Broken turbo on TDI

[alexroc]

Hi Guys,
its been a while since i posted. I have had the Roc for 4 years now - owned from new. The turbo has just broken @70,000 miles. Not impressed. Very disappointing for a 4 year old car with only 70k on the clock. Full VW service history as well. Apart from the turbo failing, the only thing to have gone wrong is an exhaust sensor which was replaced during the 3 year warranty period.
I have the 140hp engine.
During a recent drive the glow light plug started flashing and the car lost most of it's torque. The dash flashed up "engine fault - garage"
In addition to the above i have also only just paid out for a new cam belt which needs replacing @4 years. An expensive month!!
I just wondered if any other Diesel owners have had similar problem with their TDI engines?

[RisingRoc]

Not good! Mine is going in for it's 4 year service on Thursday. Fairly unimpressed with the need for the cambelt to be done with only 42,000miles on the clock. Will be even more unimpressed if they find something wrong with the turbo too - but now tempted to ask them to check it. Were there any symptoms prior to the turbo going? How much you been quote for repair/replacement? Any other repercussions from it?

Sorry I can't offer any positive response to your problem.

[alexroc]

Not good! Mine is going in for it's 4 year service on Thursday. Fairly unimpressed with the need for the cambelt to be done with only 42,000miles on the clock. Will be even more unimpressed if they find something wrong with the turbo too - but now tempted to ask them to check it. Were there any symptoms prior to the turbo going? How much you been quote for repair/replacement? Any other repercussions from it?

Sorry I can't offer any positive response to your problem.

Hi RisingRoc. Thanks for your reply. No need to check your turbo, there are plenty of warning lights and error messages on the dash when it goes bang! Symptoms basically were a complete loss of power. It came out of the blue - no pre-warning. I will let you know the final bill and any other info. Parts are being shipped over from Germany as I write, the car has been off the road for 2 days so far and counting.

[Cuprabob]

Although tbe car is out of warranty, I would be pushing the dealer and VW CS for a goodwill contribution if the car has a FVWSH. They can do so for cars upto 5 years and 100k miles. They have a decreasing scale based on mileage / age.

[Yorkie1]

Are you sure it's the turbo?

Had a similar problem with mine - loss of power, glow plug light on and report to garage message (at 50,000 miles on 60 plate) and it was the throttle pedal. A faulty sensor or something? Known problem by VW. Problem did come and go though.

[alexroc]

Hi all. The car is now back on the road. It was the turbo. VW went 50/50 on the part costs as a goodwill gesture. Cost around £600 in the end including labour.

[RisingRoc]

Hi all. The car is now back on the road. It was the turbo. VW went 50/50 on the part costs as a goodwill gesture. Cost around £600 in the end including labour.

Thanks for the update. Glad your car's back on the road. That has been an expensive month - £600 on top of Cambelt change etc

[alexroc]

Yes, a bad month for the bank account. I am just glad it's all sorted,but I must admit i am seriously considering getting rid now. But i wouldn't know what to replace it with!

[Roc On]

Same problem with mine. Its a 10 plate 2 Litre 140bhp TDI. Its only done 40000 miles and long distance motorway cruising since I bought it with 10,000 miles on the clock.
I got the classic glow plug light on the dash followed swiftly by the car going into limp mode, then "Engine fault - Workshop" and finally dumping the oil on the M1 because play in the turbo bearings allowed the seals to move. Wonderful getting a bill for 1100 sobs for a car thats virtually new and had an easy life

It will be going the distance. Never had this trouble when I had an A3, even though they're the same motor.
Less than impressed even though I love the car

[Paralla]

But i wouldn't know what to replace it with!

I'm replacing mine with a new Cayman S. I haven't got it yet (the build starts next Monday, not that I'm counting the days or anything) but I just know I'm going to adore it. The part exchange value of my three year old TDI 170 DSG with 16300 miles almost covers the cost of the options on the Cayman.

I hope the Cayman is as reliable as my Scircco was, the only problems I had with it were numerous buggered front tyres from pothole damage and thats not really the cars fault. I swore I'd never have 19's again due to the ease they damage tyres and somehow I've ended up speccing 20's for the new one.

[RisingRoc]

Resurrecting an old thread for a bit of advice please. Been noticing recently a seeming delay in the turbo kicking in and general lower oomph. Thought I was just being a hypochondriac then yesterday on a drive up past the Rest and Be Thankful (the Scots on here will know the bit of road I mean), I was overtaking someone and power just cut. Went into limp mode and got to the side of the road. Gave it a minute and restarted fine. Drove ok for a bit then went again. Stopped again and then again it started fine and I nursed it back to Glasgow fine.

From reading up online I *think* it may be the vacuum which was not holding pressure given the lower performance before it went. Anyway, it's going into the garage tomorrow, but if it is the full turbo that needs replaced, then I'd like to see what I can get in terms of goodwill from VW for it. It's 09 plate so over the 5years, but still only 55k on the clock.

So my question: have I got a hope in hell of getting any goodwill and if so, what's my best way of trying to get it?

[Cuprabob]

I know the Rest and Be Thankfull very well:-)

2 pronged attack to get good will. Let dealer do diagnostics and if the worse case is found talk to them about goodwill reinforcing the full VWSH. From experience it's much easier to get goodwill if you have a good relationship with your dealer and they are on your side.

In parallel it's worth talking to VW Customer Services and discuss your disappointment with them and this failure is making you think twice about pulling the trigger on that new VW <insert car> you were going to buy:-)

Good luck

[RisingRoc]

Ta. Fingers crossed it's not the whole turbo, but always good to go in with as much knowledge as possible.

[RisingRoc]

Turbo Vacuum Valve needs replaced - £321 all fitted. Can't complain given what the cost and hassles could've been if it'd been the whole turbo. Just hope it fully fixes the problem.

[Cuprabob]

It could have been worse, but still not a cheap fix.

[RisingRoc]

True, but given what I was bracing myself for, I actually feel ok about it all.

[Stan]

Hi, any further advice?

it seems my Roc has a similar prob... 60K on 58 plate..
VW specialist has just quoted me £1180 for a new turbo... It started with Glow Plug then 80 miles later the Exhaust light go to workshop.. drove home 180 miles with no Limp mode..
How do I know its a full turbo and not just a turbo valve?

had similar lights before and had the EGR valve replaced in Mar 13 £550 but that went into Limp mode on day 1 of a holiday !!