VW Golf GT TDi MK IV 115BHP (turbo playing up??)

Hi fellow Vdub crew!!

I recently brought my first VW Golf GT TDi 115BHP at 80k (2000 reg), (cost a fair bit but a great upgrade from my 100bhp VW Polo!!!!) the car has full service history and only one owner, so consider myself lucky to be able to grab this beauty.

I'm new to both this forum and diesel cars so i need all the advice possible please!!!

The car is great, only had it 1 week, due in for a service and all round check up from VW specialist. Car is a 6 speed and most comfortable drive i have ever experienced!! was doing very high speed on motorway and the car was luxorious not a sound of trouble!!

However :-( i couln't feel the thrust of a GT TDI when i was putting my foot down on the acceleration?? couldn't get that torque feeling?? no power?? any ideas what this could be?? could it be the Turbo?? how much do they cost to replace??

I read somewhere that with diesel cars, especiall PD models they need their oil changing regualrly? something like every 7,000 miles?? is this true? what oil is this referring to??

I would be very grateful if anyone could help, i hope i don't sound ignorant with my lack of knowledge of VW but i have never owned a diesel before so just a little cautious at mo.

Thanks!!!!!

Hello and welcome. You need to get a fault code read done to see if you have code 17965 which is a turbo over boost error, usually caused by sicking turbo control vanes. The turbo can be removed, stripped and cleaned to deal with this; it doesn’t always mean a new/recon is required. Does the power come back if the engine is turned off and back on again?

Hi Crasher,

The power is fine, no problems, but it doenst have the same thrust?? is it expensive to get the turbo cleaned up??

It can be expensive, depends on how much the garage charges per hour but it takes me eight hours. To take the turbo out, most people remove the inlet manifold as it is easier than removing the driveshaft. When the inlet manifold is off, it will be full of thick oily carbon deposits and this should be cleaned out. To do this well can take another couple of hours, including cleaning out the EGR valve. Some gaskets and fasteners will also be required. Typically it is a £600+ job.

cheers crasher owe you one!!!

pds need oil every 10k, and it must be vw approved, with out it the pump cam dies fast. but if they are well looked after they will do monster miles easily!!!

on the boost it sounds like your turbos sticking, if you have the time and confidance you can take the turbo off and clean up the vaines to stop it over boosting, also you need to check for leaks in the system.

but your best bet is find someone with vag-com as this will show the faults.

the 115 should be a little laggy and if in 2nd or 3rd will suddenly power forward when its gets to about 1600rpm and go with a good shove in the back till jsut past 2200rpm when the torque tails off.

Karl.