Loss of Power (and Torque?) between 1000rpm and 2500rpm

**tyberwan** · 11-01-2008,10:42 AM

My just went to garage for a camshaft change together with all cam followers, valves, valve guides, timing belt and cylinder head cleaning etc - See "camshaft need change" thread. The car was fine out of the garage but I have noticed that it does not pull away nicely as before. Between 1000rpm and 2500rpm, the car takes time to take up speed and suddenly at about 2500rpm, you feel the turbo take up and pulls the car away. When you slow down on any gear, and accelerate after, the car pains to take up speed. You need to wait until you reach 2500rpm for the turbo to pick up and speed away. It is quite annoying to be in traffic and when suddenly all traffic clears, you are having difficulties to move away. A scan of the engine showed nothing a few weeks ago. On some slopes when you have slowed down, the car has no power to go up the slope but if I put it back in 1st gear and rev the car up to 2500rpm, I can get the car to move away normally.

On two occasions, I also felt that the turbo did not work to pull the car as from 2500rpm. I had to switch the car off and on again to get the normal turbo at 2500rpm. Please advise, thanks

**nickynibbles** · 11-01-2008,12:37 PM

Sounds like its just not coming on to boost like it should, coulde be a jammed waste gate or other part of the turbo's control mechanism. Try watching the turbo vane control rod when the engine is revved and standstill as these are known to stick and need a clean & lube.

**tyberwan** · 11-01-2008,12:47 PM

Hi thanks for reply. How do we do this?

"Try watching the turbo vane control rod when the engine is revved and standstill "

thanks

**bora(ing) nick** · 11-01-2008,12:53 PM

Have you checked all the boost hoses for cracks / leaks?

Nick

**nickynibbles** · 11-01-2008,01:20 PM

Originally Posted by tyberwan

Hi thanks for reply. How do we do this?

"Try watching the turbo vane control rod when the engine is revved and standstill "

thanks

Sorry that should say "try watching the turbo vane control rod when the engine is revved AT standstill"!! Obviously you need to stand still too mind you!! Anyway, get yourself a willing assitant with at least on leg and sit them in the car, start the car, open the bonnet and find the turbo, get your assistant to rev the engine hard (up to 4k RPM) and you should see the control rod attached to the side of the turbo moving. If it dosent move then you know its stuck so you can try to manipulate it by hand (be careful not to touch anything on the exhaust or turbo casing as it'll be hot!!). If it dosent free up suggest you take it to a good independant garage for an overhaul & clean up. Its all labour basically so no expensive parts needed unless something is broken of course! If your not sure what your looking at could a kindly soul with a 1.8T please post a picture of the turbo on here to help.

**tyberwan** · 11-01-2008,03:21 PM

I saw an old thread about cleaning up the turbo and saw the inside view with the rod, vanes etc. Got it.

By the way mine is a Yr2001 1.9TDI

thanks

**alicecooper18** · 13-01-2008,11:12 AM

I have same problem with my 1.9tdi, if i unplug the electrical connection to the map sensor at the back of the engine it runs a hell of a lot better, so i replaced the sensor with a used unit but still have the fault.
If you find the answer let us know.
Cheers Adrian

**tyberwan** · 13-01-2008,07:15 PM

Originally Posted by bora(ing) nick

Have you checked all the boost hoses for cracks / leaks?

Nick

Hell no, I'm not that good at mechanics. I've seen a picture of the turbo and I know it's somewhere below that grey cover, but where do you locate it and how could I find out if it's a cracked or leaking hose? It's all black down there in the engine!

**tyberwan** · 13-01-2008,07:21 PM

Originally Posted by alicecooper18

I have same problem with my 1.9tdi, if i unplug the electrical connection to the map sensor at the back of the engine it runs a hell of a lot better, so i replaced the sensor with a used unit but still have the fault.
If you find the answer let us know.
Cheers Adrian

So you say it solved the power loss problem between 1000rom and 2500rpm? I had an independent opinion yesterday and they suggested that it could be some vanes (there are approx. 8 of them in the turbo) not opening properly as they may be stuck with carbon. They suggested the turbo has to be dismantled and checked. As the car is also shaking a bit too much while at standstill, they suggested it could also be running on 3 cylinders for some reasons, or an injector problem.

**Dave Avant** · 15-01-2008,12:02 AM

Has the timing been double checked, a head job is a big job and a turbo will only work properly if its getting a good supply of exhaust gases, if the timing is out, you get poor power, lumpy idle and not the correct exhuast output maybe hence the turbo not being able to kick in properly. But it could be the wastegate operation. you'll be hard pushed to see it moving much by revving it stationary though, it needs 'load' on the engine to get some preoper boost.