Octavia 1.9tdi 110 bhp Elegance Estate, poss turbo problem?

[scubasad]

Can anyone offer any suggestions please.Just got a gorgeous cayenne metallic Octavia Elegance estate 110 bhp 1.9 tdi, and apart from roll bar bushes and air con probs everything seemed fine.Noticed a sort of turbo whine when accelerating away and skoda dealer said turbo on way out.Subsequently been to my normal garage who specialise in all things turbo charged to be told, nowt wrong with turbo.

However coming home today appeared to lose power quite considerably and although reving quite high not much forward impetus!! Called in to see said turbo specialists and turned off engine.At this point, I should point out that on the journey home the normal turbo whine sounded like a bag of bolts, but when he took up the road after re starting it was fine.I too took out and it was like a totally different car.What ever the problem was it had obviously reset it self.They put the diagnostic computer on but no fault/error codes found which suggests possibly a solenoid or something mechanical may have stuck but when switched off righted itself. Any one any ideas? Oh, its a 51 plate registered Jan 2002.

Thanks in advance....

[mbames]

sticking vanes maybe. Or a vacuum pipe maybe?

Never heard it sound like a bag of bolts though... I would be worried if it make that noise. Normally sticking vanes will cause an overboost, which can cause the car to go into limp home mode, where it will drive not much faster than a snail going backwards (cycling the ingnition clears the limp-home mode).

[scubasad]

Thanks. Only had it a couple of weeks,but well pleased with it.

This problem has only occured the once and my Turbo expert is muttering about wastegate solenoid or the like? I keep reading about turbo vanes, maf sensors etc, but cant really get a clear idea of what to check other than everything just to rule it out of the equation?:(

[scubasad]

Just come home from work and its done it again!! Very sluggish on the acceleration so pulled over, switched off for a few seconds, started her up again and acceleration came back fine.This must be something mechanical. Any one any ideas???

[Tech1e]

If he is muttering about a wastegate solenoid then he aint much of a turbo specialist as they dont have a wastegate.

Your turbo is more than likely overboosting. the engine ECU then shuts the boost off (hence the loss of power) and then resets when you cycle the igniton.

Plenty of info on sticky turbos on here.

[scubasad]

Dealer mentioned something about overboost. However when my usual guy put the vag com unit on their were no error codes and if it was an ECU problem there should be, shouldnt there?

[Tech1e]

Not always, could also be a split pipe to the actuator.

[scubasad]

OK, cheers for that.Its going in for a cambelt change on Tuesday this week so I`ll get my guy to check these various bits out.Just looked at the link about dismantling and cleaning off the build up of soot etc.Looks a bit too techy for me, but we`ll see.

Thanks again. Will update post if and when I get a result..

[KenONeill]

If there's no fault codes, it's not the usual overboost or N75 problems. I'd say it's probably a split hose

[scubasad]

Well folks, the Skud has just returned from having a new cam belt/tensioner kit fitted and the turbo problem has been looked into.The result is ..............................

All pipework tested ok under vacuum, so no split pipes.

Two phone calls made, 1 to Skoda main dealer and 1 to Essex Turbos (where they actually make turbos)

Skoda dealer says " intermittent cut out and reset when turn off engine more likely to be actuator solenoid than turbo" And apparently this solenoid has been sold in quantities too..

Essex Turbos say exactly the same except "do not attempt to dismantle turbo if you ever want it to run again!" or words to that effect.

The actuator solenoid is a small gizmo with one cable to it and two pipes more or less in the centre of the bulkhead behind the engine just under the bonnet and is around 28quid.

You can probably guess the outcome of this cant you? If not, well I`m fitting the new solenoid when I get back from a trip away next week and we`ll see what happens.As my guy at the garage says "its a 28quid gamble or a new/recon turbo!":)

[pikpilot]

Definitely a gummed up turbo vane problem in my view. You have all the right symptoms.

Just had my turbo cleaned by a specialist as this is a known VAG group problem on engines that are mostly used on town type journeys. See my other posts.

Local Skoda dealer disconnected the vacuum pipe that operated the vanes (not a solenoid) and proved this was OK by putting vacuum and then pressure down the pipe to the actuator whilst feeling for movement with his hand on the rod. Mine was sticking half way through the movement range.

