MK4 Golf GT TDi 110 - Keeps going in to limp mode when accelarating past 2500 -3000 revs

DJMK4

DJMK4

DJMK4

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Iv seen it a few times, if im on the motorway, and I put some powe on to overtake, the car will sometimes go in to limp mode.

Any ideas what could be causing this.... turbo boost leak possibly?


I have also noticed my glow light is flashing. Although Im not sure if this is to do with the same issue.
 
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Does the ABS / TCS light also flash? If it's anything like the 1.8T this means the turbo is boosting more than the ecu wants, usually because of a vacum leak.
 
Friend had a 140bhp Mk5 which did the same, it was the fins on the turbot sticking. Actuator or some doo-lally? (Designed to move to act like both a small and large turbo?)
 
Cant see any lights coming on no when it happens.

The only dash lights that are showing at the moment is the glow plug light flashing (although I think this is to do with a different issue) and my water light as I have a coolant leak and the coolant tank is screwed I think.
 
EGR valve block can cause limp mode on other cars but usually accompanied by engine management light, though with the model of car you have may be worth looking at as the first google i did for egr and your model brought up some horror looking valves! :D A mates Pug is also in constant limp mode due to a DPF filter needing replacement (at least that is what the codes on the ecu refer to and what the pug garage reckon) which he cant be bothered with doing.
 
See if you can find someone with VAGCOM to read back the error log (some garages do this for free / small fee).
 
I have a copy of Vagcom but no cable, I might be borrowing a cable off someone so will have to check.

The car is going to be sold in a few months, therefore spending hundreds is not an option really, I am listing the car on ebay with the known faults, however I will check with Vagcom, and keep an eye out to see how frequently it "limps"

I have seen it twice in the past 2 weeks now.
 
The issues you described also coincide with a faulty MAF (which you can just unplug to check) but you wouldn't get a warning light with that
 
Vvt vanes sticking due to being sooted up.

Turbo off, disassemble, ultrasonic clean all the parts, bolt back together, refit.
Job done.

Fault code will be overboost.
 
Friend had the same issue he says this is 99% the problem

Turbo fins are sticking, innotec turbo cleaner can fix it sometimes, if not the turbo probably needs replacing, or stripping out and properly cleaned.
 
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Best thing would be to get it on VAGCOM first...

It could be any of the things already mentioned above - Or it could be:

Boost / Vacuum sensor or even a blocked CAT.
 
Could be sticking turbo vanes, my sisters A3 had the issue you describe with a fault code for over boost. She doesn't really rev it or drive it hard so it was clogged up.

I put some millers diesel additive in it and is was also sooting a lot then hammered the living daylights out of it for a couple of hours varying the revs to move the vanes and getting the turbo hot to try and clean it out. She hasn't had a problem with it since and that was a couple of years ago.

If that doesn't work my understanding is you can move the vanes by hand to free them up before the last resort of removing the turbo to clean it up.
 
My Farthers CDTi does this. Give it the beans and it goes into limp mode for 5 seconds and goes back to normal untill you rev it and give it some. Seems to not bother him as he keeps it off boost I keep telling him to get it fixed.

Same issue?
 
RSClio said:
My Farthers CDTi does this. Give it the beans and it goes into limp mode for 5 seconds and goes back to normal untill you rev it and give it some. Seems to not bother him as he keeps it off boost I keep telling him to get it fixed.

Same issue?
Click to expand...

If it is the Vauxhall/Fiat/Saab 1.9 CDTI yes they have variable vane turbos that can have this fault although very rare from what I have read. The fault generally develops on cars that aren't used across the full rev range every so often, if you keep the revs under 2500-2800 ish the vanes will never move so they get clogged up.
 
Ahh so its him you think causing the issue? I only notice it when I use it to move a few things, I rev it quite high well past the turbo going off boost, saying that maybe 1krpm ha! Such a different drive to my 2.0 N/A 182.

Anyways, you reckon taking it on a good drive to clear out all the rubbish that gets clogged up?
 
Managed to borrow a diagnostics cable for the weekend, I swear I have a copy of Vagcom amongst all my cd's.

Will have a look over the weekend.

Just to reiterate though what I said earlier, the only lights im seeing on my dash is for my coolant (not related) and glow light flashing (again I dont know if this related or not) however I have been seeing "Engine Workshop" flashing on the screen but I got a feeling this is related to the glow light flashing.


So options to fix

Buy Diesel Addictive/Turbo cleaner - Where does this go? In with the fuel? then give it some welly

Moving the vains by hand - Any idea if this is easy to do? what do you do when you move them? is it to clean them at the same time or just to release crap

Driving wise I would say I do rev up from time to time :)
 
Let me see what the output is on Vagcom over the weekend.

And just to note, Its not going in to limp mode "everytime" Iv seen it happen 2-3 times in the past week or two
 
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