MK4 Golf GT TDi Turbo Whistle?
Discussion
I have a MK4 Golf GT TDi PD115, 2001 Y plate 85K miles.
I've owned the car for nearly 2 years and decided a little more power was required, and proceeded to have a generic remap done to make around 150bhp.
This was done around 2 months ago and the turbo whistle remained the same, however recently (about 4 days ago) the turbo whistle is now very noticable inside the car and much louder under acceleration which you can clearly hear with the windows down.
The car also goes into limp mode on motorway journeys, which upon reading on the internet suggests this could be due to a sticking turbo actuator rod or a boost leak, if the car is switch off and restarted normal power returns. I have had this problem before (7/8k miles ago) and changed various sensors including the dreaded MAF, a block of wires were found in the engine bay and a number of which were broken/breaking and these were replaced with a new block and new wires and the limp mode problem stopped happening.
In the time since fixing this problem the first time to having it remapped it has never gone into limp mode, only recently the problem has returned i.e post remap.
Sorry to waffle, just wanted you to hear the full story.
So my question is do you think the remap may have something to do with it going into limp mode? and is the now very audible turbo whistle a sign that the turbo actuator rod has freed up and the turbo is spinning faster/more freely, or could it be a boost leak or is it a sign that the turbo is knackered?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
p.s the car hasn't gone into limp mode since the turbo whistle got louder, but that may be coicidence. Also the car doesn't feel any slower/less responsive.
I've owned the car for nearly 2 years and decided a little more power was required, and proceeded to have a generic remap done to make around 150bhp.
This was done around 2 months ago and the turbo whistle remained the same, however recently (about 4 days ago) the turbo whistle is now very noticable inside the car and much louder under acceleration which you can clearly hear with the windows down.
The car also goes into limp mode on motorway journeys, which upon reading on the internet suggests this could be due to a sticking turbo actuator rod or a boost leak, if the car is switch off and restarted normal power returns. I have had this problem before (7/8k miles ago) and changed various sensors including the dreaded MAF, a block of wires were found in the engine bay and a number of which were broken/breaking and these were replaced with a new block and new wires and the limp mode problem stopped happening.
In the time since fixing this problem the first time to having it remapped it has never gone into limp mode, only recently the problem has returned i.e post remap.
Sorry to waffle, just wanted you to hear the full story.
So my question is do you think the remap may have something to do with it going into limp mode? and is the now very audible turbo whistle a sign that the turbo actuator rod has freed up and the turbo is spinning faster/more freely, or could it be a boost leak or is it a sign that the turbo is knackered?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
p.s the car hasn't gone into limp mode since the turbo whistle got louder, but that may be coicidence. Also the car doesn't feel any slower/less responsive.
Hey mate had a similar problem with my volvo T5 and my new Polo TDI.
Check the breather hoses and feeds to the turbo as on both my cars these have been very slightly pereshed (sp) and especially in the polo 1.9 tdi went into a limp home mode. Got that sorted and now has plenty of power again!!!
Do you have a boost gauge in the car? The T5 did and when the pipes went on it the gauge used to go off the scale which may explain the louder turbo whine?
just my 2p's worth, hope this helps mate!
Check the breather hoses and feeds to the turbo as on both my cars these have been very slightly pereshed (sp) and especially in the polo 1.9 tdi went into a limp home mode. Got that sorted and now has plenty of power again!!!
Do you have a boost gauge in the car? The T5 did and when the pipes went on it the gauge used to go off the scale which may explain the louder turbo whine?
just my 2p's worth, hope this helps mate!
Edited by wullie_t25 on Monday 6th April 21:46
Mk4 diesels are quite well known for having turbo problems, like you said sticking vanes.
Are you are a member of Uk MkIV? If not sign up and take a look on there as there is lots of info.
Also if you can get the car scanned by someone with VAGCOM, again UK MkIV has a list of people with it who are always happy to help in return for a few beers etc.
Are you are a member of Uk MkIV? If not sign up and take a look on there as there is lots of info.
Also if you can get the car scanned by someone with VAGCOM, again UK MkIV has a list of people with it who are always happy to help in return for a few beers etc.
My old man is having a similar problem with a 2002 Seat Toleodo TDI. A perished hose solved the noise problem but it still persistently goes into limp mode and he's had it to two specialists who have been unable to diagnose or solve the problem. The first specialist replaced the MAF but proplem continued, the second specialist replaced that MAF (saying it was the wrong one) and yet the problem goes on. He's at his wits end with the thing now.
Thanks for all your advice guys.
The car doesn't have a boost gauge so i don't know what PSI/bar its running.
I have read on the internet about cleaning the turbo using innotec, i will look into this further.
I'll take a look under the bonnet and check the hoses/feeds to the turbo over Easter.
