Just How Many 115tdi Turbo's Trip Out

[Seatdriver]

Hi all,

 

Here's a challenge, just how many 115bhp galaxy/sharans can we get to go into limp home due to turbo issues.

 

Over the next week try this one and report back:

 

Start your vehicle, get it nice and warm, take it onto a motorway and accelerate hard in 4th gear from approximately 45mph on a slight incline.

 

For all you who mainly drive round town prepare for the sudden loss of power.

 

At approx 3000 rpm/60-65mph (this seems to be the critical speed and rpm) the engine will loose the turbo assistance.

 

The reason: The variable vanes in the turbo stick as they have never been closed this far and the collected debris and carbon cause them to bind and fail to open and reduce turbo boost.

 

Hey presto TURBO OVERBOOST fault. It usually only happens once as you accelerate hard and doesn't re-occur until you run round town and again clog up the turbo.

 

How to cure: The variable vane part of the turbo needs cleaning, not a new turbo.

 

However try this if you are game, for those of you with this curse, I did and it made a hell of a difference:(I did need the sand)

 

I went to Wicks and purchased 15 bags of sand. I then allowed my Sharan to warm up, then ran it up hill and down dale for 1 hour, and yes it went into limp mode the first time I pushed it hard up a hill, but it didn't again After 2 hours of driving up hill's flat out in 4th upto 60mph, I ran it down the motorway for 40miles and left it in 4th gear repeatedly slowing down and accelerating hard upto 70mph.

 

The result: One very very hot engine and possibly glowing turbo but not a single hesitation during acceleration remained and a distinct happy whistle from the turbo as it spools up even at lower revs. Used the following day and the engine was definately more responsive.

 

Shouldnt have to do this though so I suppose its just plain bad design. On a point do any 130bhp engine vehicles suffer this problem or is it only 115bhp as the turbos are different.

[NikpV]

we have an auto and would think that the more gentle drive would lead to build up on the blades but I have not yet managed to go into limp home mode mind you I do sometimes use the sports mode where I will not change up until it reaches 4k revs (115pd auto Ghia 92k miles)

[norwichbluenose]

Its happened to me a couple of times. I just switch off the engine and coast for a bit then its fine. Perhaps I shouldn't go so quick in the first place.

 

Andy B

[swifty]

Hi VWdriver

 

Did you take the sand back and get a refund on it after? Im gonna try this cause Im well fed up with limp mode and need to tow a caravan very soon!

[smudge2002]

This must be what happened to me last Friday. I have a 2003 1.9tdi auto. Loaded it up with the wife, 3 kids and luggage for a trip from home in Manchester up to the mother-in-laws in Glasgow. For the first half of the journey every time we hit an incline I had to kick-down into a lower gear to crawl up the hill until it levelled off and we picked up a bit of speed. We stopped at Gretna Services for lunch. After that it was fine. No problem accelerating up hills and it was fine when I came back Sunday. I'll see if it does the same this weekend when I go back up to pick them all up again.

[lazyb5]

never experienced it but i do try to boot it up the dualcarriage wayon the way to work. :lol:

[davewill]

I have a 2006 (Mkll) 115TDI AUTO with 27,000 miles on it

 

I do a mixture of Motorway and Town driving every week

 

Does this mean i am unlikely to experience this Turbo loss, (as i do Motorway driving) or will it hit me anyway at some stage in the future?

 

My Motorway driving is usually at around 70 -75mph although i do use cruise control wherever possible, so don't do a lot of "heavy" acceleration

 

Thanks

[scrote]

I have turbo cut out probs on my 02 tdi 115 and believe it to be for the same reason as after a really long run its fine for a few weeks - it has been highlighted before and someone actually took the turbo out and cleaned it up which cured it - unfortunately I dont have the time to do this so we just live with it. Ho hum - the joys of running a bus !!

[maggieg]

Hey

 

I reckon that is just what is happening to our galaxy

i love the car but its getting on our nerves

over the last 18mnths we have spent a fortune on it

 

all because of the loss of power with the turbo

 

and Yes a new turbo is what we are always being told

so i will get the hubby to go and try this out

 

thanks a bunch

we have also this morning bought some turbo cleaner

and put it into the air intake to see if this helps

 

will let you know how we got on with it

 

once again many thanks

maggieg :P

[Dave-G]

That lane you live on Maggie - as you initially join either end of it give it some welly as a matter of routine.