Just to confirm it for you, note the revs at which the power is reduced when the engine is cold and later (after restarting the engine to do a reset) with the engine hot. Finally, with power as normal give the engine a high speed open throttle run.

As the engine warms up the cut-out point occurs at higher revs. Blasting the engine will give temporary relief.

Have fun

Click on this link for a view of the vane operation

http://www.technologie-entwicklung.de/vtg-sequenz.gif

[scubasad]

Hmm,

All sounds ok, but the problem doesnt necessarily manifest itself when cold or hot.

Had the car about three weeks now and it happened once after a fortnight and again 2 days later, but nothing since.I`m going to try the actuator valve as its only 28 quid and see what happens. If from what I`m reading here in the various posts its a common problem with the garrett turbos, is there an alternative turbo to fit if the worse case scenario should occur? If not ,is there any way to prevent it from happening?:holmes:

[Tech1e]

Dont granny it about.

[scubasad]

Beg your pardon?

[Tech1e]

Dont drive like a granny, give it regular beans and it wont clog up

Im always getting told off for being to technical

[scubasad]

Pardon me.

I dont drive like a Granny by any means, although at the moment I am treading carefully until problem solved. Besides, the whole idea of getting a Skud was maximum mpg.If you have a bottomless pit for money in the current state of affairs that is Fuel pricing thats fine. I don`t and drive accordingly, and alas there iare little things called speed limits? (pathetic as most of them are, but there none the less)

Enough, you`ve sent me into Rant mode and I`ve got a 300 odd mile journey to start at 3am tomorrow, up several motorways, so look for a Cayenne Octy Estate doing 30mph!!!!!:thumbup:

[trundlenut]

You don't need to drive like a granny, today was the first day for about a week when my average consumption was <60mpg (trip computer) driving to/from work but I still give it "regular beans" to quote his esteemed Lummoxness.

Since I had the turbo problem I have made a point of giving it some welly, once the car is warmed up of course, on motorway sliproads and away from traffic lights etc. I'm working on the assumption that if you make the VNT mechanism operate regularly it will stop the soot building up and jamming it. Pulling on to the motorway I take it to ~70 in third then change up to 5th. I think it was Mr O'Neill in a previous thread who said sudden changes in revs (up or down) make the VNT thingy move and hopefully keeps in clear.

When I had the problem with the turbo I gave it a good blast on a dual carriageway (holding near the rev limiter in 2nd) and it didn't half blow a load of crap out of the exhaust, didn't cure it going into limp mode, but showed how much crap had accumulated in the system.

[cheezemonkhai]

Aye, Open it up fully in the lower gears then into top when you are on the M/Way seemed to keep it all clear

[scubasad]

Well, I`ve just travelled nigh on 300 miles from Essex to Wales along A120,M11,A14,M6,M54 and not had a peep out of it.Averaging 70mph all the way and a bit more when required and no overboost. Buggered if I can work it out!!

[trundlenut]

When I had the problem it was rather hit and miss when it happened, sometimes several times a day, then it wouldn't do it for days. That was driving the same way on the same roads.

I put up with it for about a month before I found someone to clean it out.

[lard-ajc]

trundle - did the clean fix your problem?

[trundlenut]

Cleaning out the turbo worked a treat. Although when it was cacked up it did seem to reduce the turbo lag, presumably because the vanes were jammed open and it was offering more boost earlier on.

Overall though it made a noticable difference to performance. It happened during March last year and has been fine since, although I now do more mileage, particularly on the motorway and less driving round town. Like I said before I now make a point of giving it a good blast regularly as well.

[scubasad]

Well, As per Lummox`s suggestion, went to N wales and didnt "granny it about" there and back and no problems.Have changed the solenoid located at rear of engine bay, just under the bonnet (around 28quid+vat) so we`ll see what happens over the next few weeks.As an aside, averaging around 80-85mph wherever possible and pulled onto drive averaging app 57 mpg, which I thought was pretty good!!

[Lex Dysia]

averaging around 80-85mph wherever possible

That's kph surely

[scubasad]

Absolutely.......(Not!!):cop1: