olddog

Anyone else finding their old tech ( ASV in my case ) TDI is running happier these last few months ? Mine is. Trip MPG suggesting at least 5 MPG improvement over what had become the norm Is Orc diesel the cause of sticking turbo vanes ?

Might be the long standing issue with VAG ignition locks. Usually caused by a build up of dust & stuff getting into the lock over years A good few YTs on this e.g. This happened mine a few years ago. Was lucky enough to be able to get the lock barrel out ( this was the hardest part ) . Washed in out thoroughly ( used petrol ). Relubricated it with GRAPHITE ( from a very soft - 4B ? - pencil ). ( All good in the years since )

Sometimes can be a sign of battery on the way out. More often just due to the crappy locks that VAG fit ( for decades now ) May DEADlock shut at some stage which can be a bit of a PITA, so best sort it ASAP

I had a problem with the ASV in mine ( by chance the engine code in mine is also ASV ) Issues were : engine wouldnt stop when 'ignition' turned off and had great difficulty starting from cold. All resolved following cleaning the air inlet tract ( i.e. EGR, inlet manifold etc etc. Now this doesnt sound like your problem so its probably not any help 😞 Might your squealing noise be due to a leak in the vacuum system ?

Tweaked your pic a little, maybe what has happened is a little clearer ?

Also inlet manifold and EGR may be gunked up and need a good clean FWIW I've found that using the expensive diesel ( sold here a 'Green' - WTF ? ) reduces the sticking vanes & gunked inlet tract issues.

Interesting thread ! ( I've been driving around with lower part of rad shielded from airflow for the last couple of years 🤪 ) When it comes to a replacement stat for ASV units, what is the best to get ? - VAG or 3rd party ? - If 3rd party which to go for / avoid ?

I had to replace that switch for a similar-ish reason. Weirdly, the genuine replacement that I got from Skoda parts didnt sort the issue but a motor factors up the road from them had a pattern unit that did fix it ( and works to this day :) )

I dont doubt it. FWIW ( and a kind of double negative ... ) I few years ago I replaced the ARB bushings due to 'clunking' ( note not 'creaking' ). 'Clunking' was cured, so I'm inclined to think creaking probably not due to ARB bushings. I'm on original ( i.e. 18 year old ) struts etc etc - what chance thats implicated ?

'02 TDI estate with 146k here and have been inclined to creaking for the last year. ( nothing to suggest, just posting as I cant figure out how to follow the thread otherwise )