now. They are very sensitive to any dust/dirt particles and also an oiled K&N or equiv.filter will kill one very quickly.
Get it on a diagnostic machine.

Bitten & Hisses

Is there a "tinkling" noise from the exhaust sometimes when it's idling? If so, your cat may be gone. Happened me before with a TDi Passat. They symptoms were exactly as you described, i.e. shut off the car, restart and she's fine again.

beertons

As for the cat, that happened my dad with his audi. It's quiet posible it's that too. My nct is up in 3 weeks, gonna leave it be till then, then asfter the test, just get rid of the cat. I'll put a bit of petrol in it this week, same the week after, so that should make it clean enough for the tests.

Ferris

beertons wrote: »

As for the cat, that happened my dad with his audi. It's quiet posible it's that too. My nct is up in 3 weeks, gonna leave it be till then, then asfter the test, just get rid of the cat. I'll put a bit of petrol in it this week, same the week after, so that should make it clean enough for the tests.

Lad, don't be cheap! Bring it to a mechanic, a good one will diagnose the problem in a few minutes through various means, it'll cost you a little but it could save you a lot. If the turbo empties the sump you'll be left needing a replacement engine. It might not be it but the symptoms fit to an extent. In the meantime keep checking the oil level every 3 days.

Anan1

Before you panic altogether, have a look at the hoses - a loose/split one can also cause the symptoms you describe.

beertons

Every 3 days? I've had the car 4 years now. Every time I bring it to the garage, it's something else that needs to be replaced. And still, the problm returns, once on the trip home from the garage. I haven't got the time to be going to garages every week, the ones that have had it so far don't know what's wrong with it, and they're vw garages. Not doing a cheap job man, have spent a few thousand on things to fix it, it's only worth the same amount now.

Ferris

Anan1 wrote: »

Before you panic altogether, have a look at the hoses - a loose/split one can also cause the symptoms you describe.

AFAIK that wouldn't be intermittant which the op's issue is, it would also happen in every gear and you'd hear it.

kayos

There is a guy in Enfield that has a lot of knowledge on the VW TDI’s Martin something. Might be worth dropping it into him. He has a tuning place and is really good at his job if there is a ECU/turbo problem he will find it and fix it.

As for main dealers when I had my Cupra the main dealers knew less about the mechanics of the car than I did. One garage asked whats a diverter valve when I asked why they did not service it. Moral of the story there are main dealers and there are good mechanics. They don’t always come together.

Ferris

beertons wrote: »

Every 3 days? I've had the car 4 years now. Every time I bring it to the garage, it's something else that needs to be replaced. And still, the problm returns, once on the trip home from the garage. I haven't got the time to be going to garages every week, the ones that have had it so far don't know what's wrong with it, and they're vw garages. Not doing a cheap job man, have spent a few thousand on things to fix it, it's only worth the same amount now.

Like I said, I had the same problems as you are experiencing. I've also had the misfortune of having to replace the engine on another golf and it cost me thousands. And I had checked the oil a few days before. Sorry i'm offending you, its just that I wouldn't want the same to happen to anyone.

I am probably wrong but the car isn't right and it obviously bothers you. VW garage in my experience are rubbish, find a good indy, I'll give you the name of one in North dublin if you like.

Discounting the turbo should be easy as its either burning oil through the exhaust side (--> blue smoke) or pouring it into the intercooler on the charge side. Popping off the intercooler hose will reveal this. Its 5mins work for a mechanic/good diy'er with a spring clip pliers.

Anan1

Ferris wrote: »

AFAIK that wouldn't be intermittant which the op's issue is, it would also happen in every gear and you'd hear it.

Split hoses can be funny, whether or not they hold pressure can depend on boost, ambient temperature, the whim of God etc etc. It may not be a split/loose hose at all, but it always makes sense to check the simple/cheap things first.

gofaster_s13

The TDI golfs have a VNT turbo which acts like a small light pressure turbo on light throttle but when booted shifts vanes in the turbo housing to let it act like a bigger high boost turbo its common for these vanes to carbon up and seize not letting the vanes shift from low to high pressure mode causing a lack of power at higher revs. you can check it by trying to manually move the arm from the vnt actuator to the turbo housing.

beertons

I don't hear any noises before it goes. And it only happens on long journeys, 40 miles plus. Don't know if that's relevant though.

I never heard of this happening to anyone before, seen as it's common, I'd assume the mechanics would have heard about it before.

beertons

Finally got the problem sorted(wipes brow). My car was chipped, only found out yesterday. There was too much air being taken in by the ECU(?) and this was causing the engine to choke. The dump valve would stay open, causing a loss in power.(So I was told). So I got a new air cooler installed, and the engine had to be remapped too. There was oil leaked for the oil coolant, and that was leaking on the air coooler. It was half melted when they took it out.

John Brennan in Portlaoise was the guy that rectafied the problem. If you want his number, pm me. He's a diesel injector specialist. Phew, nearly have the car 5 years and it's great that it's finally sorted.

Tragedy

How much did it all cost you?

beertons

For the remap and fitting of coolant, €450. He had it for a few days so I wasn't going to argue. I heard it might have been something to do with a connection to the pistons, that would have had the car running on only 3 cylinders, he had a look at that too. And he stopped the oil leaking. The part was €260 from Tallaght Auto Parts.

gofaster_s13

beertons wrote: »

Finally got the problem sorted(wipes brow). My car was chipped, only found out yesterday. There was too much air being taken in by the ECU(?) and this was causing the engine to choke. The dump valve would stay open, causing a loss in power.(So I was told). So I got a new air cooler installed, and the engine had to be remapped too. There was oil leaked for the oil coolant, and that was leaking on the air coooler. It was half melted when they took it out.

John Brennan in Portlaoise was the guy that rectafied the problem. If you want his number, pm me. He's a diesel injector specialist. Phew, nearly have the car 5 years and it's great that it's finally sorted.

Diesel cars don't have dump valves Air cooler, presume this is the intercooler who remapped the car for you ?? not sure how you can have too much air being taken in

Henry Ford III

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

Diesel cars don't have dump valves

You sure about that?

gofaster_s13

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You sure about that?

Never seen one on a diesel car, dump valves need the vacuum provided by the closing of the throttle butterfly to work which diesel engines don't have.

Henry Ford III

Rare but it can be done....

gofaster_s13

Thats an electronically controlled noisemaker, it has no connection with what a dumpvalve does they are actually dangerous for your engine as it can overspeed your turbo, also if that stuck open you would have absolutly no power and you would without a shadow of a doubt hear it.

Henry Ford III

No interest in arguing dude. http://www.zen19051.zen.co.uk/prod01.htm

gofaster_s13

Henry Ford III wrote: »

No interest in arguing dude. http://www.zen19051.zen.co.uk/prod01.htm

Exactly, an electronically controlled gimmick, a dump valve works by opening to release pressure from a turbo as it pumps against the closed throttle butterfly, a situation which can never happen on a diesel engine as it doesnt have a throttle butterfly

beertons

Ooops, I ment intercooler. It's back to normal now anyway. Drove it from Laois to Naas, got up to the ton for a while and it didn't go once. So happy days. Sorry if I got a few of the parts wrong.