Diesel powerloss

[studioeng]

I was traveling home last night, cruising along at about 70mph in fifth gear, going up a slight incline; I heard/felt a slight pop; and then the revs started dropping. I dropped it a gear, and it started to pick up again, but it just crawled up the hill.

Before then, it was also nippy on acceleration and would also pull away whichever gear it was in; but now it doesn't seem to have the same kick to it. I can also smell Diesel.

Now it doesn't pull very quick on acceleration and it also crawls up hills; what could be wrong?


PS I'm taking it back to the garage I bought it from (under warranty); but I would like to know what I'm talking about before I go, so they get it done properly.

 

[Ben16v]

Sounds like a problem a mates got on his Golf Anniversary.

The pipes arent the greatest design and the clips are turd. Check all the pipes from the turbo to see if there is a hole by the brake fluid tank. Thats where his usually goes. Other one to check is the pipe of the intercooler.

Hope this helps.

 

[studioeng]

I'll have to have a look at that; I've been talking to a couple of guys at work, who work on the lorries, they said it could be something to do with the turbo or the pipes to the turbo; which can be expensive.

I don't like the sound of this ...

PS Also I would like to note, that when I put my foot down, I can hear air rushing, sounds like its going around the dash on the passenger side; but stops when the accelerator is released; the harder I press the louder it gets.

 

[studioeng]

I've just had a quick look round it with one of my workmates; we found that it's not the turbo, it spins up fine and sounds fine. The sound of air rushing from behind the dash might be down to a split in the pipe which only opens when the engine/turbo is under pressure (driving); when we revved it stationary there was no air rushing.

The block is also damp/wet on the front, so we now think it's either the fuel pump or injectors.

The blower in the car is not working properly, I can't adjust the airflow between windscreen, dash and footwell etc; maybe that could be why I can hear air rushing behind the dash when I accelerate ...

 

[sssstew]

sounds like a boost leak then, would be interesting to get vag com on it and see what requested vs actual boost is.

 

[studioeng]

Well I took the car in, they replaced the fuel filter and the return pipes; its not cured the problem 100% but it's not as bad on flat roads, just when you hit a hill; you need to drop it to second, it revs it's nuts off and crawls up the hill.

 

[sssstew]

thats still not right then.

 

[studioeng]

The trouble is, it's intermittent ... Can travel for miles and it will be fine, or could go a couple of miles up the road and *pop*; it drops. This morning on the way to work, it did it just as I was letting off the accelerator at a roundabout.

Is very strange Needless to say, it shall be going back; again!!

Edit: Dirty or loose injectors; crap blocking the injectors?? Could be anything couldn't it

 

[studioeng]

Well I've got my car back again, after 2 days. She said they've cleaned out the fuel lines and put loads of injector cleaner through it...

So I drove it to work this morning, all was going well... Was trying to get up a hill on a dual carrageway, seemed a little slow so I put it down a gear, it jumped off the red line and almost came to a halt, so I quickly put it back up a gear and pulled in...

Shortly after I stopped at work, did what I needed to do and then got back in the car to go to my next work place; the car seemed a little 'offish' when I came to another dual carriageway on a flat road, it just wouldn't pull. Was going quite quick, went to overtake a car going a lot slower, and it just didn't go, just sat there doing the same speed, so I had to pull in again, then it decided it was awake and I pulled out and overtook...

I've been told this could be turbo lag... I'm starting to get fed up with the damn thing now.

 

[sssstew]

get vag com on it and see if any thing is logged, but more importantly log Mass Air flow requested vs Actual, and boost requested vs actual and post up the logs / graphs.

 

[studioeng]

get vag com on it and see if any thing is logged, but more importantly log Mass Air flow requested vs Actual, and boost requested vs actual and post up the logs / graphs.

Silly question, but where can I get that done?

 

[BeezerDiesel]

Look in the VAGCOM section or post up in the problems section and see if anyone local to you has the cable etc and will help you out for a few beers.

