limp mode/ Innotec turbo clean

[leonbeleza]

hi all, new here............... recently brought an 01 leon tdi 110. Test drove it round the block and seemed fine when buying, but soon discovered that it actually had a turbo error and was going into limp mode over 3000 revs.

vag code came up as 17965. sticking vanes in the turbo seemed to be the problem so I looked into options and the best price I was quoted was roughly 500 for refurb.

so I looked into alternatives given the budget is tight at mo.

I did the following for a total of £100: Oil and filter change, air filter, fuel filter, engine flush, 2 x forte diesel treatment in tank and purchased Innotec turbo clean which I applied to the turbo directly (hard work when car is jacked up- 3-4 hours).

the outcome to this is that the car is driving a lot better, turbo pulls well to 4000 revs in 1-3 gear and around 3500 revs in 4th and 5th. however, if you push it hard, it still goes into limp mode which is a bummer - but at least suggests it is a carbon problem in the turbo.

I will stick with the car as it is (especially as my wife drives it most of the time and won't get anywhere near 4000 revs), but eventually, the turbo has to be done. Innotec seems to be better as a preventative measure rather than a cure.

 

[hoggy90]

hi mate, i bought my 51 plate 110tdi and had the same problem for the first couple of months. As i entered motorways or by-pass and put the foot down the turbo died and i was left with just the engine. i fixed this by turning engine off then back on again every time it died and after a couple of months it unclogged the veins etc...however i am not recommending you do this, just telling you what i did!

 

[allh2k]

It could be your MAF or even a boost leak.

When you say the error says sticky vanes do you mean positive deviation?

Log you maf its easy to spot a dead/dieing one. £10 lead on ebay n laptop is all you need

 

[leonbeleza]

limping

cheers, I hope my will clear - have done 2 (italian tune-ups) high gear runs with forte diesel treatment and it is improving. Mine also resets when engine turned off/on. Really want to avoid cost and hassle of refurb - but mine was driven by a woman since new and seemed to have been rarely pushed so quite carbony!

 

[leonbeleza]

thats right - positive deviation

how much is a maf?

 

[leonbeleza]

maf

btw, how does the maf affect the turbo?

 

[allh2k]

£70 ish depends where from

If it reads the air flow wrong then the ecu does like

 

[sssstew]

sounds to me like it just needs to be driven properly, TDIs thrive on being driven hard.

 

[leonbeleza]

17965

Can you really get rid of the above fault code and sort sticky vanes/ stop it going into limp mode by driving the car hard, or does it need the turbo refurbing?

would swapping the maf help?

cheers

 

[richardc]

Have been through all the problems and solutions you have listed. I agree that the Innotec solution is a better prevention than cure, especially when the carbon is burnt on hard.
My local specialist uses this as a service tool to avoid limp mode.
I eventually bit the bullet and replaced the turbo ...car feels like new.
the best results I had was by using Innotec and working the turbo lever for a solid hour then taking the car on a long motorway blast (lower gear 70mph!!!?). This had most effect and lasted the longest. If cured ensure you Italian tune regularly

 

[leonbeleza]

turbo

cheers for the info.........where did you go to do the turbo and what was the cost?

 

[Seatmann]

Here's a faq if you want to strip it down and sort it out.

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/Drivbiwire_VNT_repair_procedure_small.pdf

 

[leonbeleza]

outcome

well, so far after a couple of Italian tune ups with forte treatment, I seem to be limp mode free which is a result.............hopefully it will be a case of using these fuel treatments every so often to avoid this problem again.

 

[sssstew]

Yep, regular fuel treatment and most importantly regular enthusiastic driving is the best for any TDI.

 

[DarrenJ]

This is good advice.

I de-catted my Cupra Tdi and all of a sudden things flowed a lot freer - I am blowing blue smoke out of this yoke 3 weeks now - I have been taking off pipes and cleaning them - oio in them all. If I was to drive her easy this would all choke up and go to jelly. There's a nice stretch of straight raod on the way home from work and the car's temp is up to 90 at this point so I give her lash along here every day to clean her out, it's the only way!

And redex fuel additive.

 

[Dezeze]

I've just come across the dreaded limp mode! Went to overtake a few cars this morning and NOTHING, just a regular engine and no turbo!
Added some Stp injector cleaner, and turbo works(not as good) but still blowing a lot of grey smoke under heavy acceleration. The turbo is 4 month old swell!
The driving I'm doing is not long stretches so this may be the cause of the build up!
Still, 700 mile round trip this weekend, so well see then!

 

[Seatmann]

It might clear with a good blast but you may have a small leak on one of the boost pipes especially around the connections.

 

[leonbeleza]

I went for another blast today without any forte additive in the tank and unfortunately in third and fourth gear, at around 3000 revs, limp mode still kicks in! It's fine in 1st and 2nd which is wierd. Guess I am going to have to do yet another italian tune up!!

It seems like it needs the fuel additive in the tank to perform normally........

 

[Seatmann]

No that's normal because as you get up the gears the turbo needs to work harder, first gear is relatively easy on the engine as is second but 3rd and 4th etc are starting to ask to much and this is when most cars hit limp mode. You can keep messing about as you are and you might get somewhere but other than that I think you're going to have to get stuck in with the tools and get the thing working right. You could disconnect the actuator first and check the lever on the turbo for the vanes actually moves freely, next is to remove the actuator and give it a shake, if you hear it flopping about then it's probably rusted inside so the diaphram is leaking and needs replaced which is only £70 if it's not electronic. After that it's boost pipes checked for leaks, vacuum pipe replaced etc.

 

[sssstew]

yup agreed. could try the old wd40 actuator trick also, linked to in the TDI faq.