I'm working on my mother-in-law's 2002 (185k miles) jetta tdi. It was low on power, seemingly no boost what so ever. I've disassembled down to the turbo and I'm seeing a lot of shaft play. Meanwhile, with the poor maintenance record, I've located other issues such as clogged intake and possible vacuum leaks. Any suggestions on where to get a replacement turbo on a budget? Should I just go with a CHRA or core replacement? Might there be other issues lurking? Isn't there a MN VW or TDI club? I can't seem to find it.
Eurowerks.org or twincitiesvwclub.com might be of some help. Car-part.com may have some junkyard turbos available but I am not sure on quality or pricing.
I assume you've already found tdiclub.com and myturbodiesel.com First thing to do would be to log some data with VCDS (VAG-COM) and see what's going on.
Yeah, I've been over to tdiclub and myturbodiesel. I've got the intake apart and I'm cleaning it now. I have a feeling I'll be looking at a full new turbo after I get the old one out because of the shaft play. I'm hoping to save some money because we plan on selling it after it's fixed up. Right now we're on a tight budget.
Cheap replacement turbos for TDI's have a bad reputation, so that keeps demand (and prices) for good used ones pretty high. A blown turbo can easily take out your motor due to runaway. I realize that you have it apart already, but if you are on a tight budget I'd put it back together and see what your boost and airflow look like before replacing the turbo. If you have a gasoline engine based troubleshooting mentality it's easy to confuse a fueling problem with an airflow problem. If it is a boost problem, the control solenoid (N75 valve) is a likely culprit, but MAF's are also known problems on that engine too.
My mother in law had it in and they replaced some solenoid or acutator. I don't know for sure because I didn't see the receipt nor have I found any "new" parts while inspecting/taking it apart. So I'm not sure what they did or if they did anything - was not a VW dealership. The symptoms are: no boost (can't hear the turbo either), anemic power (again no boost). I've found oil on the intake side of the turbo, but that could be blow-by. The shaft of the turbo moves in and out more than 2mm. Also, from what I've read, the VNT might be an issue so I'd assume take that out of the equation. Where I'm at right now, I am thinking I might as well take the turbo off for further inspection.
Also the PCV to intake "hose" looked like a DIY fix and didn't seem air-tight. I don't know who would have done that or when.
I just recently purchased a golf tdi that took a **** 2 weeks later.. intake was clogged (about a half inch hole through the buildup in a hole of about 2in) and they used a cheap brand tb and didnt replace ANYTHING else while doing it.. something let go took out the head.. I towed it an hr to Midwest Motorworks in Hudson area... 2 weeks later its a new car.. I got them to do the EGR delete as well with a tune to suit.. the egr delete eliminates the carbon buildup in the intake etc... it also gives a little more mid torque and mpg.. I was getting 45mpg before it went to **** but the first tank back I got 49.877 mpg.. and I wasnt driving it softly.. he told me to drive it harder and it keeps them cleaner.. http://www.midwestmotorworks.com/ tell them Nathan sent you.. the Aussie with the Silver Golf TDi that had the TB issue recently also get onto TDi club forums
I cleaned the intake with a propane torch and some shop air. It was actually kinda fun. Turbo was replaced, now I find the MAF was bad as well. So I'm waiting on one of those to be delivered. In the mean time I have a seized/broken glow plug on cylinder one. Drilling and tapping has been a wasted effort so far and I don't want to pull the head off to go the other direction. Thinking of taking it to a shop to see what they can do for me. Otherwise, I think it will be fine to leave as is.
