No grunt above 60mph - '97 1.9TDi

[Haddas]

Hi all and sorry for the long story...

I need some advice and it may be that I’m just being paranoid but… I bought my ‘97 Mk3 1.9 TDi (90) last week and have driven it locally and been happy enough around town, seems to be not that thirsty and all seems well. However just driven up the M5 for the first time and noticed significantly less grunt than I expected particularly above 60mph.

Did a few timed speed tests in 5th and it did 60-70 in 12 seconds on the way out and 10 seconds on the way back. It also did 60-80 in 34 seconds on the way out and 21 seconds on the way back, there is a very very slight incline in the stretch of road I used hence the two directional run. Now I don’t advocate speeding but the car also wouldn’t do above 85mph, with my foot flat down in 5th.

Firstly are these normal times – I’ve not had a Golf before but seems at best a little sluggish to me and whilst I don’t intend to drive above 85mph, is this symptomatic of a problem.

The car just had a major service, so it’s not that, and as it has a warranty for another 3 weeks I want to find out what It could be before going in to the garage who sold it to me.

All advice/help gratefully received,

Haddas

[jet]

Sounds underpowered to me.
Check the basics first. Are you sure it is a 90bhp model?
Check the engine code and power rating on the sticker in the spare wheel area under the boot. Post them up here.
Mine has a good hefty thump of power from 1800rpm to about 4000 rpm. It should be noticeable, whilst not mind blowing!
whole catalog of reasons why it may be down on power, but check basics first.

[dubtastic]

hi yeah def something wrong my 94 1.9 td is nice and responsive on the m.way and its only 75bhp.

like said could be anything. hope you get it fixed bud.
j

[Golf tdi Hal]

sounds a little like no turbo boost. Can you hear the turbo spin up when accelerating?
My car has been re-mapped and sometimes over-boosts where the engine computer opens the wastegate on the turbo for safety and my max speed is then about 80-85 and the whole car feels sluggish.
I'd check turbo issues, hose/intercooler leaks, wastegate relay......

[edaresek]

Hiya,

If you do indeed have a 90bhp TDi, then we have the same car, and all I can say is that it sounds about right to take almost ten seconds from 60-70.

HOWEVER: by no means does it top out at 85.

'An irresponsible driver' (I dont 'think' it was me) recently came back from Canterbury in my TDi and was getting to 95 before the driver even noticed (what a silly boy).

And he also reported that on the very straight stretches he hit about 115 after 40 seconds of pushing.

So he thinks it is slightly weird that you cant get above 85.