Nearly everybody has been doing cost optimisations, however I do think VAG have gone from above average quality to below average quality in recent years.

I am just shy of 56K miles now in my 2.0TDI, warranty runs out in september. Still on original turbo, heres hoping nothing goes wrong after september.

Following on from my earlier post, now on 61K miles, out of warranty and still on original turbo.

I am coming up to 58k and my turbo makes an interesting whining noise at low rpm/light engine load hot or cold. Sounds just like a police siren........

Still sounds OK under load (the usual turbo hiss) so maybe it's nothing

I am coming up to 58k and my turbo makes an interesting whining noise at low rpm/light engine load hot or cold. Sounds just like a police siren........

Still sounds OK under load (the usual turbo hiss) so maybe it's nothing

Mine did that police siren noise from when I bought it at 58k ...

dealer said "they all do that" & I've been in a few taxis that do it too.

I've run my engine with the bonnet open today for a friend to listen to it today, it's less like a police siren now, but much louder than he thought it should be, he agrees with dealer diagnosis of imminent doom. Still waiting for the dealer to ring back about the warranty (perhaps their phone is broken).

Mine has made that noise since I bought it secondhand more than 40,000 miles ago. The noise has not changed and is the same today as it was more than 2 years ago.

Mine made that noise very quietly since new , then very rapidly got much louder

Mine did that police siren noise from when I bought it at 58k ...

dealer said "they all do that" & I've been in a few taxis that do it too.

I've run my engine with the bonnet open today for a friend to listen to it today, it's less like a police siren now, but much louder than he thought it should be, he agrees with dealer diagnosis of imminent doom. Still waiting for the dealer to ring back about the warranty (perhaps their phone is broken).

my friends Vectra made that noise after 100K, shortly after it went pop.

Well, the good news is ... the dealer has rung back.

The even better news is ...

the parts are on order & it's booked in for next week, for new turbo under warranty.

Well, the good news is ... the dealer has rung back.

The even better news is ...

the parts are on order & it's booked in for next week, for new turbo under warranty.

Which dealer is that then mate?

Edited 28 October, 200817 yr by damo :-)

I posted a thread asking about TDI reliability a couple of weeks ago, after seeing this thread I am now seriously thinking of binning the idea of getting not just a TDI, but any turbo, diesel or petrol.

When you consider that diesels have historically been known for their reliability, I wonder if they are now trading on past glory (the exception being normally aspirated diesels), i.e. fitting a turbo to a diesel engine to give petrol-like performance has compromised their reliability? It seems that the turbos on modern diesels are a real weak point, perhaps I'm wrong but it always seems to be a turbo issue when these engines have a major problem!

I've been specifically looking at the Octy II 4x4. I am beginning to wonder if the 2.0 FSI might actually make more sense than either TDI... It may not be as good on fuel or as cheap to tax, but when you consider that there is no turbo to go wrong and the fuel is actually cheaper, I wonder if in the long run it might actually be less hassle and more reliable, even if it does cost slightly more to run (unless you factor in a turbo failure!)?

(I've got an MX-5 at the moment, their engines are virtually bulletproof, therefore I've become accustomed to a high level of perceived reliability, which means that the slightest whiff of engine reliability issues make me very wary of parting with my £££)

There again, if you look round a bit harder, you'll see plenty who have done large mileages with turbo'd vehicles, and had no issues whatsoever. It's not like you'll be out driving and see countless stranded cars fitted with turbos, littering the roadside is it?

While I appreciate your point about reliability, especially with regards the MX-5, I can help thinking you're worrying a bit too much. The 150bhp 2.0FSI would be a woeful choice, IMO. In fact, it's so good they no longer use it Hello newly designed 1.8T with 160bhp....

Just my thoughts.

Steve

There again, if you look round a bit harder, you'll see plenty who have done large mileages with turbo'd vehicles, and had no issues whatsoever. It's not like you'll be out driving and see countless stranded cars fitted with turbos, littering the roadside is it?

While I appreciate your point about reliability, especially with regards the MX-5, I can help thinking you're worrying a bit too much. The 150bhp 2.0FSI would be a woeful choice, IMO. In fact, it's so good they no longer use it Hello newly designed 1.8T with 160bhp....

Just my thoughts.

