SEAT Altea XL (2007 - ) - 2007 2.0TDI Missing air intake pipe - problems?

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Mon 23 Jun 2008 21:31
2007 2.0TDI Missing air intake pipe - problems? - BobbyG
Car is 2.0tdi altea xl.
My car was in for clutch flywheel to be replaced on fri. This was at my request for them to check the clutch and also engine hesitancy. They diagnosed flywheel as being the problem, apparently a common problem. Havent really driven it much over weekend.

Coming home from work tonight, notice that, under acceleration, quite a bit of black smoke coming out the back, especially about 3-3500 revs in third gear. Thinking this is good, clearing out all the soot, I floor it a few times and hold at 3500 and the back is filled with black smoke whilst doing this, a good old "Italian tune-up" me thinks!.

Go into house momentarily and go back out, switch on ignition, and hear rattling from engine compartment. On checking, the fans are going round, but the "u" shaped plastic air pipe that connects the air intake immediately behind the radiator to the rest of the system, is lying down on top of the fans and has been pierced, presumably by the fan.

I have fitted this back on now, and am going straight to dealer in morning.
Will this have caused any major issues, will it have made matters worse that I was flooring the revs? Am I safe to lay the blame of this loose pipe at dealer's door as I have never been under the bonnet other than to top up washers and check oil? And certainly havent been under it since Friday.

I want to go in prepared for them!
And I am off to France in car at end of week!
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Tue 24 Jun 2008 16:34
2007 2.0TDI Missing air intake pipe - problems? - DP
If it were me, I'd call them and say the car is making a nasty rattling noise and has been very smoky since they had it, and make sure you put the pipe back where you found it before you take the car back. Don't let them think you've touched it.

They need to put this right (and replace the pipe by the sounds of it)

Cheers
DP
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Tue 24 Jun 2008 18:26
2007 2.0TDI Missing air intake pipe - problems? - BobbyG
Cheers DP, but I took it in this morning first thing and told them what had happened. They have taped the gash in the pipe and ordered me a new one.

Re possible damage to engine, they said there won't be any (they would, wouldn't they!). The smoke was due to the mixture not being right due to sensors sending duff info but if it had caused any problems the engine management light would have came on.

Seems to be running OK now with no smoke.
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