Siren noise - turbo problem??

**vdub2** · 06-02-2010,08:40 AM

My wife drives a 2004 Golf 140 tdi which is just coming up to 77000. For the last 9 months or so there is a loud whine which literally sounds like a police siren. This seems pretty constant, but increases when accelerating. There is no loss of power, and otherwise seems to be running ok.

She is due to have a new cambelt, and had a new rad for a leak about 12 months ago but not had any other problems with the car. It has been serviced(non-VW) while there was a whine but she didn't mention it to them at the time.

I simply put it down to a turbo whine, but have never heard it so loud in any other car I've driven. I am tempted to get it checked out, but am wary of them finding expensive problems that don't really exist.

Any useful opinion on whether this is likely to be a problem waiting to declare itself?? THanks

**peteo** · 06-02-2010,10:14 AM

I bought my 1.9TDI in July 2008. This "siren" noise has been present from day one although I never noticed it on the test drive!

The dealers were adamant that there was/is nothing to worry about and some did get a bit carboned up and some were noisier than others.

It's now February 2010 and the car still makes the noise but it is no worse than in July 2008. The running of the car is completely unaffected.

Now I am NOT an expert but you will find other threads on here which tell you that the turbo is "on the way out."

All I can say is 18 months on mine is still going strong. I wouldn't rush into an expensive repair because you could be looking at the thick end of a grand.

**nc7503** · 06-02-2010,06:22 PM

i have this on my 06 jetta its getting worse

do a search on the forum, "whats the correct sound for a tdi turbo" / "turbo sounds like a police siren" you can look through all the other threads on this problem

**taurus_tem** · 06-02-2010,06:39 PM

Siren noise? then yes it is the turbo on it's way out. The fan inside is the common cause. Time to wip out some cash for a new one, ebay is a good start but i wouldnt recommend second hand parts like a turbo.

**peteo** · 07-02-2010,10:25 AM

Looking through some of the threads, on all VAG models, there is a huge amount of contradictory advice out there. Some confidently say your turbo is knackered, others say it is normal.

I guess the one theme that I could get from all the different conclusions people reach is that a lot depends on whether it is:

a) getting worse.
b) is present all the time. My noise is only present when accelerating gently at low revs. Not present at all when cruising or accelerating hard on the motorway.

Confused?

I am

**SC03OTT** · 07-02-2010,02:14 PM

I get this on my 2008 2.0TDI Jetta. I took it to the dealer, they had it for a day and found nothing wrong. Explained it was just the turbo spooling up (mine is only at low revs as well). Unconvinced, I asked two VW enthusiasts and one VW employee on another car forum, and was told it was normal. Mine is still in warranty, so I'm not worried about it.

**taurus_tem** · 07-02-2010,04:26 PM

Youtube videos on this subject, " golf turbo siren" there is a video that shows someone reving hard, car sounds like a police is driving by lol. This just shows on high revs, there is a problem. If you guys mention this noise on a low rev and the dealers say its not a problem then i guess it isnt.

**nc7503** · 07-02-2010,05:54 PM

ive complained 3 times now to the dealer on this,the car goes in next week to have it looked at

ive told them that it never made this "siren sound" when i brought it so why now? so with me trying my hardest not to lose my rag i told them i dont want the car back till its cured.

**peteo** · 07-02-2010,09:23 PM

Originally Posted by nc7503

ive complained 3 times now to the dealer on this,the car goes in next week to have it looked at

ive told them that it never made this "siren sound" when i brought it so why now? so with me trying my hardest not to lose my rag i told them i dont want the car back till its cured.

I guess that's the difference. Mine has done it from day 1 (of my ownership). I would be more worried if it suddenly started doing it. We could do with some authoritative advice.

**craghimself** · 18-02-2010,01:20 PM

My 2005 1.9 tdi is doing the same thing. starting from low revs and then throughout the rev range. This only started the other day and i have owned the car for about 18 months. Friend of mine said it is the fan on the turbo, but yet another mechanic friend said it could be anythign from the fan to a gasket.

Its booked in for a service next week and i shall be mentioning it to them. just hope they can give me some good advice