 

Likewise occasionally put your sensible hat to one side. set ya jaw, grit ya teeth and race somebody to be first off at the lights. :P It's not so much high speed as high power you are looking for.

[maggieg]

I know what ur saying daveg

i have never set me jaw and grit me teeth at the same time

so it could be very interesting if not dam right thrilling so i

reckon its time to be different

 

go and have a burn off in the little lanes and get labelled a teenager eh

 

:P

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I want to know where all those bags of sand come into the equation !

[gregers]

I want to know where all those bags of sand come into the equation !

 

 

weight.he was the only person in the car,so he loaded up with sand and gave it a bit of welly :P

[mark111]

Hi all,

 

Here's a challenge, just how many 115bhp galaxy/sharans can we get to go into limp home due to turbo issues.

 

Over the next week try this one and report back:

 

Start your vehicle, get it nice and warm, take it onto a motorway and accelerate hard in 4th gear from approximately 45mph on a slight incline.

 

For all you who mainly drive round town prepare for the sudden loss of power.

 

At approx 3000 rpm/60-65mph (this seems to be the critical speed and rpm) the engine will loose the turbo assistance.

 

The reason: The variable vanes in the turbo stick as they have never been closed this far and the collected debris and carbon cause them to bind and fail to open and reduce turbo boost.

 

Hey presto TURBO OVERBOOST fault. It usually only happens once as you accelerate hard and doesn't re-occur until you run round town and again clog up the turbo.

 

How to cure: The variable vane part of the turbo needs cleaning, not a new turbo.

 

However try this if you are game, for those of you with this curse, I did and it made a hell of a difference:(I did need the sand)

 

I went to Wicks and purchased 15 bags of sand. I then allowed my Sharan to warm up, then ran it up hill and down dale for 1 hour, and yes it went into limp mode the first time I pushed it hard up a hill, but it didn't again After 2 hours of driving up hill's flat out in 4th upto 60mph, I ran it down the motorway for 40miles and left it in 4th gear repeatedly slowing down and accelerating hard upto 70mph.

 

The result: One very very hot engine and possibly glowing turbo but not a single hesitation during acceleration remained and a distinct happy whistle from the turbo as it spools up even at lower revs. Used the following day and the engine was definately more responsive.

 

Shouldnt have to do this though so I suppose its just plain bad design. On a point do any 130bhp engine vehicles suffer this problem or is it only 115bhp as the turbos are different.

 

I have 03 galaxy 115bhp also same power loss but i noticed if power trips and you turn the engine off and back on the power resumes so is that mechanical or computer resetting? also i notice trips power on incline uphills. what turbo cleaner do you rewcommend ? theres no white smoke so don't think turbo broken but the sticking theory seems possible.

[Emily's dad]

Last week we had the same problem with our 2005 Alhambra 115TDI Tiptronic 18000 miles.

The wife usually uses it for short journeys, kids to school, shops etc.

She's a gentle driver and with the auto box the engine doesn't get any workout.

I drove it the other day, got to a dual carriageway and boot down, got up to about 50mph and that was it, limp mode.

Got home let it cool down,restart and everything seems OK.

Did some checking on the internet and came to the same conclusion as mentioned earlier, turbo is sticking due to carbon.

I shall at the weekend be taking it out for a long hard drive to clear it out.

 

Does anyone know if this will show up on a diagnostic check, as our car is still under warranty and is due its annual service very soon.

 

Dave.

Edited February 19, 2008 by Emily's dad

[sandy.74]

HI I HAVE A 2001 GALAXY 1.9TD I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I GOT IT PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST (18/02/08) AND A FAULT CAME BACK TURBO BOOST VALVE BUT MACHINE CLEARED IT AND I TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE GAVE IT A BIT WELLY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE TURNED CAR OF AND RESTARTED WENT FINE DROVE HOME JUST HOPE EVERYTHING IS OK TODAY CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SOLOUTION AS I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 4 MONTHS AND EVERTHING ELSE SEEMS GREAT WITH IT I AM NO MECHANIC JUST LOOKING FOR A CHEAP LONG TERM REPAIR IF POSSIBLE THANKS GUYS

[Dodger]

Does this apply only to 115bhp engines. I have a 110bhp tdi, AFN engine, 1999, with similar symptons. Could it be this?

