perished turbo veins? Seat Leon

kev241

Active Member
Oct 23, 2010
7
0
My 2003 tdi 110 sometimes goes into limp when booting it. My Local garage says it's the Maf sensor which looks like a easy fix which I can do my self. But they also said the turbo veins perish and is a common fault on these engines. Is this going to be a expensive job what do you guys know about this?
the car has done only 93000 miles and runs great normaly.
 

MJ

Public transport abuser
Apr 22, 2008
5,508
13
Manchester
m.facebook.com
they dont perish at all (metal perishing!?!) they become blocked with soot from the exhaust system over time which causes limp mode. changing your maf will do nothing.

the cure is to remove and clean the turbo or to replace it this problem effects most vnt turbos.

in short - your garage is talking ****.

get the fault codes and i'll put money on there being an overboost fault logged in there somewhere.
 

kev241

Active Member
Oct 23, 2010
7
0
Cheers bud. The garage did say that the car is over boosting you are right.

Is removing the turbo and cleaning a easy job?
 

kev241

Active Member
Oct 23, 2010
7
0
I have used the search function about turbo removal but not had the best success. I was hoing for some diagrams. I have found allot of information about the INNOTEC turbo cleaning product on here and I am thinking of going down that route.

Would I need to remove the turbo complety to get all the crap out?
 

Seatmann

Rough around the edges
Sep 16, 2010
5,568
9
Scotlanda
Did you try the things suggested in the link I put up? Sticky vanes is only one possibility. It could be a maf, vacuum line, actuator etc.
 

Vasily87

Active Member
Jan 23, 2011
132
0
How did things go kev? I have simmilair problems right now. So any pointers are well welcomed!!
 

kev241

Active Member
Oct 23, 2010
7
0
I will keep you posted. I have ordered the Innotec turbo clean today. So if the weather is good next weekend I will be doing a full clean. I have also got some contact cleaner just to give the maf sensor a little clean I have ordered a set of torx keys from ebay for a bargin £4.00 including postage.

Fingers crossed
 

Vasily87

Active Member
Jan 23, 2011
132
0
Let's hope the keys aren't made from chocolate! A mechanic suggested brake cleaners, any views on that?
 

richardc

Active Member
May 26, 2007
24
0
Surrey
Innotec works well if the turbo is not too coked up.Have used it myself with mixed success, really worked well for several weeks and then back into limp mode. Would recommnd exercising lever as many times as you can !! and then taking car for a good blast, good motorway blast, using turbo to full capacity.
The final time I used it I felt that the turbo was not as smooth as before and had concerns that the chemical could have removed part of the contamination but not all, putting the turbine out of balance . After a short while all was ok but did not last long.
Now am on the chase for a new turbo as the lever is almost seized. The garage I use would not use Innotec on the car as they thought the turbo was too far gone, must admit I agree.
They are a Vag specialist and list Innotec as a turbo flush, to keep the turbo clean as opposed to fix a problem.
 
Oct 17, 2006
1,015
0
northwest
get vag-com for £10 off ebay and do a MAF log when you graph it you will get a plateau on the actual or the specified I always forget which one.

I replaced my maf with a Merc one and it made a difference but I've got a bouncing idle when the engine is slightly warm to warm, I have reduced the EGR in VAG COM too but not sure if it has worked.

I tried cleaning the old maf with IPA from Maplins and killed it completely, but I was aggressive with the kids paint brush :)

Allan
 

Seatmann

Rough around the edges
Sep 16, 2010
5,568
9
Scotlanda
You don't clean the maf itself, just the plug. I don't know what they use on these components on cars but trying to clean the actual part never seems to work. It always results in spending more dosh. I found that out the hard way years ago.:D

@richardc Have you tried removing the turbo and giving it a clean? I wouldn't give up on it because the lever feels siezed, You really need to take it off the car and pull it apart. If the oil seals are ok then it's probably alright. Have a look at this article bud.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a4/VNT-turbo-removal-vanes.htm
 

MJ

Public transport abuser
Apr 22, 2008
5,508
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Manchester
m.facebook.com
yep agreed, remove the turbo and clean it up manually, should be all good.

replied to the wrong post in the wrong thread!

Things went to **** with the 2 we had in with overboost faults and the warrenty companies just authorised replacements (the old units must go back intact, unstripped). That link that seatman has posted has all the relavent info and is bloody good so i might post some pics and plagarise the info ;)
 
Last edited:

sye

Active Member
Jan 26, 2011
63
0
Manchester
I had this and through the info on here all is well.

Mine did the classic loss of power on booting it in 4th on motorways and going into limp mode.

I removed the engine cover and looked down the back of the engine with a torch.
I could just barely see the top of the turbo actuator arm, but it but it was enough for me to aim at with the WD40.
A generous squirt and I had an extra long flat blade screwdriver which I repeatedly pushed down on the actuator lever to the full extent of the travel and released. Did this about 25-30 times.
Doused again with some more WD40 and left for a couple of hours then used the big screwdriver again to push the lever another 30 times.
Next I put some diesel treatment in and went for a razz.
High rev gear changes and generally wringing it's neck once it was fully warm.

Job done. No more limp mode in any circumstances at present.
Also the car is running generally much better, and is quicker all round.
I reckon mine was stood for a while before I bought it as the brakes needed re-bedding in as well.
Drives so much better now than when I first got it 11 days ago.