1.9 TDI turbo switching off

[metalangel]

I've read a number of threads about this already...

I'm very aware of the turbo's noise (I sheepishly posted wondering if it should be that noisy!) so tonight I was following a friend (in his S3) when the road became dual carriageway, which is one of the few chances you get to boot it a bit. However, once I hit about 60 or so in 4th the power just went, and I couldn't seem to coax it faster... then it went a bit faster but again... stopped and I was in 5th on a fairly level road, stuck at 70 with my foot to the floor.

When I was back on city streets, I had the window down and couldn't hear the turbo any more. So, pulled over, ignition off, ignition on, pulled off, and immediately turbo kicked in and worked as normal.

Now, from the various other threads on the subject there's a number of possible problems, from a clogged intake to sticking turbo vanes to the turbo itself just being knackered.

How much do these sort of repairs tend to cost, as I'm not exactly rolling in dosh right now. Someone has suggested a good run could also sort it, but is there any risk of driving it with this problem? If I do take it for a run, should I purposely go over 3,000RPM and then drive as normal to 'clear out' whatever's afflicting it?

It's a 1.9 110bhp 51 Reg Octy Elegance estate... to be fair to it, it's been sat outside since Sunday without being driven, and until I move house it'll mostly be getting fairly short runs (it's usually warmed up a minute or two before I get to where I'm going).

Thanks in advance for any help!

EDIT: Air conditioning was off, as it's a cool enough night.

[Lummox]

Sounds exactly like a sticking turbo.

There is a guide on here showing how to clean one up, dealers wont normally do this they will replace the turbo which could well set you back £1500+

[mbames]

My turbo has been behaving recently (for the last few weeks anyway), till when I came to drive home last light from Salisbury. As soon as I pulled out of my parking space at Boscombe Down, I knew it was not working properly. It also failed to work properly this morning :-(

There is a fraction of a turbo whistle just before 2000rpm and thats it - no real boost to make the car move.

I wrote to Skoda back on the 13th July and I am still waiting for their reply (they have sent me an acknowledgment letter, adn two more saying they are investigating....)

[metalangel]

Okay then... I *really* can't afford £1500...

I doubt I could do any of these DIY solutions either, the furtherest I've ever gone is really basic stuff like changing plugs and batteries.

I reckon the first thing I'll try, then, is the whole 'drive it around the city gently for a bit so everything gets nice and warmed up, and then go for a long run and see if it loosens up'... because, to be fair, the car doesn't get enough of those and maybe if it was getting proper exercise it wouldn't be so flabby!

Failing that... is there anything wrong with getting a local mechanic (as I know quite a good one) to do all this take-it-all-out-and-scrub-it-up business as opposed to a dealer? Or am I better off paying the extra to ensure a VAG mechanic does it?

[mbames]

My car normally get a run from Weymouth to Stonehenge (area) everyone morning around 7.30 when the roads are not too busy, so I don't hang around, but mine still breaks, plus a good run back in the evening as well (apart from being a bit slow in Salisbury).

I had a local mechanic change my turbo for me.... £75 for 3 hours labour. However if your taking the turbo off to clean it, you should replace the gasket and you might have to replace the oil supply pipe as that can sometime break. Fortunately yhe chap who did mine did not break it so I have a spare one!

I need to check my car again for fault codes with vag-com, but last time it did not show any, and when it last went to the dealer it was working properly (typical!!)

[cheezemonkhai]

I was looking at 10k boost to clean the thing up a bit.

It's a spray that you spray directly into the turbo air intake and it should remove some gunk. I havn't tried it so can't comment on how effective it is.

Not sure if it would cover the parts you intend before being injected and burned, but if it doesn't I can't see it being any more effective than just a good drive to be honest.

Originally Posted by mbames

I had a local mechanic change my turbo for me.... £75 for 3 hours labour.

Hmm thinking get a garage to take your turbo off first thing in a morning and make sure you have the required parts. Take it home open it up and clean it up with gentle use of a toothbrush and quantities brake cleaner or some other suitable solvent.

Put it back together, then take it back up the garage for refitting.

Would probably set you back about £100-£150 labour charges plus any parts and solvent you need.

Somebody else should be able to confirm that you only need to take the turbos cover off not totally disassemble it.

[Kandy]

Previously posted by Lummox (interesting and useful!):

http://www.technologie-entwicklung.d...t15-turbo.html

[metalangel]

Cheezemonkai, Those pictures lead me to fear that you do, indeed, have to take the whole thing apart to clean it out.

I think my next day off (Tuesday) I'll have a nice long drive after warming the car up in the city, and see what happens, but failing that I think it'll be paying the mechanic a visit.

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by metalangel

Cheezemonkai, Those pictures lead me to fear that you do, indeed, have to take the whole thing apart to clean it out.

I think my next day off (Tuesday) I'll have a nice long drive after warming the car up in the city, and see what happens, but failing that I think it'll be paying the mechanic a visit.

Getting an indy garage to take it off and open it up and clean it up still wont cost anywher near £1k