[insider]

Yes, the 110 also has a variable vane turbocharger.

[Dave-G]

I think the control system differs on the 110

[Dodger]

Yes the 110 bhp does have a variable vane turbo but can anybody confirm that it suffers from the same problem as the 115 bhp?

[Biscuit]

HI I HAVE A 2001 GALAXY 1.9TD I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I GOT IT PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST (18/02/08) AND A FAULT CAME BACK TURBO BOOST VALVE BUT MACHINE CLEARED IT AND I TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE GAVE IT A BIT WELLY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE TURNED CAR OF AND RESTARTED WENT FINE DROVE HOME JUST HOPE EVERYTHING IS OK TODAY CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SOLOUTION AS I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 4 MONTHS AND EVERTHING ELSE SEEMS GREAT WITH IT I AM NO MECHANIC JUST LOOKING FOR A CHEAP LONG TERM REPAIR IF POSSIBLE THANKS GUYS

 

 

Hi all

mine used to go into 'limp home mode' (loss of turbo power)

i just 'boot it' every now and then, which i do and never get any probs now

at first you will get a lot of black smoke out the back but thats just the turbo clearing out

hope this helps.

Biscuit

[Sher]

need to tow a caravan very soon!

 

The extra load of the caravan will be more than enough to simulate the bags of sand. I tow and have no experience of this, apart from a poorly connecting MAF once.

 

From previous posts it seems you only need to switch off and the fault is reset, so it can be run up again towards maximum revs.

 

I seem to remember one experienced early member of Ford Galaxy Owners Club, now retired, recommending running the engine upto near maximum revs about once per week or two.

 

Easily done just stick in a low gear upto 4000revs/min. The MOT test involves running upto the Max anyway.

[Seatdriver]

This fault appears to manifest itself in the 115BHP models.

 

And in 99% of cases the variable vane sticks.

 

This is my opinion so please nobody shoot me down but:

 

To rev the engine hard in lower gears is NO GOOD. To flex the turbo you need a high gear like so and up a hill with a warm engine:

 

1st to start rolling

2nd upto 20mph

3rd upto 40mph

4th take it over 60mph (this will take the revs under heavy load over 3000RPM which is where I think the computer begins to back off the turbo vanes)

 

3000RPM APPEARS TO BE THE CRITICAL POINT AS IF THE VANES STICK FOR EVEN A FRACTION OF A SECOND YOU WILL GET TURBO OVERBOOST FAULT CODE RECORDED AND YOU WILL LOOSE POWER AS THE VACCUM ON THE LINKAGE IS INSTANTLY REMOVED AND VANES MOVE TO FULLY OPEN AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH NO PERFORMANCE UNTIL YOU SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN.

 

Getting the code cleared makes not a jot of difference to the running of the engine so save your money.

 

To the person who has this problem and it always trips, I feel that the turbo has to be worked up gradually to a high temperature over an hour or so, then made to work hard.

 

Looking at the breakdown of the variable vane mechanism the main part that gives trouble is a moveable ring which actuates each of the individual vanes.

 

I would think that no cleaner will be of any use if it is really bad, just take my advice, get it heavily loaded and persist cos a few hours of pointless driving round is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new turbo (WHICH IT DOES NOT NEED) the vane mechanism needs cleaning and this means removing the turbo from the engine as it is not possible to undo and part this mechanism in situ.

 

Oh I have to add that when I gave mine a damn good thrashing I put in a tank of BP ultima. No matter how hard I push my sharan now there is NO black smoke from the exhaust even after loads of running round town.

 

Have fun

[Smilge]

For those who want a little more info on this subject have a look at the following link and with vwdriver's comments you should be able to diagnose this seemingly common problem.

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...hl=VNT+actuator

[Dodger]

My 1999 110Bhp 73k miles tripped out again this morning. It's fine thrashing it up through the gears but come to an incline and it fails. 2000-2500 rpm, 40-50 mph in 4th gear, full throttle and it pulls fine for about 10 seconds and then there is a loss of power. Switch off the engine and restart and normal power is restored.

 

MAF was replaced 3 years ago so should be still OK. Is it likely to be the turbo at fault?