Boost Problem

[Wallis22]

My 1.9 TDI Toledo isn't running as powerful as it should.

The car broke down a few days ago so i took it to get diagnosed and it came back with a few things. One of them was "blocked E.C.U". The guy took it for a spin and noticed the car was very sluggish. I drive a 1.9TDI Ibiza so i just thought the Toledo was a slow car because of the extra weight it had to pull but he said it's only running about 50 - 75% boost.

We took it back to the garage, they did something, and it no longer said "blocked E.C.U." He took it for a spin again and said the boost is working but the car was still very sluggish. He said the clutch was slipping in 1st gear and that's why the car was so slow...

The car revs quite quickly in first but doesn't pull you along. It revs above 3000 RPM so i don't think it's the problem i've read about on the forum where the car runs in limp mode. I've had that problem on my Ibiza but on the Toledo it's only in 1st gear. It's slow in 2nd and 3rd ect... but you can feel some boost, but he said it's because 1st gear spools the turbo for the rest of the gears, or something...

My GF, it's her car, drives on the motorway a lot and she said it's still sluggish even in 4th and 5th so is the cluth slip really what's making the car slow or could it be something else?

When the car was diagnosed it came back with;
Blocked E.C.U
Glow lamp (i think) relay
somehting else to do with the glow plugs, or glow something (i can't remember)
and fuel cut off (the fuel cut off was the reason the car broke down and i'm waiting for a new part. The car drives because the AA "bridged" the live feed from the battery and another garage ran that wire from the ignition so i didn't have to keep taking the fuse out everytime i turned the car off...

It listed these faults, they took it for a spin, brought it back, did something, and then it just said "fuel cut off". We took it for another spin and that's when he said the boost was working but the clutch was slipping and that's why it was so slow. Again, is he right or is he just trying to get me to replace the clutch?

(Sorry for the long post but i'm humbled by the knowledge you guys have with these cars so thought i'd explain in detail so as to explain everything...
Thanks in advance for any help

For future reference, the car turns over but doesn't start. Hopefully this new fuel cut off will fix that so if anyone has this problem in the future, that's a likely source... (It starts now but that's only because the live feed has been bridged...

 

[daveyonthemove]

You'll know if the cluctch slips as the speedo will rise slowly but the rev counter will rise quickly then drop back down to the right rpm for the speed you are doing.
Whe your clutch slips, its easy to spot.

 

[Wallis22]

It's hard to say because (i think) the car's rev counter rises quickly, but it doesn't drop then continue as normal, it just continues to rise with very little power being produced. I don't want to test it because the guy said if you rev high in 1st, the clutch will go in a matter of weeks...

I think i'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and replace it anyway. The car's done over 100k so it will need a new one pretty soon anyway...

Thanks a lot for your help Davey...

 

[daveyonthemove]

personally i would do the clutch as a last resort. The cost will be high and there are things you can check yourself before forking out any money.
Simple things you can check that may cause low power:
Air filter. remove cover and check for blockages. if blocked then simply replace and see if it's different.
MAF. Airflow meters are a common problem on VAG engines and are a prime suspect for low power. If you disconnect and go for a drive the car will feel sluggish. if the MAF is already knackered then it won't feel any different (or very little difference) so that can be replaced.
Hoses/pipe work. Check all hoses and pipe work from intercooler and air box for cracks, holes or even loose connections. a loss in pressure or air flow will lose power from the engine.
If you check all of those and they seem ok, then get a mechanic to lift it on the ramp and check the clutch for you. Ask around your area for a qualified and trusted/reputed mechanic that won't bend you over and make you pay for something you don't need.
What area do you live in? There might be a member on here in your area with VagCom who can do a diagnostic check for you. normally if theres a fault, vagcom can give you a clue as to what it is.
Dave

 

[Viking]

I smell poo here. Clutch slip will happen in the higher gears first, as that's when the clutch pressure plate is at maximum work. However, it could be that the lack of torque available is masking the clutch problem. Replacing the clutch isn't going to restore power to the engine. And as for "first gear spools the turbo for the rest of the gears" that's just crap.

So you need to address the power loss issue first before throwing any money at the clutch.

Get it starting and running properly without having wires bridging the fuel cut off etc. and then move on from there. If you've got the ecu fooled into running by bypassing things, then it'll not be running as it should.

 

[Wallis22]

Thanks a million for the response guys. i live in Northampton so if anyone lives near and wouldn't mind checking the car for me i would be extremly grateful

The new part should be here on Wednesday. I'll fit that then do the checks mentioned above.

Thanks again, i don't know what i'd do without you...

 

[daveyonthemove]

Thanks a million for the response guys. i live in Northampton so if anyone lives near and wouldn't mind checking the car for me i would be extremly grateful

The new part should be here on Wednesday. I'll fit that then do the checks entioned above.

Thanks again, i don't know what i'd do without you...

Lets hope it helps to find the problem.
Unfortunatly i'm too far away from you or i'd help out with Vagcom, but i expect someone will help. Try putting a request in the VagCom section for someone in your area. might get seen and a helper might get in touch.
Dave

 

[Wallis22]

Lets hope it helps to find the problem.
Unfortunatly i'm too far away from you or i'd help out with Vagcom, but i expect someone will help. Try putting a request in the VagCom section for someone in your area. might get seen and a helper might get in touch.
Dave

Cheers Dave, i'll put in a request now.