boost problem :( Help please :)

[MaXXeH]

Hi lads  - i wanna get this sorted before the meet next week!

I changed to Nology silver spark plugs but was losing boost around 8PSI across the range.  Took it to AMD Essex and they found a boost leak under the inlet manifold and got the pipe replaced......... but it is still not right so put some NGK plugs back in and the problem is still there.

I noticed that the plugs where black, (could this mean it is running a bit rich?).

My car never gets to 90oc it just sits about 1 line above the bottom and when u start the car the air heater gets warm very quick!  (Could the thermostat be stuck open?)...... Would this create my problem?

It just holds 15psi to the red line,   was 24psi and 18 to redline.

Think that is all    thanks for your help

[topher]

think you answered your own question there.. change the thermostat (possibly temp sender too) and get yourself vagcom rather than relying on what boost you're making at redline to see if something is up

if you know your car has issues, you shouldn't be ragging it to redline anyway

[MaXXeH]

i have vag com and it throws up no faults    but it is an AGU engine.

But the temp not being correct create that sort of problem?   i will be nicking peoples car bits on the meet to see what the problem with mine is lol

[topher]

i have vag com and it throws up no faults 

you sound like a VW technician

reading fault codes is a tiny part of vagcom.. when something is up you need to be looking in the measuring blocks. You're a bit more limited being agu, but you can still log airflow, fueling, timing, temperatures etc etc.

If the ECU isn't seeing the engine get up to temperature, it'll be adjusting fueling to suit. That can be either a dodgy signal from the ECT but in your case sounds more like a faulty thermostat.

[MaXXeH]

Joy,  just put the car in the garage removed everything to get to the thermostat and some one has all ready tried to replace it!!  all the heads are missing of the screws  (they are just round)


What can i do?  just take it to VW for a laff

[topher]

noddy question first.. you're not looking at allen headed bolts expecting to see a screw head are you?

[Biteuk]

MWahahahahaaa!!!  sorry sorry...  couldnt help it.   

[MaXXeH]

LOL no.  I know they are ment to be allen key screws,  they are 100% round both of them! 

[topher]

Sounds like someone has tried to use a spline drive then - you might just about get some mole grips on there but the alternator and/or intake manifold might need to come out to get access.

[MaXXeH]

joy i really dont want to take all that lot off again! will need a day off work!

May just drop it of a VW for a laff on the way to work