VW Polo 1.9TDI turbo problems - help please!

hopefulfooluk

Hi all,

I have a 52 reg Polo 1.9TDI with 102k on the clock. Up until today it has been working superbly.

I did a long drive (250 miles) in very very heavy rain yesterday - the car was fine. However on getting into it this afternoon and driving it down the road, it was obvious that something was seriously wrong with it power-wise as nothing happened when I put my foot down. It would get to the point where the turbo usually kicks in, but the turbo didn't kick in and it just made a lot of noise (engine noise, not any whooshing or anything). It is so bad that even small hills are problematic even in second gear.

I have no doubt that it is either the turbo or something that is turbo-related, but do any of you know whether this is a common problem with this engine?

Another thing I have noticed which has been happening for 6 weeks or so intermittently is that sometimes, when I turn the car on the engine coolant level warning light comes on. There's plenty of coolant and turning the engine off and then immediately on again clears the warning, but it is unnerving nonetheless and possibly related to what has started happening today?

If anyone could give me some pointers before I take it to a garage to get it diagnosed, that would be great as no doubt I will be charged an arm and a leg even for them to just look at it and tell me what's up.

Cheers in advance,

Chris

pinkneonmartini

i dunno about the coolant prob, but my turbo diesel yaris had the same problem of not kicking in when i put my foot down, turned out to just be a lose hose, a 50p plastic clip had broken off so i was essentially driving on just the diesel with no turbo, hence the lack of power. Toyota didn't even charge me, coz it took 2 mins to fix

mitchaa

You may have a boost leak.

I would check that all pipework visible to the eye is tight and secure. A boost pipe that has blown off and therefore not completing the turbo circuit to and from the intercooler would almost certainly cause this problem. Blown turbo would usually result in heavy smoke out the back.

No engine warning light? Misfiring of cylinders?

Coolant problem is down to sensor, this needs replacing

hopefulfooluk

Thanks people - fingers crossed it is something so simple to rectify. I'll have a look in the morning when I can see and post back with more info.

Cheers again!

hewhoisnotintheknow

i would join a vw forum, common problem on VW

tomstickland

Join TDI Club.
It could just be a sensor or wiring problem. I lost boost on my 1.9TDi after disturbing some wiring when changing a pipe. It fixed itself after a bit of driving. They do rely on all of the sensors working in order to function.

harveybobbles

Split or loose turbo pipe or possibly MAF...

hopefulfooluk

Thanks for your input everyone. No loose pipes so took it down to the local garage (NOT vw garage!). Air mass meter had broken so they replaced it and it's now working fine - total cost for repair £109 (including the cost of the new meter).

Bargain

LandyAndy

harveybobbles wrote: »

Split or loose turbo pipe or possibly MAF...

hopefulfooluk wrote: »

Thanks for your input everyone. No loose pipes so took it down to the local garage (NOT vw garage!). Air mass meter had broken so they replaced it and it's now working fine - total cost for repair £109 (including the cost of the new meter).

Bargain

Lucky guess.;):D