The Loss Of Power "old Chestnut"

[davewill]

Galaxy Mkll 1.9Tdi 115bhp Automatic

 

I seem to be having a bad run at the mo with the Gal (aux heater packed up, run on pump packed up, exhaust fallen off) and now the dreaded Loss of Power syndrome is hitting hard

 

Started about 2 months ago with the occasional loss of power. Always happened when starting off journey and accelerating. Got up to about 25mph, then power loss happened, and very limited acceleration on flat road. Turned engine off and on and reset to all OK

 

In the last week or so the problem has been occuring almost every time i start car up and drive. Sometimes the turn off and on does not solve the problem, but sometimes it does. It doesnt happen when i am travelling on Motorway, just on start up and acceleration through 25 - 30 mph.

 

I do do a lot of short distance driving (less than 2 miles) but then occasionally do a 140 mile motorway drive. On these journies i have tried the "italian tune up" method, and driven at 4000 revs for a period.

 

Just wondering where you would start to try and solve the problem

 

MAF, MAS, Turbo Vanes, i know they all contribute to the problem, but in which order should i go, and what can i achieve myself without an expensive trip to Frauds/VW

 

Thanks all

 

Dave

[davewill]

Sorry should have also said that its a 2006 Mkll model with 89,000 miles on it

[chrispb123456]

Hi Dave

Vag-Com may help pin point your problem

[Mirez]

I would agree, any turbo shut down should be triggering a fault code so get someone to read the codes. Ideally, get someone local with vagcom to do it for you and reset the codes at the same time - you can then get it scanned a couple of days later to work out which codes are new and which ones were old before you start chasing a fault from 2006 :rolleyes:

 

With regards to MAF, MAS, Turbo Vanes, you could do them all if you really wanted to - it all depends on how confident a DIY'er you are. MAF is certainly one you shouldn't be taking to a dealer for, its extreamly easy to change - same for the MAP sensor. The vanes themselves are a pain to get at, the actuator itself much easier. VagCom should help identify the best route to take with regards replacement/repair - given the symptoms MAF is unlikely, MAP more likely and Vanes/actuator highest on the list.

Edited December 6, 2010 by Mirez

[sotal]

My guess would be on overboost fault.

 

Some people have reported success in solving the problem by manually moving the actuator by hand hundreds of times to free it off, others have suggested that turbo cleaner solutions have solved the problem for them.

 

We very occasionally get the problem in our car (hasn't happened for months now) and we found that it happened when the car had only done short journeys for a long time. A nice long journey down the motorway then seemed to stop it, but to be honest it's that infrequent that it may just be coincidence. I didn't have to hold it at high revs etc - just the nice long journey seemed to clear it for me.

 

IIRC the car goes into Limp mode when it registers 7 seconds of overboost, some owners have reported being able to work around it by backing off the throttle (this is when it's got quite bad and they know it's going to go into limp mode) - not a permanent solution though!

 

The fault code I get recorded each time it goes into limp mode is 17965 which is overboost.

 

Try logging the measured value blocks in VCDS, from memory you need blocks 010 and 011 together - that should give enough information to confirm. Drive at a constant 30mph then accelerate full throttle to 3000rpm.