I have recently changed jobs and my car is having now to cope with the hills of Sheffield.... and doing a really poor job of it.

I have a 1997 Golf TDI which is struggling. I have noticed that there is no power and I have to drop down gears dramatically and have to put my foot fully to the floor just to get somewhere. I have recently had its oil changed, cause I thought that might make a difference but it hasn't. I have decided this year not to have a service as the car is getting old and I have found in the past that a full service history has not counted on exchange.

Any clues with what is wrong... I think it is the turbo which has gone, how expensive is this?

Any help will be most welcome

When you changed the oil did you have new filters fitted as well, because this could affect how your car performs.

Yeah ..... I had it done at ATS. Oil and filter change so I know its not that?

Why would changing the oil make a difference to the power? I can't see that it would ever make a difference.


Have you checked any of your boost pipes aren't split?

Just what my pa told me ..... i'm a girly and what I know about cars can be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Would you suggest a visit to a garage is in order then ?? Dreading the price.....

Originally posted by bertie749
Just what my pa told me ..... i'm a girly and what I know about cars can be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Would you suggest a visit to a garage is in order then ?? Dreading the price.....

There was someone on here a while ago that did VW services,(Strix where are you) so a look around may save you a hefty bill.


Too late Strix :D I beat you to it. :heyhey: :heyhey: :heyhey:

Here is the link to the Vee Dubb guy.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47563

Yeah .... I've seen the add but he only does pre-97. I'll give it a shot though, thanks

I had a similar problem with a rover 220 tdi it just lost power.
started and ran fine at normal town speeds but on motorways and hills it was underpowered.
I never found out what it was as someone ran in to the back of it and wrote it off before i got it sorted.
as it's a turbo though i'm wondering if that could be the problem.

Originally posted by bertie749
Just what my pa told me ..... i'm a girly and what I know about cars can be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Would you suggest a visit to a garage is in order then ?? Dreading the price.....

I am a girl too, no excuses ;)

I would suggest a trip to I think PA Autos? The Volkswagon specialist up by the University, people always seem to reccomend them.

When you press your foot down can you feel the turbo kick it at all? You should feel that whoosh. You may just have a split pipe which means you are leaking air and loosing boost. It is all guesswork though, best thing to do is get someone to look at it who knows what they are doing.

check inside your oil filler cap,if its creamy or sludgey then it may be the head gasket thats blown,this causes you to lose power,is it overheating? check your dipstick to see if theres any water drops on it,this is also a sign your head gasket has blown,its just happened to me.............

Depoix

This has just happened to my car. Husband says its my fault cos of the way i drive (B*****d)!! I have heard all the nightmares about people whose cars have blown up, needed new engines etc. cos they had driven even though over heated. Mine went in to autoworld today and i have been told its at least a three day job. its only three years old and has done less than 20,000 miles. keep me posted please!

Originally posted by anabel
Depoix

This has just happened to my car. Husband says its my fault cos of the way i drive (B*****d)!! I have heard all the nightmares about people whose cars have blown up, needed new engines etc. cos they had driven even though over heated. Mine went in to autoworld today and i have been told its at least a three day job. its only three years old and has done less than 20,000 miles. keep me posted please! been told that mine was caused by an airlock,caused pressure and blew the gasket,im getting another engine from the scrap yard as it will prove cheaper than having the head skimmed and gasket fitted

Check all the pipes around the engine, particularly underneath. I had some sort of air vacuum pipe split under my diesel once and it just lost all power.

i go to a garage on Hick street, called Blagdens, they are very good with both petrol and diesel engines. The number is 272 3854, give them a call, I'm sure they will sort it.

Hiya,

give me a bell if you want to come and have a look :)

Matt

Originally posted by anabel
its only three years old and has done less than 20,000 miles. keep me posted please!

So it should be covered by the manufacturers warranty?

On the VW there is an air flow regulator unit which opens or resticts the air and can cause those symptoms if it stops working, but be warned it can be expensive to replace. Turbo and other bits can be working perfectly but unless this unit supplies the air needed your VW will not pull like it should.