VW Golf 2.0TDI 4motion MK5 55 reg - No power - mileage 150k+

[Lady MOT]

A bit of background:

Until recently, this car has given given me no trouble and I can honestly say it's the best car I have ever owned.

Feb 2015: Turbo started to whistle, clutch wearing, loud noise coming from back when driving over 80mph

June 2015: Traction control light on. Fault: No 4wd

Feb 2016: Turbo goes, car unable to drive. Sourced a reconditioned turbo and had it fitted by a local garage.

Car drives ok ish for a couple of weeks.

Mar 2016: Timing belt and water pump replaced

April 2016: Car now starting to go into limp mode and losing power
Fault: under boost
Check all hoses and connections
Found a few hoses were not connected properly by the garage.
Car drives ok for a day
Goes back into limp mode

June 2016: Clutch, flywheel and master cylinder replaced
Clutch feels greats, Car still not performing 100% and continues to lose power.
MAF sensor replaced
Car runs better than it has done for a long time. Still can't get it past 100-110mph though on a test run but very happy all the same

This week: Car goes back into limp mode. Engine management light on. Fault Emissions Workshop

Need help with why the car is still losing power and continues to go into limp mode. Is it because of the turbo? Are there any other checks that I have missed. Any advice appreciated. The car has been seen by at least 5 VW experts and they are all baffled and pointing to the reconditioned turbo. Love the car, don't think it's ready for the scrap heap just yet!!!

[anonymous-user]

have you had fault code read on vagcom and live data readout?

i would check turbo is actually boosting via check.(can be done diy but garage should have equipment)

[Lady MOT]

Update: Disconnected the hoses and pipes to turbo and looks as if there is a fault with the turbo bearings. Looking to get a replacement. Won't know if it was the turbo until after the replacement is fitted.

Keep you updated.

[Lhasa]

Lady MOT said:

A bit of background:

Until recently, this car has given given me no trouble and I can honestly say it's the best car I have ever owned.

It great to see another ph'er with a mk5 tdi 4motion, definitively agree with the best car I ever owned too! 133k on mine and to date not a single problem and flies through the MOT with a clean sheet every year.

The TDI engines are prone to air leaks, which will stress the turbo if left unattended, and can lead to overboost/turbo issues, so it's worth regularly checking the turbo air pipes

[xjay1337]

Check for turbo overboost or issues with vacuum at that mileage

Remanufactured turbos are usually chocolate crap and poorly adjusted.

[Lady MOT]

You are definitely not far off about reconditioned turbos, this one has given me so many problems. I'm going to give the replacement a go and if that fails I will have to consider buying new.

I'm only this tolerant as I've had the car from new and it's only just started to give be problems.

Watch this space for an update.

[xjay1337]

Just buy turbos from decent sources. Most cheap ones come from Poland and are poorly manufacturered.

There are some UK companies, CR Turbos for example who can help
Also other companies which can provided upgraded turbos, not necessairly in terms of power but internals which are stronger.
Xman also sells cheap bolt on turbos which will take your car to about 220 to 230bhp with a remap.