I do know a friend of a friend who has VAGCOM software on his laptop, its just a case of catching them both together!
Good call on UK MKIV's website i'll post a question on there later.
I'll post back with any results soon!
The car doesn't have a boost gauge so i don't know what PSI/bar its running.
I have read on the internet about cleaning the turbo using innotec, i will look into this further.
I'll take a look under the bonnet and check the hoses/feeds to the turbo over Easter.
I do know a friend of a friend who has VAGCOM software on his laptop, its just a case of catching them both together!
Good call on UK MKIV's website i'll post a question on there later.
I'll post back with any results soon!
Sounds similar symptoms to my Cupra R back when it was new it used to whistle on boost which I thought was normal until a RR showed me I was about 30bhp down on standard, I've had another standard one go since...louder this time with stuttering performance. Changed to an uprated one now and it's fine.
Cheers
Mike
Cheers
Mike
Just thought I would let you guys know that since posting the question the car has never gone into limp mode! Turbo whistle still loud but has never gone into limp mode, great stuff I thought.
But and its a really big BUT!!
The turbo went last night!!!
Just set off from my girlfreinds house, literally 1st gear out of her drive and que strange noise, loads of smoke and no power!
According to a simple diagnosis the seals have gone on the turbo and its dragging oil from the sump which is collecting in the intercooler and engine, just waiting for the recovery truck now to take it into a garage
But and its a really big BUT!!
The turbo went last night!!!
Just set off from my girlfreinds house, literally 1st gear out of her drive and que strange noise, loads of smoke and no power!
According to a simple diagnosis the seals have gone on the turbo and its dragging oil from the sump which is collecting in the intercooler and engine, just waiting for the recovery truck now to take it into a garage
It might not be as bad as you think, it could be the hose from the turbo to the intercooler, either split or busted. It would have the same effect as you have explained. I know as i have been there, twice. Blew the hose on the motorway and lost all power and stacks of smoke.
Take a look forst before you commit to a new turbo, a split in the hose would also account for the invrease in noise over the past too.
Take a look forst before you commit to a new turbo, a split in the hose would also account for the invrease in noise over the past too.
solid advice...
my only expereince, and its not the same engine, but on a 1.8T was the turbo blowing up at 105k. The feeder hoses to the turbo were seriously clogged, and starved the turbo and it slowly ate itself. I never got an actual reason but as a guess i woudl say changing from longlife servicing to a more regular 8k interval did it in my book, you could see different oils around the inside fo the pipe where it was choked. Do check the hoses/plumbing...
And the intercooler clear up, also hear the exact same on a PD130, good to confirm!
my only expereince, and its not the same engine, but on a 1.8T was the turbo blowing up at 105k. The feeder hoses to the turbo were seriously clogged, and starved the turbo and it slowly ate itself. I never got an actual reason but as a guess i woudl say changing from longlife servicing to a more regular 8k interval did it in my book, you could see different oils around the inside fo the pipe where it was choked. Do check the hoses/plumbing...
And the intercooler clear up, also hear the exact same on a PD130, good to confirm!
Just back tracking a bit, when you said turbos gone and loads of smoke, I presumed you meant blue oil smoke.
If you actually meant black diesel smoke, the turbo will be fine, its going to be a split pipe or intercooler, may also log the code for airmas meter implausible signal, that doesnt mean the airmas meter is faulty but you have a leak in the boost system.
If it was blue oil smoke then as I said before, turbo and clean out of intercooler. Comments about the oil feed pipe are spot on, we replace them with turbos regardless, which is why i forgot to mention it.
If you actually meant black diesel smoke, the turbo will be fine, its going to be a split pipe or intercooler, may also log the code for airmas meter implausible signal, that doesnt mean the airmas meter is faulty but you have a leak in the boost system.
If it was blue oil smoke then as I said before, turbo and clean out of intercooler. Comments about the oil feed pipe are spot on, we replace them with turbos regardless, which is why i forgot to mention it.
Thanks for your advice guys,
The smoke it produced was white/blue colour and smelled of oil, the car was checked over by the guy who services and generally looks after it for me, he checked for any loose/split or leaking pipes and as far as he could tell they were fine.
The garage its gone into is owned by a good friend and business associate of my dads so i'm sure he won't rip me off with a new turbo if it doesn't need one!
Hope to be back on the road soon!
The smoke it produced was white/blue colour and smelled of oil, the car was checked over by the guy who services and generally looks after it for me, he checked for any loose/split or leaking pipes and as far as he could tell they were fine.
The garage its gone into is owned by a good friend and business associate of my dads so i'm sure he won't rip me off with a new turbo if it doesn't need one!
Hope to be back on the road soon!
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff