TDi intermittent power loss
Discussion
A friend has an Audi A3 1.9 TDi - 2002 "Mk 1" model - that I drive often. However it exhibits a strange problem.
Coincidentally, this week my Citroen was in for a service and I've been lent a different A3, a 2.0 TDi - 2004 "Mk 2" - model. Bizzarely, this has the identical problem to the first car, despite being a different body shape and different engine.
What gives?
The problem is: extreme loss of power after a long duration of acceleration. Best demonstrated in 4th or 5th gear, hold the pedal to the floor. After 7 or 8 seconds of full acceleration - ZIP. Suddenly, all power is lost. You can barely maintain 30mph on the flat.
Switch off the engine, and back on, and it all comes back again. In fact, just rapidly flick the ignition off and on - while still moving along in gear - and all the power comes straight back.
That HAS to be electrical, right? This would seem to be a common VAG TDi trait so who else has had it and how to know exactly what's the problem? I would like to fix my friend's car. Engine diagnostics show no error codes stored.
Coincidentally, this week my Citroen was in for a service and I've been lent a different A3, a 2.0 TDi - 2004 "Mk 2" - model. Bizzarely, this has the identical problem to the first car, despite being a different body shape and different engine.
What gives?
The problem is: extreme loss of power after a long duration of acceleration. Best demonstrated in 4th or 5th gear, hold the pedal to the floor. After 7 or 8 seconds of full acceleration - ZIP. Suddenly, all power is lost. You can barely maintain 30mph on the flat.
Switch off the engine, and back on, and it all comes back again. In fact, just rapidly flick the ignition off and on - while still moving along in gear - and all the power comes straight back.
That HAS to be electrical, right? This would seem to be a common VAG TDi trait so who else has had it and how to know exactly what's the problem? I would like to fix my friend's car. Engine diagnostics show no error codes stored.
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