bogsdollocks
03-07-2008, 01:41 PM
Hello!, my first post to the community, please be gentle :D
I have a VW Caddy Van, ALH engine Tdi on a 51 plate
For the past 18 months, i've been suffering from the well known 'limp home' mode problem, it started as just being intermittant, every now and again but has steadily got worse as the miles go by. Now its doing it on every journey, and its got the point where its become a hazard.
The fault occurs whenever the engine goes above 2500 rpm, or is under load such as pulling up a hill or motorway driving and nearly always occurs in 3rd gear.
The Fault reported by Vag-com is:-
P1556 Boost Pressure - Negative deviation - Intermittant
I since lost faith in all of the local garages and even one independant, whose diagnosis ranged from "You need a new turbo mate" to "You need a new engine mate" so i've spent the last six months throwing money at curing it via the DIY route. So far i've:-
(1) Replaced the Vac Lines with more hardwearing ones
(2) Replaced the N75 valve - well we had too because we snapped it during the course of doing (1) above!
(3) Replaced the Boost (Thrust) sensor
(4) Replaced the MAF Sensor with a Pierburg model
(5) Replaced the Intercooler
(6) Cleaned out the Turbo in situ with Innotek turbo clean
(7) Freed the VNT lever with a bit of jiggling and soaked with about 3 cans of WD40
I've checked the movement of the VNT by sucking on the pipe and it seems to move the full travel and then springs easily back when the vac is released.
The van has only covered 35k miles, and although its a very low mileage I don't baby it during driving either and it used for at least 1 fairly long journey per week, so i'm now at a loss as to what could be wrong. I thought the Vectra I owned before was bad, but it shines like a bright star in the mire which is a VW!.
I know many others have had this problem, I read through about 30 threads last night, however one or more of the above solutions had rectified it, and in my case, i've already done all of them and it hasn't :(.
My thoughts now turn to the VNT sticking possibility. I've found a place in Nottingham which specialises in curing this problem (probably the only one who does), but its a long way from me, and I need a garage local to remove the turbo for me, so I can send it off to him by carrier and then have the local garage refit once it is returned.
The garages around here are a complete waste of time, i've tried the reputable ones and they only want to sell and fit me a new turbo, and wont touch just the removal and refitment with a barge pole unless they supply a turbo as well and at a silly price. There is no way I can remove the turbo myself - it took me an entire weekend just to get access to the exhaust side to spray in the "Turbo Clean"!!
So my question is.
Could the fault be produced by caused by any other problem, before I commit to having the VNT done or the turbo replaced (the only option if nobody local will remove it!). Knowing my luck i'll have the turbo cleaned and the problem will remain.
Does anybody know / recommend a garage / mechanic in Cheshire / Staffs border who will do the removal / refit of the turbo without (a) Trying to rip me off and (b) Trying to flog me a new turbo.
The van is only worth £2500 so i'd push it off Beachy Head and go back to a lovely, reliable Vauxhall before spending 50% of its value on repairs!.
Any suggestions would be appreaciated, as desperation and frustration is setting in. Thanks in advance :beerchug:
I have a VW Caddy Van, ALH engine Tdi on a 51 plate
For the past 18 months, i've been suffering from the well known 'limp home' mode problem, it started as just being intermittant, every now and again but has steadily got worse as the miles go by. Now its doing it on every journey, and its got the point where its become a hazard.
The fault occurs whenever the engine goes above 2500 rpm, or is under load such as pulling up a hill or motorway driving and nearly always occurs in 3rd gear.
The Fault reported by Vag-com is:-
P1556 Boost Pressure - Negative deviation - Intermittant
I since lost faith in all of the local garages and even one independant, whose diagnosis ranged from "You need a new turbo mate" to "You need a new engine mate" so i've spent the last six months throwing money at curing it via the DIY route. So far i've:-
(1) Replaced the Vac Lines with more hardwearing ones
(2) Replaced the N75 valve - well we had too because we snapped it during the course of doing (1) above!
(3) Replaced the Boost (Thrust) sensor
(4) Replaced the MAF Sensor with a Pierburg model
(5) Replaced the Intercooler
(6) Cleaned out the Turbo in situ with Innotek turbo clean
(7) Freed the VNT lever with a bit of jiggling and soaked with about 3 cans of WD40
I've checked the movement of the VNT by sucking on the pipe and it seems to move the full travel and then springs easily back when the vac is released.
The van has only covered 35k miles, and although its a very low mileage I don't baby it during driving either and it used for at least 1 fairly long journey per week, so i'm now at a loss as to what could be wrong. I thought the Vectra I owned before was bad, but it shines like a bright star in the mire which is a VW!.
I know many others have had this problem, I read through about 30 threads last night, however one or more of the above solutions had rectified it, and in my case, i've already done all of them and it hasn't :(.
My thoughts now turn to the VNT sticking possibility. I've found a place in Nottingham which specialises in curing this problem (probably the only one who does), but its a long way from me, and I need a garage local to remove the turbo for me, so I can send it off to him by carrier and then have the local garage refit once it is returned.
The garages around here are a complete waste of time, i've tried the reputable ones and they only want to sell and fit me a new turbo, and wont touch just the removal and refitment with a barge pole unless they supply a turbo as well and at a silly price. There is no way I can remove the turbo myself - it took me an entire weekend just to get access to the exhaust side to spray in the "Turbo Clean"!!
So my question is.
Could the fault be produced by caused by any other problem, before I commit to having the VNT done or the turbo replaced (the only option if nobody local will remove it!). Knowing my luck i'll have the turbo cleaned and the problem will remain.
Does anybody know / recommend a garage / mechanic in Cheshire / Staffs border who will do the removal / refit of the turbo without (a) Trying to rip me off and (b) Trying to flog me a new turbo.
The van is only worth £2500 so i'd push it off Beachy Head and go back to a lovely, reliable Vauxhall before spending 50% of its value on repairs!.
Any suggestions would be appreaciated, as desperation and frustration is setting in. Thanks in advance :beerchug: