can VCDS diagnose a blown turbo

[geoff eeles]

Hi All, last week i think the turbo failed on my car. Proir to this the Diesel Particulate Warning light came on, i stopped and turned the car off, started and it had gone out, then started driving again and it wouldnt go up hill, it was like the clutch was slipping, lots of black smoke was coming out the exhaust, i have checked all the pipes (from above) and nothing seems loose or leaking. Can the turbo failure be diagnosed with VCDS or do i have to remove the turbo itself to check it out>

[MFGF]

Hi All, last week i think the turbo failed on my car. Proir to this the Diesel Particulate Warning light came on, i stopped and turned the car off, started and it had gone out, then started driving again and it wouldnt go up hill, it was like the clutch was slipping, lots of black smoke was coming out the exhaust, i have checked all the pipes (from above) and nothing seems loose or leaking. Can the turbo failure be diagnosed with VCDS or do i have to remove the turbo itself to check it out>

Hi,

What is the engine code of your car? You can usually find this on a sticker in the spare wheel well in the boot, and/or inside the cover of the service book.

I had a 2005 2.0TDi way back then, which experienced what sounds like the same issues you are reporting - big loss of power and huge plumes of black smoke from the exhaust pipes. There were no error codes when the dealer scanned the car, but fortunately it was still in warranty at the time. Eventually they figured out it was a broken EGR valve causing the issue - the flap was detached from the spindle.

Anyhow, the first step will be to get the car scanned for error codes, and take things from there.

Good luck!

MF.

[VAG-Abound]

VCDS would let you see that the requested and actual boost were adrift from each other, and that the ECU was shutting the turbo down. There's no simple "Turbo blown up" indicator though.

[geoff eeles]

HI, the Engine code is BRE 129756. Looking through the service history is does not appear to ever have had the EGR replaced. For scanning it, do you just do the normal scanner or have to go into each element / measuring block (01 Engine, 02 Auto Trans....etc)?

[Crasher]

Sounds like a boost leak, split hose or intercooler usually.

[geoff eeles]

i will have a look throughout the whole car when it gets recovered from wales

[geoff eeles]

Hi Crasher, if it was a leaky pipe or hole in the intercooler, would this cause the car to refuse to move forward at all? I used to have a golf in which an intercooler pipe came off once but the car would still move forward. that was a manual gearbox, my A6 is an automatic, im not sure if it makes a difference.

Also is it only possible to find the leak when the car is reving high? (ie do i need someone pressing the accelorater while i look in the engine bay?)

[geoff eeles]

car scanned and no error codes relating to the engine system (just ones from a broken speaker)

[MFGF]

car scanned and no error codes relating to the engine system (just ones from a broken speaker)

Sounds like my car - no codes, no power and lots of black smoke. That was also a BRE engine. I'd be looking at the EGR valve.

MF.

[Crasher]

Hi Crasher, if it was a leaky pipe or hole in the intercooler, would this cause the car to refuse to move forward at all? I used to have a golf in which an intercooler pipe came off once but the car would still move forward. that was a manual gearbox, my A6 is an automatic, im not sure if it makes a difference.

Also is it only possible to find the leak when the car is reving high? (ie do i need someone pressing the accelorater while i look in the engine bay?)

For small developing leaks it is often necessary to use a pressure tester or smoke generator.