Polo GTI turbo intermittantly not spooling

[bn1986]

Hey folks, as per the title my turbo intermittantly does not spool at all.. wondering if anyone has any ideas..?

Car is as follows:
2006 model GTI, 65000 km, full service history.
GIAC chip
APR R1 Diverter valve
Whiteline bushes
APR gearbox mount
17" rims
Slotted rotors..

Anyway beyond the chip and diverter valve i cant really see what anything else would do to affect the car but figured id list all the mods for clarity's sake.

The turbo seems to come after a while, but then it goes again.....

No check engine lights being shown

No obvious cracked vacuum hoses....

No real strange noises or anything (except for a lack of turbo spooling etc)

HELP!?

Cheers,

ben

[noone]

Polo GTI turbo intermittantly not spooling

Sounds like limp mode.
Scan ECU, check Vac hoses.

[h100vw]

You can't use slotted rotors and an APR diverter valve......

Seriously though, you say intermittently, does turning the ignition off and on fix it? ie It's not boosting but next time you drive it, it's ok.

Or in a single journey, sometimes you put your foot down and nothing happens and next time it pulls normally?

Gavin

[kaanage]

DV or wastegate sticking open?

[nightphotographer]

I have the same problem - about 1 in 15 times I start the car - there's no turbo. Switch it off and on again and it's fine. It's thrown a code about the DV - haven't got the scan on this computer, but I assume it's more about the DV008 I've got more than anything else. Sure is annoying though...

[h100vw]

I have the same problem - about 1 in 15 times I start the car - there's no turbo. Switch it off and on again and it's fine. It's thrown a code about the DV - haven't got the scan on this computer, but I assume it's more about the DV008 I've got more than anything else. Sure is annoying though...

I had a similar issue with a Leon Cupra after it was flashed. If you booted it inside of a bout 4 miles, it would trip into limp mode. No lights on. The code was one that pointed at the DV. Only because the ECU assumes that all the hoses are never going to fail.

If you held off until the car was fully warm, it never did it.

Nothing wrong with the DV as it was a Forge one. The best I could come up with at the time was stripped hose clip on the pipe off the turbo going into the solid pipe. I fitted a new one just as a sold it but never got to try it from stone cold.

I reckon there was enough boost escaping to trigger limp mode, I could hear anything and cycling the ignition fixed it every time. I assume once warmed up the pipes swelled up enough that the boost couldn't escape.

Gavin

[bn1986]

Intermittantly on the same drive..

On occasion turning it off and then on again will fix it, other times it doesnt fix it at all..

Will there be error codes to read even if there isnt a CEL ?

I also dont have a VAG Com cable - only a jaycar obd2 reader (that previously picked up a problem with my secondary air injection cracked vacuum hose)

No idea what to do.. Mechanic was talkin bout doin a "smoke test" to look for leaks... Is there something i can DIY?

[VWindahouse]

Yes you can get codes without CEL's. I went into limp mode when I was mucking around with a 3" maf housing and no CEL.

[noone]

Its hard to remotely diagnose, but the VAC lines would be the 1st place to start.
You can undo your 008 to check the piston is working correctly, or remove and operate teh piston with your finger to see its not somehow seized. with an ebay OBD2 scanner you should be able to scan codes with the free version of vag-com, just can clear codes.

Where in Sydney are you? I'm near Artarmon if its close by you could come past and I could use my lack of expertise to have a look around...

Good luck dude, intermittent issues suck.

[bn1986]

Its hard to remotely diagnose, but the VAC lines would be the 1st place to start.
You can undo your 008 to check the piston is working correctly, or remove and operate teh piston with your finger to see its not somehow seized. with an ebay OBD2 scanner you should be able to scan codes with the free version of vag-com, just can clear codes.

Where in Sydney are you? I'm near Artarmon if its close by you could come past and I could use my lack of expertise to have a look around...

Good luck dude, intermittent issues suck.

Im in roseville.. Ive got an obd2 scanner which ill rummage around for and have a scan..

What do you mean by 008? Is that a forge DV? i've got the apr one which is a membrane based DV which apparently has an infinite service life?!

Id definitely appreciate a 2nd pair of eyes having a look over it at some stage though... Ill keep you in the loop?

[h100vw]

Im in roseville.. Ive got an obd2 scanner which ill rummage around for and have a scan..

What do you mean by 008? Is that a forge DV? i've got the apr one which is a membrane based DV which apparently has an infinite service life?!

Id definitely appreciate a 2nd pair of eyes having a look over it at some stage though... Ill keep you in the loop?

Don't discount anything, It's the simplest thing to check the DV is good. Assume nothing.

Gavin

[Stan]

Also try wastegate acutuator, make sure it isnt getting stuck, and a whole bunch of hoses... good luck

[bn1986]

Hey guys still ongoing saga.. Still intermittently won't spool. Checked visible vac hoses on top, nothing broken. Swapped DV back to oem. No improvement.

Fitted boost gauge, when she's not working she just sits on 5psi and can quite clearly hear that the turbo isn't spooling.

What could cause the waste gate to get stuck? What should I look for under the car?

[VWindahouse]

Sounds like the WG flap may be permanently open or has no preload. You can just see the actuator from the top of the back of the engine. Have a look to see if it still has two nuts connected to either side of the rod first off.

[bn1986]

Sounds like the WG flap may be permanently open or has no preload. You can just see the actuator from the top of the back of the engine. Have a look to see if it still has two nuts connected to either side of the rod first off.

I'll have a look when i get home. But the thing is when the engine is cold, or driven from cold it spools fine. Its only once you've stopped the car for a few minutes (even sometimes in traffic) that the stupid turbo then stops spooling for a while, then comes back good.

If the WG flap was permanently open it wouldnt ever spool would it?

Also should mention, when the car is cold and i drive past vehicles on the drivers side as the turbo spools, it makes a clicking noise that gets faster with revs (sounds like sticky lifters) but a sharper, louder sound.