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A3 2.0 td turbo issue.

Featured Replies

Hi guys, all not a sudden turbo is not working. There's no smoke or anything but the spooling isn't happening and there is a loss of power.

There was a vacuum pipe on back of engine near the top which has come off before causing the same issue but I've checked the pipes and all seem fine.

When I remove that specific pipe it pisses for a second so there's vacuum there.

I did not on the turbo actuator or wategate? Has some oil on it but does seem to move ok when I apply force by hand.

 

Any ideas or advice welcome, I miss the whistle and wind down when I turn car off and of course the 170 plus bhp hehe

27 minutes ago, Darkprophecy said:

Hi guys, all not a sudden turbo is not working. There's no smoke or anything but the spooling isn't happening and there is a loss of power.

There was a vacuum pipe on back of engine near the top which has come off before causing the same issue but I've checked the pipes and all seem fine.

When I remove that specific pipe it pisses for a second so there's vacuum there.

I did not on the turbo actuator or wategate? Has some oil on it but does seem to move ok when I apply force by hand.

 

Any ideas or advice welcome, I miss the whistle and wind down when I turn car off and of course the 170 plus bhp hehe

Hi miss the whistle, thats  normally a sign of a worn Turbo or a split boost hose, you should not hear anything on a variable vane Turbo its not like a fixed vane unit.

Steve.

Steve.

  • Author

Thanks for the reply mate. Ya probably right but it's still not working...hope nit isn't the turbo being dead but surely if that was the case I'd have some serious smoking issues?

17 hours ago, Darkprophecy said:

Thanks for the reply mate. Ya probably right but it's still not working...hope nit isn't the turbo being dead but surely if that was the case I'd have some serious smoking issues?

Hi, only get smoke when the bearings are shot, your problem may well be either sticky vanes or the vane control on top of the turbo is shot, if its vacuum controlled it may be the diaphragm in the unit if it electrically controlled its normally the control box thats fried, do you have any codes?

Steve.

  • Author

Hi there,  I can't seem to fit my obd2 reader to the car, seems socket is slightly different..

 

There's no mil light but I know that doesn't mean codes are not in the system. I'm sure I can hear a small vac leak but can't find where it is. Gonna check the actuator solenoids with brake bleed vac pump see if I can find something.. wish I had a diagram of the system so I could tick off bits.

 

 

  • Author

I've ordered an adapter to plug laptop in, I'm researching software to take a look at any codes. I see vcds is mentioned alot, might give that a download and see what it's about. Hopefully it's like bmw's Ista d and the like.  

As for type of actuator it's this one in picture.. also where does those pipes and solenoid mount? My brother must have had issues at some point but can't see anywhere obvious and flapping about isn't good lolScreenshot_20250121_220034_Gallery.thumb.jpg.616dfd02b3c91175d3c6f338aca0b5fd.jpg

20 hours ago, Darkprophecy said:

I've ordered an adapter to plug laptop in, I'm researching software to take a look at any codes. I see vcds is mentioned alot, might give that a download and see what it's about. Hopefully it's like bmw's Ista d and the like.  

As for type of actuator it's this one in picture.. also where does those pipes and solenoid mount? My brother must have had issues at some point but can't see anywhere obvious and flapping about isn't good lolScreenshot_20250121_220034_Gallery.thumb.jpg.616dfd02b3c91175d3c6f338aca0b5fd.jpg

Hi thats the boost solenoid its vacuum controlled and sits on the exhaust side of the turbo to control the vanes opening and closing, cheap good diagnostic is OBDEleven.

Steve.

  • Author

Just replaced boost solenoid, made no difference 😕

if I stick a vacuum pump on the actuator it does move freely but I hear a small hiss down the back near turbo somewhere.

Not sure what that could be and I'm stuck for ideas now.

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, I have had the same problems in the recent past. Took the car to my local garage to replace the turbo. Cost a bit but problem solved. I don't mind working on my classic car, but this new fangled stuff is beyond me I,'m afraid

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