Von Krappen Kickdown

[Dave-G]

All my oomph has gone when I kickdown. It still reluctantly? changes down but with no increase in speed at all - in fact it seems worse... like running out of puff.

 

Of late there has sometimes been a dwell between applying throttle and response - it sometimes seemed to faff about a bit. Now that faffing is almost constantly felt - apart from occasionally being fine (just to confuse things) apart from a white-ish exhaust trail behind me.

 

It also clears if I allow 20 minutes or so to cool down... till it warms again :)

 

I also tried removing the MAF plug to eliminate that from the enquiry so to speak.

 

Any ideas guys?

 

 

Galaxy ghia tdi. 115 Dec 01 build date. 5 speed Auto. Belgian import.

[El Dingo]

I hate to be a doom and gloom merchant, but white smoke and a lack of oomph does suggest turbo problems.

 

A delay in throttle response suggests that the turbo isn't doing it's job, and then you leave it for 20 minutes and it gets better again.

 

Hmmm (as Mof4 would say). What about the actuator valve - boost relief unit? On many recent VAG engines this is a diaphragm valve which recirculates excess boost (rather than dumping it to atmosphere) and it can get sticky or fail. I think VAG call it a 'recirculation valve'?

[Dave-G]

After thinking long and hard about it...

 

The white trail behind me was seen at night in following car's headlight beams - that could be a bum steer.

 

Another thing to muddy the water - and best ignored but for its familiar symptoms: As I replaced the filler nozzle after my last refuel... sit down now...

 

 

 

 

I thought to myself how glad I was that I hadn't filled it to the brim with unleaded fuel instead of diesel which I have done on a previous occasion. I've since been back to the pump to check that I used the diesel nozzle (I remember it being the furtherest to the right in a bank of three) and also checked the receipt - which states diesel was bought.

 

Ironic though it is, my sister is up from Cornwall in her (Manual) galaxy and she tell me that it is totally gutless. It recently had a new brake servo and vacuum pump fitted in a non ford garage. A few days ago she took it to her ford dealer who diagnosed a faulty brake light switch. Just prior to her trip up she noticed her brake lights stayed on after parking the car up... back to fords. They fiddled around with said switch and suggest it may be a retaining clip come loose. She currently jams a pop bottle under the pedal when she's parked up to get the lights out.

 

The reason for this story about my sisters is that I think it's in "get you home mode" but gutless like mine :)

 

Mine is so gutless that it slows to 40 mph or so on a long hill. Changing down gets a higher rpm - but no more speed

[mumof4]

You sure its not the MAF????

[Dave-G]

disconnecting the maf made no difference mam

[mumof4]

Ok..just thought id double check. ;) :D

[Bigjeeze]

disconnecting the maf made no difference mam

 

 

Dave if disconnecting the MAF made no difference then it's likley to be knackered. If you disconnect the MAF you should see a difference in performance - ie a drop - if when disconnected it stays the same it ain't working. If it it were there would be a drop in performance.

 

Try and borrow one to see if that cures it.

 

 

BJ

[Dave-G]

I'll give it a try guys... just got to find the 5 point anti tamper tool rather than the 6 point one used on older models - Any ideers?

[mumof4]

It's the Maf. ;)

[Dave-G]

Well I tried my sisters (even in the beleif that I feel you are incorrect about the effects of unplugging it) and there was no difference. But bear in mind hers is down on power too

 

When the maf went on my last galaxy (and my friends too) there was a substantial improvement to the power level when unplugged - but not perfect.

 

I think it goes to a get you home setting when faulty - but if it's disconnected it defaults to close to "normal" settings

 

I have also noted that the white smoke trail is not seen in daylight.

 

El Dingo - Where do I find the "boost/recirculation/diaphram thingy mate?

 

EDIT: found the boost thingy sticky from seatkid :D But the first two images dont show ;)

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...ST&f=62&t=5921#

[El Dingo]

It's the wastegate. See Seat Kid's pics.

 

This dumps boost, for example when changing gear. it's usually a diaprhagm valve on modern engines and diverts the air back into the system rather than to atmosphere.

 

(I just realised that I said that already - it's been a Llllloooonnnnnnggggg day. ;) )

[gregers]

just cluching at straws here so shoot me down in flames,

but if its the maf would a fault not be held in the ecu?thus when you disconect it still thinks its connected?

so disconect it and disconect the battery(make sure you no all radio codes)let the fault clear,reconect battery and try that,just looking at it from an illogical point of veiw ;)

[Dave-G]

I've managed to clear some of the issue's up:

 

I have now filled up elsewhere with

[mumof4]

Oh i am sooo tempted........ :D ;)

[Dave-G]

Pack it in mumof4 - ladies aint spos'd to think like that :D

 

Right, the actuating rod moves about 10 mm ish when the engine is started - and again when it stops. A second or two later there is a small "plurp" vacuum release/dump sound from the diaphragm unit.

 

Whilst under the car I found "oil" drips around what I presume is the gearbox sump and undertray - so I'm thinking low g-box oil could be the culprit?

 

Incidently - someone said the "other maf" type thingy (on the other side of the engine) is prone to failure - so I tried unplugging that. ;) CRIPES it savagely changes gear with a thunk sharp enough to break something :D

[mumof4]

What other MAF type thingy?????Or is that just on autos?

[Dave-G]

My sisters is a manual - she was told "the other one" often fails too?

[mumof4]

Yes but what other one???I know of only one??

[Dave-G]

Right...

 

Get comfy - cos I go round the houses a bit sometimes ;)

 

 

I just got off the phone to an auto specialist - he says it needs code reading ~

[mumof4]

round the houses????and down the street,around the corner and back again!! ;) :D

 

 

So now you know what the prob is????..but you still aint said what this other thingy is.....as far as i know there is no other maf thingy on the car...??

[Dave-G]

Well it aint that anyway mumof4 - and I dont know what its called or does - beginning to wish I had'nt mention'd it now :)

 

Cleaned off a ton of grease, and gravel stuck in the abs ring - still no succes! I had a feeling the abs warning would have come on if it were that anyway :)

 

i have also disconected the battery for a few minutes to clear any fault codes/procedures.

 

 

Come back SA Intruder, Fredt, or a few others that left some time ago B)

 

No offence to current members, but there was a time someone came here with a problem it was identified almost straight away

[mumof4]

sorry...but some members were one and the same and they were banned.

 

 

also..peeps be at work aswell.

[Dave-G]

Yea - I sort of sussed that by looking over past posts a few months ago. :)

[Dave-G]

Update. Although I'd ruled out the maf sensor earlier - I decided to persuade my mate to let me file flats on the anti tamper screws retaining his maff probe and swap them over. The new type anti tamper screws with five points are called "ts bit set" for anyone interested.

 

We both went for a short drive, his car was great - mine was still sluggish. I put the spare one I have in his car - that too goes great... so the maf has now been definatly ruled out.

[El Dingo]

Well it aint that anyway mumof4 - and I dont know what its called or does - beginning to wish I had'nt mention'd it now :)

 

Cleaned off a ton of grease, and gravel stuck in the abs ring - still no succes! I had a feeling the abs warning would have come on if it were that anyway :)

 

i have also disconected the battery for a few minutes to clear any fault codes/procedures.

 

 

Come back SA Intruder, Fredt, or a few others that left some time ago B)

 

No offence to current members, but there was a time someone came here with a problem it was identified almost straight away

 

No offence either, but do you really expect diagnosis by internet? Your symptoms don't seem so straightforward.

Maybe you could find someone with VAG-COM near you or book in for a diagnostic at a VW/Ford/Seat dealer?