I agree with Stew though (as ever), it definately sounds like a boost leak. Check and double check all your turbo pipework. It will only show under load so it's no good revving the engine stationary and having a look under there with it running! You will have to roll up your sleeves and inspect all the hoses, pipes and most importantly the clips.

 

[sssstew]

I agree with Stew though (as ever), it definately sounds like a boost leak.

dont loose faith in the car studioeng, it should be sortable, once done it will be a lovely car to drive, pull well and provide good mpg.

 

[studioeng]

The car drives fine; is very quick off the mark and pulls very well. That is, up until the point where it pops and then it's not as responsive as it was; it still pulls fine on flat roads and eventually gets up to speed; but once you turn the engine off, not even for more than 10 minutes, it's back to it's old self.

I think it could be down to the fact its only a 8v Diesel and not ideally suited for the longer journey, and long inclines (for example the A37 Yeovil road).

Does anyone know where I can take the car to get it put on the VAG com ?? I live in Dorset; I've asked around but no one is sure, or even heard of it

There's no real point in me looking under the bonnet; I have no idea what I'm trying to find or where to even start looking; I don't think it's a simple case of a split pipe. I;m slowly moving towards either loose/knackard injectors or even worse, the turbo on it's last legs... Unfortunatly the garage I bought it from; even tho having a 3 months warranty; aren't being that helpful on trying to find the problem and then sorting it out.

 

[sssstew]

The car drives fine; is very quick off the mark and pulls very well. That is, up until the point where it pops and then it's not as responsive as it was; it still pulls fine on flat roads and eventually gets up to speed; but once you turn the engine off, not even for more than 10 minutes, it's back to it's old self.

I think it could be down to the fact its only a 8v Diesel and not ideally suited for the longer journey, and long inclines (for example the A37 Yeovil road).

Does anyone know where I can take the car to get it put on the VAG com ?? I live in Dorset; I've asked around but no one is sure, or even heard of it

There's no real point in me looking under the bonnet; I have no idea what I'm trying to find or where to even start looking; I don't think it's a simple case of a split pipe. I;m slowly moving towards either loose/knackard injectors or even worse, the turbo on it's last legs... Unfortunatly the garage I bought it from; even tho having a 3 months warranty; aren't being that helpful on trying to find the problem and then sorting it out.

its not down the fact its an 8v diesel, even the 150bhp TDIs are the old 8v design. Yours will still be producing 90bhp and 155 lbft of torque. Its perfectly suited to long drives in fact it will be giving its best on a long hard drive, and long inclines are best in a TDI you pass all the poor normal petrol people (as long as the car is ok)

It definatly sounds like its going into limp mode, you need to get vag com on it.

 

[studioeng]

its not down the fact its an 8v diesel, even the 150bhp TDIs are the old 8v design. Yours will still be producing 90bhp and 155 lbft of torque. Its perfectly suited to long drives in fact it will be giving its best on a long hard drive, and long inclines are best in a TDI you pass all the poor normal petrol people (as long as the car is ok)

It definatly sounds like its going into limp mode, you need to get vag com on it.

If only that was true in this case. It's usually me crawling up the hill and everyone else shooting past me. It's strange how it only seems to have problems on that one stretch of road.

Any idea how much it would cost to go to a Seat dealer/garage and ask them to put it on their computer?? I suppose it would be worth it cause if there was anything wrong, I could walk into the garage I bought it from, hand them the report and tell them to sort it

 

[sssstew]

it would be better to find a local independant VAG specialist to have a look, probably know more and will be cheaper.

 

[studioeng]

Well I've just had a quick hunt round for VAG COM, and I found these:

VAG COM USB Cable
VAG COM USB Cable
VAG COM Downloads

Any idea if I am looking in the right place to aquire the kit I need myself??

I've already got a decent laptop and a car charger

 

[sssstew]

yep all the links look good to me. just need the cable and software.

 

[studioeng]

yep all the links look good to me. just need the cable and software.

Sweetah; I'll check I've got the connector and it's the right one and I shall order one

I'll let you know the outcome when the kit arrives