Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004) - 99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU?

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Wed 25 Feb 2009 09:17
99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU? - wishiknew
Hi there
I'm not used to discussing mechanical things, but am fed up with my turbo not working so am going to try! My local garage had a look and couldn't see anything 'straightforward' wrong that they could fix straight away. They said they would need to replace the whole thing (expensive). They did ask about the new ECU I had fitted two years ago at a VW dealership. They said to check that they put in the turbo one, as if they didn't then there wouldn't be a signal to tell the turbo to work. could this be right?
I called VW and they said the model they put in (WO38 906012 L) was the right one. Due to my ignorance in these matters, I have to take their word for it.
Any thoughts?
Many thanks,

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 25/02/2009 at 10:08

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Wed 25 Feb 2009 10:50
99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU? - vista
does the turbo work at all?

i had a similar problem with an audi a3 tdi, the turbo worked fine until i tried to 'boot' it a little more, the turbo would then cut out, had to switch the car off and back on again to clear it,

my car needed the ecu to be re-mapped, cost me around £300 to do so and cleared the problem
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Wed 25 Feb 2009 11:45
99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU? - DP
Did the garage check for stored fault codes in the ECU, or was it just a visual examination?
There are countless potential reasons for this problem, and only one of them involves replacing the turbo. The car needs a fault code read, and some competent diagnostics.
Which engine is it? Is it the 90, 110 or 115 (6 speed box)?

Cheers
DP
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Wed 25 Feb 2009 18:09
99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU? - wishiknew
Hi there
It was just a visual examination, as they were fixing something else (window). Unfortunatley I cannot remember exactly when the turbo stopped working, but I think it was around the time the new ECU was fitted. It's a 1898cc engine.
Possibly the VW dealership had not programmed it correctly - but that would be impossible to prove I imagine.
Do you know roughly how much it would cost to do a fault code read and some diagnostics.
If too much, I shall just have to live with my Golf 'tractor'!
Thanks,
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Thu 26 Feb 2009 08:34
99 1.9TDi turbo not working, could it be the ECU? - DP
Most places charge an hour's labour for a fault code read, so £60-£100 depending on where you go. It's helpful that you have a VW because there's excellent aftermarket diagnostic software available (VAGCOM) which allows independent garages much the same access to the management system as a VW dealer. Any good independent garage or diesel specialist should be able to pinpoint your problem.

The 1898cc capacity is universal across the VW TDI range of this era. This engine came in two flavours 90 bhp, 110 bhp, but a 99 car could have the 'next generation' 115 bhp version (known as the PD engine and with a six speed manual gearbox). If yours is a five speed, it's a 90 or 110, if it's a six speed it's a 115.
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