So we have purchased a new octavia tdi (nothing but trouble so far)

 

and one problem i have noticed is that it really struggles to get above 70mph /around 2500rpm, it just wont go past 2500rpm.

 

what's stranger is that it pulls (in my oppinion) very weill up to 70, and 0-60 feels pretty quick to be fair, the car certainly doesn't feel down on power at all. 

 

what is scary, is that the car had just had an "engine swap" prior to my purchasing it, and the more i look at it, the more worried I get! I won't get into it too much, but i've just recently found the radiators/intercooler held on with zip ties!

 

and when I first got the car the turbo vacuum line wasn't even plugged in, as well as stripped bolts holding the EGR on, (not creating a seal) so all this makes me wonder what other horrors lurk within this car!

The car is going to my mechanic on tuesday so hopefully he can help shed some light on this, but i wanted to get the communities opinion on this, as my mechanic said he really doesn't have much to do with diesels at all.

 

help appreciated.

 

-Matthew

 

Edit: forgot to mention i was also given a print out when it was last in the garage for the codes its currently showing;

 

17810 - EGR valve (n18) - however i believe this code went out when new bolts were put into the egr and that was reset.

 

 

17054 - Glow plug module 1; Glow plug circuit

 

he said hes not exactly sure what it means, but would likely need glow plugs replacing.

Edited 9 July, 201411 yr by Lixah

It could be the MAF sensor. It's on the air intake after the air filter. Try unplugging it and going for a drive. If it's better then that's your fault.

 

Phil

It is possible to limit the speed in the ECU. Sadly, it's a one-way trip.....downwards only.

Yeah if the car literally won't go over 70mph then this could be the case.

 

It can be reset with the right software but it's not just a case of using VCDS.

 

Phil

Oh, the glow-plug error, my Elegance still does that, for all four plugs. No problems in starting, even in the middle of winter. So don't be in too much of a sweaty rush on that one.

 

I would suggest getting a scan done by a VCDS owner, so you'll have a bit more info to go on.

VCDS owners map here: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209732397261666218585.0004c66cecde3f435ecb4&msa=0&dg=feature

 

However, let's probe a bit more too.......

 

70mph or 2500rpm? Does it max out at 2500 in 4th and 3rd?

 

1.9 or 2.0?

 

Dealer or private purchase?

Oh, the glow-plug error, my Elegance still does that, for all four plugs. No problems in starting, even in the middle of winter. So don't be in too much of a sweaty rush on that one.

 

I would suggest getting a scan done by a VCDS owner, so you'll have a bit more info to go on.

VCDS owners map here: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=209732397261666218585.0004c66cecde3f435ecb4&msa=0&dg=feature

 

However, let's probe a bit more too.......

 

70mph or 2500rpm? Does it max out at 2500 in 4th and 3rd?

 

1.9 or 2.0?

 

Dealer or private purchase?

 

 

 

it's a 1.9 and when i just went out it stopped at about 3k revs in third (after pulling very strong up a hill) then dead stopped at 3k wouldnt go above. then on a gentle hill i was going around 60 mph. in 4th if i remember and just would not pull at all.

it's a bit strange to explain - also I have not driven it much at all on the motorway, so i havent had much experience with this. so ill have to do some more testing. 

 

as for the purchase, everything was a bit wierd, i dont even know, he said its a private purchase, but we went out on trade plates. so i dont know.

 

Try my suggestion of unplugging the MAF.

 

It sounds like it could be that.

 

Any smoke out the back?

 

Phil

Try my suggestion of unplugging the MAF.

 

It sounds like it could be that.

 

Any smoke out the back?

 

Phil

Hi Phil,

 

I forgot to mention I did try that last night, it was exactly the same :(

 

No smoke out the back, the car has just had a new engine + turbo + injectors. 

 

Regards, Matt

Ok I had to go out this morning, so i took a video to try to show the problems i am having.

