Hi all, I have an intermittent problem involving a loss of power which occurs at the same moment when the TCS warning light comes on. I drive 200 miles to London about 3 times a month. On my last trip down I had got about half way when, as I put my foot down the engine spluttered and there was a reduction in power and at the same moment the tcs light came on. For the rest of the journey the engine ran as though there was a blockage in the fuel supply, losing power when I tried to accelerate to overtake and particularly on uphill stretches. On the return journey the light did not come back on upon start up and did the whole run with no problem. I have replaced the MAF sensor twice and the latest one has been on for 3 weeks so I know thats ok. I can't take it to a garage as the problem only happens now and again. Anyone had this and sorted it? Oh and it's a 1.9 TDI.:confused:

Can you hear the turbo more loudly when it does it?

If so then check all the pipes between the turbo and intercooler and between the intercooler and inlet manifold. You might have a loose pipe. When the hole opens you are losing boost so the car feels really slow and the traction control light will come on. Wouldn't have thought this would be an intermittent fault though if that's the case :confused:

Thanks very much for the suggetion. Getting a service soon so will ask them to check pipes. Can't say I've noticed any increase in noise from turbo but it's worth a try.

Cheers.

My first thought was "that's how ASW is supposed to work!". Then I read on.

As suggested it might be a loose pipe, but it might also be the notorious sticky VVT problem, particularly if the car is a 110 (TDi)

Yes it could be the sticky turbo problem, take it out and try revving it over 3000rpm and see if that makes it happen. Does turning the ignition off and on make it go back to normal when it does happen?

When I had the turbo problem it would sometimes go a couple of weeks without doing it and then do it several times in one day. It can be intermittant but you will get fault codes stored.

Thanks Ken and trundlenut,

Yes it is a 110tdi and your advice sounds very useful. The only thing is I'm a complete novice so will need to get the garage to sort it for me. Turning the ignition off does seem to get rid of it but it sometimes comes back later in the same journey. What is a sticky turbo and what do I need to do about it? Thanks for your help.

Basically there are movable vanes inside the turbo on the exhaust side and gradually carbon/muck builds up in the turbo and stops the vanes from moving properly and they tend to jam in one position which gives too much boost and the engines goes into limp mode to avoid damaging the engine.

A search will reveal all.

We could do with a sticky turbo sticky thread really...