1.4 TSI engine power loss (Due to mice!)(See pics)

[Gary_Monkey]

I think there may be a bad problem with my engine.

When I drove to work this morning it's like there is a dramatic power loss in the engine. When you accelerate hard (or use kick-down) it's like the supercharger isn't working and there's no oomph. Plus it only gets up to 5,000 RPM and no more (it normally red lines at about 6,250 RPM).

I'm really worried somethings wrong with the engine (turbo and/or supercharger). I've been driving this car for a year now and summat ain't right.

There are no warning lights coming on to do with the DSG or engine.

Any thoughts?

Thx
Gary

(P.S. I can still drive the car but it's like it's on half power)

[Deacon]

I'd take it straight to the dealers and get them to have a look!

[Peter in Hexham]

Mine is only 2 months old with 1300 miles, pulling away is nowhere near as smooth and fast as it was,
It's ok from 50 to 70, so I'm guessing the Turbo is alright and it might be the Supercharger, leaving it with the Dealer on Friday

[Gary_Monkey]

UPDATE:

Engine light has now come on on the dash board.

Can still drive the car but from the way the car is performing I think the turbo is goosed.

Gary

[RW1]

Lamp! Straight to the dealers In the handbook to do so. (I took mine in as soon and only drove 5 miles to get it there. They immediately responded. May be worth a call before hand to inform them. I just happened to be nearby one.)

C.

[Gary_Monkey]

LATEST UPDATE:

Have booked the car into a VW garage (Gilbert Lawton, Altrincham) first thing tomorrow morning. I only hope they can diagnose the problem and fix it on the same day.

Fingers crossed.

Will update you all on what the problem was.

Gary

[Peter in Hexham]

Just collected mine from Dealer, nothing showed up on diagnostic check, but the Mechcanic agrees with me that the acceleration is poor.
So he has reported this to VW and expects an answer and fix soon. Meanwhile I won't pull out in front of ant trucks!

[Gary_Monkey]

LATEST UPDATE

Hi All,

Got the car back from the dealers yesterday and guess what - the power loss in the engine was due to mice gnawing through pipes which feed the turbo!!!

See pics below:

PB131041_v2.jpg

PB131042_v2.jpg

The little buggers had crawled into the engine bay and had a feast on my turbo pipes. The chief technician, at the dealer, said it was the worst case he'd ever seen.

Anyhow on the plus side - at least it isn't a goosed turbo which was my worst fear. The parts have been ordered, 3 different bits of hose into total, 10 working days on back order.

See parts list below:

Part no. 03C133518AS ----- £11.55
Part no. 03C145718Q ----- £6.11
Part no. 03C145718R ----- £6.11

On the downside it's going to cost me nearly £200 to put right (mostly in labour). Wish I could do the job myself but the head mechanic said they need to reset the engine management as it's thrown a wobbler due to pressure loss etc, etc, and there are some special jubilee clips etc, etc.

So all-in-all it would be cheaper to buy a cat and make it live in my garage than pay the dealer to fix the problem

Cheers all,

Gary

[adders]

Little buggers!

[Chungster]

OMG!! that is shocking.

[martdy]

How dare they- no respect ! Hope the little buggers die of rubber poisoning

[trix]

Well that's a new one!

[RW1]

M.

Glad its a lot less than you were thinking ie. the engine.

I note from my photos that the first photo of the rubber pipe, that the part number is where the gnawed part is and it doesn't match your list of three. Given our Sciroccos were on the line together, I have it on mine as 03C 145 692N, the other two to the N75 Charge Pressure Control Solenoid Valve are not part marked. (Hence why no boost!)

Checking your list, its the other two pipes marked green (without the red line) for 03C 145 718Q & R and 03C 133 518AS looks like the one with the damaged braid sleeve covered pipe in the second photo. The parts illustration is poor and spread across three illustrations plus it's orientated differently, so wonder if they have got it right.????

Also, that's not a mouse, I'd believe if you said a rat. (Have you checked the inside facing tyre walls of the tyres & brake hoses ??)

Must be a good flavour of rubber, lol.

C.

Can do the clips and pipes, have the tool . It is time consuming looking at it, so not surprised at 2.5 hours labour. Engine management, not sure whether they mean clear faults or more If faults, I can sort that.

[samdub]

Unlucky! Add some mouse traps to the bill too Mint choc aero doesn't fail

[ZephyR]

Never heard that one before. Astounding, and what a mess !
I knew they could gnaw through the electrics in your house causing shorting or even fires, but never heard of a car being attacked.

@RW1 - "(Have you checked the inside facing tyre walls of the tyres & brake hoses ??)". Yeah, that's it Chris, try and make him feel better when he's already down
Mmmmmm Just a minute. That could be the foolproof way of seeing off the missus. A team of mice, specially trained to gnaw thru her brake pipes

[RW1]

@RW1 - "(Have you checked the inside facing tyre walls of the tyres & brake hoses ??)". Yeah, that's it Chris, try and make him feel better when he's already down

You should know me by now Zeph! But you gotta think what the little blighter had for deserts at the evenng table
Just showing caring concern considering Gary_Monkey's daily commute....

C.

[ZephyR]

You should know me by now Zeph! But you gotta think what the little blighter had for deserts at the evenng table
Just showing caring concern considering Gary_Monkey's daily commute....

C.

Only because he doesn't live too far from you and you don't want him running in to the back of you if his brakes fail

[RW1]

But funny enough there is a VAG bulletin for damage by these little blighters (Martens)

marten.jpeg

Here's what they do......

http://www.mardersicher.de/english/e_info.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

C.

[ZephyR]

Wow. And being the size of a cat those buggers can really cause some damage. Glad we don't have any of them over here. The mice are bad enough.
I wonder if squirrels are known to attack cars. Perhaps by way of revenge for their mates who get run over.

[Gary_Monkey]

Final update:

Got the car back from the workshop tonight. All running as normal again. Was very nice to be able to floor it and feeeeel the turbo working again

Final bill £177 (not happy)

Will be sending final invoice to a field mouse in Capel Curig.

Oh I can laugh now

Thanks for all your help,

Gary