GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Golf mk4 TDI => Topic started by: CraigyDe on 15 June 2014, 01:06

Title: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: CraigyDe on 15 June 2014, 01:06
Hi, hope you lot can help...

My turbo sometimes doesn't kick in. If I stop, turn off engine then it'll kick in as it should.

Any ideas?

Cheers.
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: scarr89 on 15 June 2014, 10:21
When it doesn't kick in does it just rev and not go very fast? If so that is limp mode. Means something is causing you to go into like a 'safe' mode, where the car is only just driveable. Turning on and off re sets this.

A common problem is sticky vanes, the mechanism inside the turbo gets clogged up with soot and grime and doesn't function properly. You'll need to get this looked at if it is the case.
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: CraigyDe on 15 June 2014, 11:50
Yup, does as you say..

I'm getting a new sump put on it this week so will ask the mech to have a look.

cheers.

Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: scarr89 on 15 June 2014, 12:02
Yup, does as you say..

I'm getting a new sump put on it this week so will ask the mech to have a look.

cheers.

Sump will have nothing to do with it. It isn't a quick job. Remove your EGR valve and give that a clean, may help.

If it is really bad then you need to remove the turbo  :undecided:
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: CraigyDe on 15 June 2014, 14:37
The sump has a seperate issue. The sump plug was  over tightend and it's leaking oil.
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: EsSeX dAn on 16 June 2014, 22:18
the only way to 100% fix this is fit a brand new turbo or have your turbo stripped and cleaned. as a quick fix you can use mr muscle oven cleaner up the hot side of the turbo and work the actuator
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: Dean_W on 19 June 2014, 04:12
I had this problem a while back. Turned out I had a split boost hose. This caused the car to go into limp mode. Have a scout about and check all the hoses and clips are in good order. If that all seems ok then could possibly be a dodgy N75 valve. If that fails then as Dan suggested, could be the turbo unit.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: Luke1981 on 29 July 2014, 22:56
Just experienced this also on my TDI also (PD150). I lost boost at 80 mph on the motorway.  I could still manage to maintain the speed. Am I correct in thinking limp mode won't let you go past 55 mph ish?
If so, then I don't understand how I can still get 80 mph.
I also turned the engine off and on and it corrected itself and the boost was back. Any ideas?

Cheers
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: scarr89 on 30 July 2014, 19:57
Just experienced this also on my TDI also (PD150). I lost boost at 80 mph on the motorway.  I could still manage to maintain the speed. Am I correct in thinking limp mode won't let you go past 55 mph ish?
If so, then I don't understand how I can still get 80 mph.
I also turned the engine off and on and it corrected itself and the boost was back. Any ideas?

Cheers

That will be limp mode. Limp mode will basically stop your turbo from working. So you could make it to get 80mph maybe, I've never managed that fast!

Your turbo is probably gunked up if you are hitting limp mode. You get LM where the 'overboosts' (asks for too much boost) for a set period of time I think. So if you accelerate hard for like 10 secs you'll find you'll hit it rather than accelerating slowly for 20 seconds say...
Title: Re: Turbo not kicking in..
Post by: Dean_W on 01 August 2014, 03:51
Si, limp mode also works with underboost too.

Hence my previous post suggesting looking at the hoses etc.