Steve

Agreed, there are a lot more TDI cars out there running fine than have blown turbos. But it seems that even people on here working for VW/Skoda dealerships seem to think they get a lot back for turbo problems!

I'd suggest that they replaced the 2.0FSI with the 1.8T for performance/economy/CO2 reasons, perhaps over reliability concerns?! I doubt there's much wrong with the 2.0FSI, relative economy aside?

But is a bit more power and a bit more fuel economy worth the potential headache of a blown turbo? Maybe, but I'm not convinced... yet!!

You're probably right though, I'm definately a worrier when it comes to these things

Well, the good news is ... the dealer has rung back.

The even better news is ...

the parts are on order & it's booked in for next week, for new turbo under warranty.

Hmm .... Back peddling ahoy!!

Dealer has rung me today to say, they had ordered parts ... however ....

the warranty people won't pay for them, or the work, as the car is still running ok.

Remember the dealer diagnosis was "whistling loudly", the warranty people take the view that a turbo is only faulty if ... your car is sluggish or on the back of a tow truck with a pool of oil under it.

The warranty people have told the dealer "whistling is a characteristic"

and that they can carry on virtually forever without failing.

On the slightly bigger diesels I'm more used (railway locos)

there are common symptoms of turbo problems

1 leaking oil at bearing housing

2 reduction in power

3 black smoke from the exhaust (unburnt fuel due to less oxygen)

Since it was diagnosed by the dealer 11 days ago, I've done 700 miles & noticed none of the above symptoms.

As a peace of mind gesture, the dealer is providing a new 12 month unlimited mileage extended warranty starting today.

Should I worry, or should I carry on enjoying an otherwise excellent car?

How does the 1.9TDI compare, does it suffer turbo problems as much as the 2.0TDI? From what I've read on these forums, it seems that the 1.9 is regarded as more reliable, is there any truth in this, anyone?

The 1.9 is more reliable, yes most likely because it runs a lot less power. The turbo technology used is exactly the same as the 2.0.

the 1.9 has been around alot longer than the 2.0, problems will have rectified during this time, the 2.0 has only had a short life, and then replaced with the CR.

Only replaced by the CR in the Octy. The 2.0PD 140 lives on in the new Superb.

Only replaced by the CR in the Octy. The 2.0PD 140 lives on in the new Superb.

wonder why that is?

2.0Tdi is :pants:

No seriously they should sort all these probs out quicker so that many of us won,t have so many failures.

The 1.9 is more reliable, yes most likely because it runs a lot less power. The turbo technology used is exactly the same as the 2.0.

Is it actually the same turbo? Surely they'd have upgraded it if it wasn't going to be strong enough for the job?

the 1.9 has been around alot longer than the 2.0, problems will have rectified during this time, the 2.0 has only had a short life, and then replaced with the CR.

What is the lifespan of the 1.9 and the 2.0 then? Did the 1.9 have similar troubles in the early days?

The 1.9 and 2.0 turbos are different, as is the engine and things like the oil pump in the sump.

IIRC they are all KKK turbos as fitted to Mercs,Audis,BMW and Porsches.I had a list somewhere of all the KKK applications but have lost it now.

The 1.9 and 2.0 turbos are different, as is the engine and things like the oil pump in the sump.

Am I right in thinking you work for a Skoda/VW dealership? How many 1.9s do you see with turbo problems compared to 2.0s?

Since it was diagnosed by the dealer 11 days ago, I've done 700 miles & noticed none of the above symptoms.

Should I worry, or should I carry on enjoying an otherwise excellent car?

Hoping not to tempt fate ....

Now done another 4k .. still whistling & doing the police siren sound &

still running just fine.

Topped up with 0.5l oil yesterday (5k since service).

Funnily enough I drove a loco that developed a "slight" turbo fault the other week ....

The traffic passing on an adjacent road was staring at the thick pall of black smoke that was following me. Control authorised me to detach the 2300t train at the nearest sidings & nurse it to the nearest depot for immediate fitters attention! I was dipping the oil at every stop & when it went into the workshop the indicated amount to top up was off the scale .... the scale goes to 150 litres. It was probably loosing a litre a mile by then.

Thinking about it, I've not noticed around locally since, hmm, might check on it's whereabouts. You will of course be pleased to know that a fresh engine collected the wagons & delivered them on time! Unlike the passenger shambles, us freight chaps keep on running!