 

http://youtu.be/Z_hslKKv57Y

 

At ~1minute mark i am getting onto a dual carriage way so its best to watch from that point, (as from then my foot it 100% flat to the ground)

 

i'm in second as i get on it, and it didn't hit any sort of limiter.

 

as you can see in 3rd it sticks pretty solid at 3500 and at which point i switch into 4th.

 

once in 4th it pretty much sticks at 2500 rpm. (im going just under 60mph)

 

and i eventually go to 5th just to see what happens.

 

The car didn't really go over about 60mph with my foot flat to the floor.

management light on? Limp home mode?

management light on? Limp home mode?

 

EML present throughout the video

yes I thought i'd mentioned that. it wasn't on when i purchased the car, but since my mechanic sorted out the EGR valve/vacuum line problems it has been on continuously 

Fella, you have the EML light on so regardless you have issues... you need to have it scanned and see whats wrong (buy a cheap ELM327 scanner from Ebay and use the software to get the code)

 

Also if you had limp mode there is no way it would accelerate like it did in the video at all so I would expect it to be EGR or ASV related... may also be worth clearing out the MAF with electrical contact cleaner just in case.. 

 

Bottom line, scan first!

Edited 10 July, 201411 yr by Dread1977

According to the VCDS Owners map, there's about a dozen of so members around the Tamworth area

The car has been scanned when my mechanic had it, he gave me the sheet I have it here

 

2 faults found;

 

17810 - EGR valve (n18)

 

17054 - Glow plug module 1; Glow plug citcuit

 

now I believe he said he re scanned it after he sorted the EGR valve and it was not showing that code anymore.

That looks like somebody has been playing with the speed limiter settings to be honest, it goes too well for there to be a major ecu related fault.

The car has been scanned when my mechanic had it, he gave me the sheet I have it here

 

2 faults found;

 

17810 - EGR valve (n18)

 

17054 - Glow plug module 1; Glow plug citcuit

 

now I believe he said he re scanned it after he sorted the EGR valve and it was not showing that code anymore.

 

The EML is on for a reason, a scan will tell you what that reason is.

 

Also, having it hooked to VCDS will show you if it has been limited. I standard diagnostic reader won't give you that information. Given what you've said about the car so far, it sounds like you have a couple of issues.

well that's quite good news I would think. If its just limited that is something less to worry about. and not a mechanical failure!

 

I have figured it out, i don't know exactly what speed/rpm but at a certain level its going into limp mode, i think its somewhere around ~3k rpm in 3rd that will trigger it. 

I just went out for a nice long drive, and it was perfect, as soon as i took the speed up to ~70 (~~2500rpm) its straight away into limp mode for the whole way back. until the key is turned! and then once the car is back on its fine again until it hits that limit.

Well if thats the case surely its overboost caused by sticking vanes in turbo, massive common problem in 1.9s mine went great until hit about 3k

Well if thats the case surely its overboost caused by sticking vanes in turbo, massive common problem in 1.9s mine went great until hit about 3k

Hi, after doing some research that does appear to match my symptoms perfectly!

Do you know of any particularly good guides that I can use to have a go at cleaning them myself? preferably picture heavy!

 

Regards, Matt

Well if thats the case surely its overboost caused by sticking vanes in turbo, massive common problem in 1.9s mine went great until hit about 3k

 

Ah that would be the old "Mr Muscle" solution However, IIRC the PD105 doesn't have variable vanes though.

Ah that would be the old "Mr Muscle" solution However, IIRC the PD105 doesn't have variable vanes though.

 

All mk2 Octavia diesel engines use variable vane turbos. I think the last fixed vane turbo was used in the old pre-PD 1.9 90 bhp engine fitted to the mk1.

 

Sticking vanes just seem to be less of a problem in the PD105 version for some reason. Some of the early 1.9 VNTs suffered quite badly from it.

I assume if i get to the turbo and see if i can move the arm that should be an indication of weather that is my problem or not?

Matt,

This may be worth a try:

http://www.powerenhancer.co.uk/product.php/839/archoil-ar6600-professional-diesel-turbo-cleaner