Power Loss after new timing belt

[webcomsystems]

Hi,

May be unrelated but I had my timing belt replaced a couple of days ago and all was well until now I am getting power loss when I accelerate.

I can idle along ok and rev the engine in neutral and it sounds fine.

Someone thought it might be a sticky wastegate valve? and possibly a bit of WD40 might help! (always worth a try!)

Has anyone had experience of power loss on acceleration on their MK1?

Or offer any pointers to look at?

thanks in advance.

 

[747_727]

What engine have you got? I read that on the pd's the timing can need adjusting on vag-com after the cambelt gas been replaced. Not sure if the 20v engines do or not. My LCR was ok after the cambelt was replaced.

 

[webcomsystems]

Ah sorry, its a 1.9 TDi Diesel.

Like I say it revs fine in neutral, which makes me think its some "sticky" valve issue.

Do you know where the waste gate valve is in the engine bay? Is it easily accessible?

 

[747_727]

I'm not 100% sure but it should be located near the turbo. Can't see why the wastegate would suddenly play up after the cambelt being replaced?
Is your engine the pd diesel? If so it might need the timing checked on vag-com.

 

[webcomsystems]

Not sure what a PD Diesel is?

The wastegate and timing belt replacement might be coincidental, unless the guys who did the belt took some bits apart and didnt put them back together again!

Always seems to happen when I get my car fixed. One thing gets fixed then another goes wrong!!

 

[747_727]

Pd stands for pumpe deuse. Put basically The engine had no fuel pump like a normal diesel but has 4 pumps built into each injector which is worked by the camshaft. Most leon diesels have this engine.

 

[teeburn12]

the non pd diesels are the 90 and the 110 bhp models i believe the rest are pd engines

 

[L16YDW]

Was it done by a reputable garage? They should have used the correct locking pins for the pulleys and pump. Not setting them correctly can cause problems!

 

[webcomsystems]

They're a well known local garage with a good reputation.

But, saying they never used the correct locking pins, what could happen?

 

[L16YDW]

I expect any garage to have the kit to be honest as it's only about £15, but still some don't use them for some reason. It would be easy to get it one tooth off on the belt not using the kit. Like this it would still start and run but could give the low power you're experiencing.

If they're a reputable garage I'd just pop in and explain your concerns, things happen and all going well they will sort it!

 

[webcomsystems]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

The thing is, it was fine for a day, then this started, so it might not be related to the timing belt at all, unless the garage mechanic took a vacuum pipe off and forgot to put it on again?

I also ran the car again today, cold, and it was fine, until it warmed up. Then started to get power loss again when I accelerate hard.

I'm betting on the Waste Gate valve being sticky.

Has anyone replaced a waste gate valve recently or got experience of one?

 

[webcomsystems]

Just to add to this. I put a double dose of Diesel Redex into my car and sprayed WD40 over the wastegate valve (well, I think it was the wastegate valve! )

So I'm now letting the redex work its way through and we'll see how it goes.
Only thing I notice is that the power loss is worse when the car is warmed up. not so bad when cold.

 

[gavin.garner.12]

If it's fine when cold have u checked coolant temp sender?

 

[webcomsystems]

I havent checked that. Where do i find it?

 

[webcomsystems]

Ok, I've found the Coolant Temperature sender. Seems like quite a cheap thing on ebay.

So would this have a bearing on acceleration/engine performance when warm?

When I think about this, its possibly related to fluctuating temperature readings I was getting on the engine temp dial on the dashboard a while ago. (?) It would show a slightly lower temperature when the engine was fully warmed up.