So quick situation is I received this ALH TDI as a hand-me down gift after the last one a 2000 Beetle ALH TDI unfortunately exploded last week, around 375k km. Something went in the engine, only suspect was oddly loud almost truck like quality it had, was driven 4,000km before it imploded.
Only reason I add fact I had the Beetle is very least gives me a very direct comparison for power, general engine feel etc.
So I'm driving this vehicle approximately 500km a week, and overall have noticed it has a distinct lack of power when getting up to 3k RPM at higher speeds (in general I avoid these rpm's as engine obviously produces plenty enough torque usually)
The vehicle has:
-240k Miles on it (385k km)
-5spd Manual (Had a new clutch I believe 40-50k before that, though almost 100% sure it isn't the clutch)
Codes: Haven't checked them myself, apparently step father who gave me the car had them checked before the hand off, and was only a glowplug warning which apparently should be okay? No issue noticable with the plug or starting that I'm aware of at least.
Problem:
Major issue with the vehicle is very noticable when going up hills, particularly a hill on the highway I travel daily (I have a alternate route if ends up being required).
This particular hill is a 6% grade, and going up it in the Beetle I had no problem in 5th gear accelerating up from 100km/hr about 125km/hr before it would peeter out maybe needing to lower a gear to gain much more than that. Not that I pushed it up the hill regularly just a observation, typically I'd maintain 110.
This Jetta however, can barely maintain 110km/hr going up the hill, and sometimes even only a 100km/hr if I were to start in 3rd or 4th when going up. 3rd and 4th both cause the vehicle to start to surge, feeling like its being starved for fuel or air, and the issue gets worst when taking corners.
Surges becoming longer and stronger. I've had this effect as well in Second, and in 5th just has to be right combination of events, something pushing the engine harder than normal, at higher throttle positions, or when going up hill and rounding a corner at higher throttle positions.
One other note, the Engine oil temp does not seem to want to exceed 155F (the mark in the video) and is slow to reach this number making me think the thermostat might be gone as well.
Below is a Video showing the issue while going up said example hill.
After gear changing, the throttle is on the floor, the RPM's dipping is each 'surge' they aren't harsh but you can feel the deceleration with each one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhMLAUCliEI
What I've considered so far:
- Checking intercooler for Oil
- Seeing if can check fuel pump for flow rates/blockage.
- Changing Air filter
- Cleaning up the EGR valve (though seems to rotate fine)
I have not had the time unfortunately to do much diagnostics but hoping my explanation and video give a good idea of what sorta tell tale signs might be obvious to some and just trouble shooting to me.
Only reason I add fact I had the Beetle is very least gives me a very direct comparison for power, general engine feel etc.
So I'm driving this vehicle approximately 500km a week, and overall have noticed it has a distinct lack of power when getting up to 3k RPM at higher speeds (in general I avoid these rpm's as engine obviously produces plenty enough torque usually)
The vehicle has:
-240k Miles on it (385k km)
-5spd Manual (Had a new clutch I believe 40-50k before that, though almost 100% sure it isn't the clutch)
Codes: Haven't checked them myself, apparently step father who gave me the car had them checked before the hand off, and was only a glowplug warning which apparently should be okay? No issue noticable with the plug or starting that I'm aware of at least.
Problem:
Major issue with the vehicle is very noticable when going up hills, particularly a hill on the highway I travel daily (I have a alternate route if ends up being required).
This particular hill is a 6% grade, and going up it in the Beetle I had no problem in 5th gear accelerating up from 100km/hr about 125km/hr before it would peeter out maybe needing to lower a gear to gain much more than that. Not that I pushed it up the hill regularly just a observation, typically I'd maintain 110.
This Jetta however, can barely maintain 110km/hr going up the hill, and sometimes even only a 100km/hr if I were to start in 3rd or 4th when going up. 3rd and 4th both cause the vehicle to start to surge, feeling like its being starved for fuel or air, and the issue gets worst when taking corners.
Surges becoming longer and stronger. I've had this effect as well in Second, and in 5th just has to be right combination of events, something pushing the engine harder than normal, at higher throttle positions, or when going up hill and rounding a corner at higher throttle positions.
One other note, the Engine oil temp does not seem to want to exceed 155F (the mark in the video) and is slow to reach this number making me think the thermostat might be gone as well.
Below is a Video showing the issue while going up said example hill.
After gear changing, the throttle is on the floor, the RPM's dipping is each 'surge' they aren't harsh but you can feel the deceleration with each one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhMLAUCliEI
What I've considered so far:
- Checking intercooler for Oil
- Seeing if can check fuel pump for flow rates/blockage.
- Changing Air filter
- Cleaning up the EGR valve (though seems to rotate fine)
I have not had the time unfortunately to do much diagnostics but hoping my explanation and video give a good idea of what sorta tell tale signs might be obvious to some and just trouble shooting to me.
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