1.9 TDi 110 - Problem with EGR valve?

[joe406]

My 110 TDi Passat has done 160k and is always serviced every 10k miles.

Recently, its developed a whistling under acceleration which is slowly getting worse.

It doesnt do it some days then other times it will whistle all the time. The garage have looked at it and diagnosed it as the EGR valve.

Before paying to get the work done I wanted to double check it wouldnt be anything else?

Thanks.

[martin1810]

If they think it is the egr why don't they blank it off to see.

[joe406]

I'm not sure, I suggested blanking off the egr valve as I have read thats what many people do in this situation to save the expense of fitting another valve.

The garage said it can damage the turbo though if the gases arent circulating properly and that the valve is there for a reason.

Last winter I also had a problem where the turbo would go into limp mode when the car went above 3,000rpm, this has since cleared though. Could that be something to do with it?

[martin1810]

It's possible but I doubt it. You need a VCDS measuring block read to diagnose an EGR fault.
It would be much easier to pull the big air pipe off, look inside and push the EGR valve down to make sure it is shut. Then pull the little vacuum pipe off and block the vacuum pipe (not the pipe stub on the egr) with a bolt. Then the EGR would not be working. If the car feels better you know you had an egr fault.

[elanman]

You can't damage a turbo with a balnked off EGR valve!

That is what the wastegate is there for ! As pressure builds up the wastegate will open to not overspeed the turbo!