Well, had the diagnostic test today on the Octavia I've owned for almost a month. Code 17965. Dealer says 95% sure it needs a new turbo (rough estimate of £800 fitted). Needs to do further vacuum testing to diagnose without doubt, which will cost about another £90. Where can I go from here? I think it's the Garrett 038253019D, its an ASV 1.9TDI engine, 51 plate.

Anyone got a new one of these just gathering dust?! I'm assuming it's not worth trying to save a small amount of money by getting a recon one. The chap I bought the car from may be willing to chip in towards cost (one man band dealer), but also said that turbo is ancilliary, and really only warranties the actual engine & gearbox...

I've booked it in for the vacuum testing just so I am sure it's not just a pipe or a sensor. Is it really worth stripping mine to de-coke? Sounds like a fair bit of work that may or may not be worthwhile. Can anyone recommend the cheapest supplier of a new one (about £500 inc VAT is the best I've managed so far). At least if a dealer supplies & fits it may be easier to take back in the event of another failure. I'm not sure quite what to do, a real shame as the car is great in all other ways, could do without this in the run up to Xmas!

Thanks in advance folks!

AUDI / VW TURBOS : TURBO-TURBOCHARGERS.COM

Yes, it definitely is worth whipping the turbo off and giving it a good clean out

Clean it first. A bit of searching over on TDIclub seems to point to a sticking VNT mechanism rather than the need for a new turbo. I'm surprised the dealer was not aware of this, but "new turbo" does seem to be bit of an easy way out of this problem. It's also worth checking all the turbo hoses as a split/leaky joint could also give rise to this issue as the car is sensing a mismatch between requested boost and actual boost (i think?)

I had this same fault code a month ago (under warranty). The mechanic then took around an hour looking into it. The VNT actuator was sticking so I ended up with a new turbo (fortunate!).

Loads of threads on here about it. Pretty common with the 110 TDI's. Like the previous poster said there are also threads showing how to clean the turbo etc and many have found the turbo's to be perfectly good after the clean.

I should add....is the car under warranty????

I thought mine was ferucked & had even bought a 130 one to go on (requires mods & a remap so not probably the way you want to go if money is a consideration).

A very kind member who I wont name as he wont want to be inundated with requests cleaned mine for me & its perfect so I would certainly recomend a strip & clean.

S/hand turbo should be around 150 ish

Thanks for the replys. I reckon after they have verified it's the turbo on Friday with a vacuum test (does this rule out the hoses as culprits?) I'll have a go at removal & cleaning at the weekend. Do I just need the exhaust manifold & downpipe gaskets or are there more parts I need to get in ready? Anyone know of a good mail order firm for getting whatever gaskets I need quickly? Am thinking that by the time I phone the dealer tomorrow they may not be able to get the parts by Friday. I meant to pick up a Haynes manual on the way home tonight but was too late for the shop, don't expect it gives any more info than here. Take it it's also worth covering anything to undo with WD40 the night before.

Have seen the thread on removal, and it's mentioned that a soft brush & brake cleaner will do, is there anything better such as thinners, or would this be a bit strong?

Car has a very limited 'warranty' which will certainly not cover the full costs. Bugger.

I had this problem with my diesel octy and when I asked the skoda dealer what was actually wrong with the turbo he said he didn't know and it didn't matter, they don't repair things only replace them. Can't remember what the code was but the approach was that code = change turbo.

Garage I used to use in Cardiff did all the work for the renault main dealer when the computer wouldn't tell them what was wrong, because none of the staff at the dealership actually knew anything more than how to replace bits.

One way to have a quick check is with the engine off move the VNT vanes using the actuator arm. What happens is they tend to jam, often in the fully open position, and cause a limp mode on over boost.

Your best bet for parts quickly is to use VW and ask them to get them next day for you and if necessary use VOR.

Parts will be standard across the VAG range for an ASV engine.

There was a recent thread/guide started by Tom vRS which lists the parts you'll need.

A good gallon of parafin and a couple of cat litter trays or similar for soaking the bits in.

The job can be quite fiddly on a tranverse mounted engine, you'll also be taking the EGR off so may as well clean that too.

Obviously be very very careful no to break and manifold studs so I'd recomend a quick squirt with some penetrating oil a couple of hours before you start.

Thanks Stu, will hopefully have a go at the weekend. Unless of course the vacuum testing they do on Friday finds that it's a £50 sensor needed and nothing else. Well, have to live in hope!

Well, the dealer has done the vacuum testing and is now only 90% sure it's the turbo whereas they were 95% sure after the diagnostic test. So they want to try it with a new N75 valve before confirming the turbo and as they haven't got one in stock it has to wait until next week. Therefore I'm not going to pull the turbo apart this weekend just in case the small chance that it is the N75 (I bloody hope so!). Anyone think there's a good chance it's just the N75 or is this false hope?

What were the symptoms whilst driving ??

Ours would be OK in lower gears then when on full throttle in upper gears it would overboost causing the car to switch to a semi safe mode & loose performance. Normal service resumed as soon as you stopped & started the car, thats until the next flat out drive. Cleaning the Turbo cured that

I would say 51 plate and guessing average miles for that year you'd be in the bracket for a turbo clean. If it isn't bothering you enough to wait until they get an N75 then why not let them try it.

Thanks Stu. 106K miles, one owner. Symptoms are intermittent, generally a spinning radial type noise coming in at 1200- 2000 rpm, as though something spinning is kissing something once every half a second maybe. This sometimes goes again, sometimes the car starts to surge a bit in time with the noise. If I put the clutch in and rev the engine whilst it is doing these noises, you can hear the slowing of the radial noise for a half secong or so after the engine revs have gone down after releasing the throttle. A couple of times the car has refused to rev past 3k rpm, changing up a gear and resigning myself to low revs has allowed the journey to carry on OK. Just once it appeared to cut out, with the generator dash light coming on, but the engine then bump started itself again and so I didn't need to stop. Hope this description makes some sort of sense! I'm going to wait until the N75 is changed before I pull the turbo off. Wouldn't mind so much if it was in the summer, last thing I want to do is spend all day in the cold dismantling my car unless I have to!

You'll really enjoy it!!! I'd wholeheartedly recomend a good supply of disposable latex gloves too.