I've taken my car to the stealer for a second service (34k) and they called up to say the car won't be ready today as the turbo failed on the diagnostics, so it prob needs replacing!!!

Anyone else had this problem come up??

I've not noticed anything wrong with the car so not sure what this is about, but at least the car's still under warranty.

Random....

Turbo failures are not uncommon with these TDI engines. However, I would have thought you'd have noticed either an absence of boost or the car going into temporary limp mode. Still if it's under warrenty there's nothing to worry about financially...

the only thing i did notice when driving here was sometimes at around 3500rpm at just over 70mph there would be a tiny blip, about half a second, where the turbo seemed to drop.

They could be related but i'm no expert, all I can say is I've had a turbo failure and they are very obvious, i.e. plumes of thick white smoke, fiesta power and a horrible rattling from the engine/turbo.

I don't understand the diagnosis process either. I could be wrong but I don't think a VAG COM would pick up a fault with the turbo itself, I don't think there are any sensors on the turbo. Maybe the Boost Pressure solenoid valve has a sensor. Someone will have to help me out on this.......

There is no sensors on the actual turbo for abvious reason(its too bloody hot when it gets going) although the diagnostics may have picked some thing up leading to signs of turbo failure...? If that sounds plausable

Darren  

mortygttdi:

There is no sensors on the actual turbo for abvious reason(its too bloody hot when it gets going) although the diagnostics may have picked some thing up leading to signs of turbo failure...? If that sounds plausable

Darren  

ok thanks. I see you have a Bluefin on yours too (i've also got one), though I wonder if this has anything to do with it?

VAG diesel Turbos can fail big style (oil smoke, no performance etc.) but more usually  they can show symptoms of overboost when they get clagged up.  This also causes the occasional lack of performance you report.  If it's been found on diagnostics, chances are it is the second option.  A new turbo is the dealer's chosen fix, but you can strip it and clean out the carbon to get the turbo working again.  I've done this successfully on an Audi.

If the car is still under warranty, just let them get on with it.  They might not like your Bluefin though (if could even be the cause of a wrong reading at diagnostic), so it might be a good idea to take the car away, take out the Bluefin and give them car back for the work to be done.  You can imagine the conversation, "we've fitted a new turbo sir, but your aftermarket mod is the cause of the problem so you owe us £2000".

If the car is not under warranty, do a search of TDiClub.com for info on turbo problems, how to diagnose and how to fix them.  Also, ask the dealer exactly what fault codes it threw up and what they mean. A new turbo is the last and most expensive option if all else fails.

I hope this helps.

thanks for that information, very informative Teflon. The car is still under warranty so i'm letting them get on with it.

Just spoke to the service department and they said it was another 56 plate GTTDI with turbo fault on diagnostics, mine is needing replacing as there is too much howling from the turbo when its driven, but it thought this was just how they sounded! Does anyone else's TDI howl alot?

My PD 130 with revo went pop after 12000 Miles, it was replaced under warrenty by Seat think was just over 2K, no questions asked about a remap, dealers love warrenty work.

Just a thought but could the Howling be the increased boost from the remap??

not sure about the howling, as far as i'm aware it was there from the day i bought the car. One thing from when i did buy the car though is I drove it through Bristol when I picked it up and there was shed loads of smoke coming out the back when i put my foot down! This cleared after giving the car a good run on the Motorway on the way home, and i think this was due to only having been driven around a city so hadn't had a good run.

Could this have been an early indication?

white smoke or black ? If its white, then yes - I had a new turbo at 7000 miles as it was pouring white smoke out the back ( so thick that I couldn't see what was behind me ). As for the owl noise, VW told me that unless the car is suffering a loss of power, they won't replace the turbo under warranty.

damianmkv:

white smoke or black ? If its white, then yes - I had a new turbo at 7000 miles as it was pouring white smoke out the back ( so thick that I couldn't see what was behind me ). As for the owl noise, VW told me that unless the car is suffering a loss of power, they won't replace the turbo under warranty.

Yes is was white smoke. One funny thing that happened was that as i was sat at the lights a bentley convertible pulled up behind me so when the lights changed I put the power down and loads of smoke covered the driver and passenger of the Bentley!! lol

As for the howl, they said they are going to replace the turbo and send off the old turbo to check it.

if its a bit hazy and has stopped now, I'd usually say its not an issue. If its thick plumes all the time when the car is under load, its a gonner. Obviously in your case, the techs have heard something they don't like.

As they're replacing it, either there was a power loss...or my stealer is lying.

Is the stealer short of business and looking for work to boost their income ? Ask them if you can drive another TDI 140 and see if it sounds the same as yours. 

 mine you mean, Brian ?

think Brian mean't me. I'll get the car back friday as out tomorrow, so i'll see if they have another GT TDI there to test when I collect mine to see if that makes a noise too.

Maybe they are after business so gone for a new turbo. they also said the I needed the aircon servicing and brakes bleeding (another £154) which is advisable every 2 years, plus new front tyres (Pirelli P-zeros 225/45 R17 x 2 @ £250 - price matched Kwik-Fit), but I found these online from BlackCircle, fitted locally for £182.72!!

 Vag com would show a potential turbo fault, when a boost pressure request is made, if the pressure wasn't eqaul to the request, the boost line would be examined, if after checking for leaks and the valves in the line were okay, and the boost request still wasn't being met, then a suspect faulty turbo would be an accurate diagnosis.

Hi Rich,

I thought you got a warranty (12month?) with the Bluefin which covers you for any problems deemed related to the upgrade.

I'm using a Tunit which is certainly covered by a limited 3 years warranty I think.

richGTTDI:

mortygttdi:

There is no sensors on the actual turbo for abvious reason(its too bloody hot when it gets going) although the diagnostics may have picked some thing up leading to signs of turbo failure...? If that sounds plausable

Darren  

ok thanks. I see you have a Bluefin on yours too (i've also got one), though I wonder if this has anything to do with it?

Hi Rich

Did they give you any hassle about having Superchips on your car and the turbo having problems?

 i didn't have any issues when mine was done - no questions

 Mmm

I have been told by a VW technician that is it a more common problem that people are aware

The VW`s and Audi`s seem to have more of a problem

This he thought , may be the long life service that does not help

Sarah

its weird as none of the Audis i've driven have had the owl noise, but numerous VWs have...