A friend of mine (which is a girl) drives a vw diesel bug. The fuel and air filters have been changed but it has no power. It takes off and drives fine but when you floor it nothing happens it just drives normal. I rode with her yesterday and when she shifted I could hear the turbo let off for just a split second and that was it. I drove it today and I couldnt hear it at all but if you look in my sig you can tell I have pretty significant turbo whine.
No stange noises or anything no smoke to speak of, just nothin.

My question is could the turbo be "bad" and if it is what is a "bad" turbo. I would kind of assume that a bad turbo would just lock up but I dont know. Any help would be great, TIA.
Will

Heres another thaught, does it have a cat, and if so could it be clogged? Oh and it has 91,000 miles on it.

 

The TDi guys might have a slightly better perspective.

www.tdiclub.com

But I do believe they have a cat. Also if I remember correctly, the EGR's can get plugged up.

 

Go over to the TDI club. Tons of guys/gals there that will help you out. As I recall the TDI's have some gizmo on the turbo which will give the symptoms you describe. Don't overlook the MAF sensor also. Tons of info there.

 

Thanks guys, I just signed up over there and posted my question.

 

sounds like a maf sensor,or sticking actuator on the turbo,a boost gauge would really tell the story.

 

Just happens that my sister drives a Jetta TDI (same engine). The EGR on that little VW diesel has a bad habit of clogging the air intake with carbon. They will start and run fine, but it just runs out of breath and struggles to keep up highway speeds. Dealer or a good shop needs to take it apart and clean it out.

 

if you know somebody with a vag-com they can turn the egr down,slows the plugging way down.also keep shifts upwards of 3000 rpm's.and make **** sure you know when the last t-belt was done,i see it has 91,000 on it,so you should be safe but,if it's a late 03 up it will have a 100,000 mile belt,otherwise it's an 80k for the stick and 60k for the auto.DO NOT let it go beyond those intervals,if it breaks your looking close to 2 grand to get it fixed.

 

cat, what is a t-belt, and a vag-com? I ordered a new maf for about 90 bucks, should be here tomorrow.

 

t-belt would be a timing belt,these are interference engines.i believe you can get them 1 tooth off but 2 is gonna bend valves and break other things you don't want to know about,and the vag-com is software you can download into a laptop,then you go to the (rosstech)web site and buy a cable to interface the cars ecm with your laptop.software is a free download,cable will cost you 200 bucks and up.but they can do pretty much anything a vw dealer can as far as diagnostics,and other things,you can reset the alarm,turn down the egr valve reset injector quantity etc,i just had to set my IQ as it had a slow speed shudder as you came to stop signs,just needed a little more fuel.check over on fred's tdiclub web site there are a few guys down your way that will do the t-belt RIGHT and any other things you need lots cheaper then vw will.there is a list at the top of the page of vag -com owners,you do have to register but it doesn't cost anything.

 

Thanks catmandoo