04 Jetta BEW, 5 speed. Limp mode, no CEL, no codes

[Fasteddie1010]

Found small hole at front bottom of intercooler. Used JB Weld, it is holding. Found a little oil leakage at coupling at inlet to intercooler. Replaced O-rings. No other leaks found by looking. Have the collar holding the hose to the anti-shudder valve, so no issues there. Could not see any leakage from the top looking at the EGR cooler. The MAF can easily go over 11,000. Not sure what the trip point is. Taking it easy, shifting less than 3000 RPM keeps it from limp mode. IF I coast, it will go into limp mode, anyone know what triggers this? Looking at making smoke generator next.

 

[Tdijarhead]

Check your actuator with a mity vac.

Does it hold vacuum?

Does the actuator start the arm of the turbo moving at about 3hg and it reaches the stop at about 18hg?

When you’re testing the actuator with the mity vac does it move without crunchy noises and does it move all the way to the stop?

Is you car smoking while driving? The only time a BEW should smoke other than at startup is when a boost hose is disconnected or leaking or you have a bad MAF.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Check your actuator with a mity vac.

Does it hold vacuum?

Does the actuator start the arm of the turbo moving at about 3hg and it reaches the stop at about 18hg?

When you’re testing the actuator with the mity vac does it move without crunchy noises and does it move all the way to the stop?

Is you car smoking while driving? The only time a BEW should smoke other than at startup is when a boost hose is disconnected or leaking or you have a bad MAF.

I replaced the turbo 2 years ago, all the power is there until limp mode. No smoke out the pipe. Calibration of the actuator was spot on.

 

[Tdijarhead]

I had to replace my actuator a year or so ago about 6 months later I had a limp mode issue. The nuts on the control rod had moved, I reset the movement with my mity vac and put some blue lock tite on them.

Recheck your actuator with a mity vac make sure it’s move the proper distance and at the proper time.

 

[Mozambiquer]

What codes are you getting with the limp mode? Have you checked how much vacuum the vacuum pump is putting out (or would that be pulling in?) Check your camshaft for wear, pressure test the intake system, oh, and the maf reading... That sounds a bit high to me...

 

[gforce1108]

What are you scanning it with? If it's limp mode, there has to be something stored but you'll need something better than a generic code reader.

 

[BobnOH]

I have read that if you scan the car after going limp, before shutting the car off you may see the error.

 

[oilhammer]

Probably start with a better scan tool.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

What are you scanning it with? If it's limp mode, there has to be something stored but you'll need something better than a generic code reader.

Using VCDS.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Probably start with a better scan tool.

I am using VCDS.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

I have read that if you scan the car after going limp, before shutting the car off you may see the error.

I am using the VCDS, boost demand and actual match. The MAF is too high. I have not had the VCDS connected when it goes into limp mode on deceleration. This weekend I should have some time. First day off in 3 weeks...

 

[Fasteddie1010]

I had to replace my actuator a year or so ago about 6 months later I had a limp mode issue. The nuts on the control rod had moved, I reset the movement with my mity vac and put some blue lock tite on them.

Recheck your actuator with a mity vac make sure it’s move the proper distance and at the proper time.

Did you have a vacuum leak on your actuator? My brother has a hole rusted through on his ALH. No boost at all on his Jetta.

 

[Tdijarhead]

Did you have a vacuum leak on your actuator? My brother has a hole rusted through on his ALH. No boost at all on his Jetta.

Yes , the actuator would not hold vacuum when tested with a mity vac directly on the actuator nipple.

 

[gforce1108]

Any tune on it? Some tuners constantly clear faults so there is no CEL. Makes it hard to troubleshoot problems. But if your MAF isn't reading right, I'd probably start there.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Any tune on it? Some tuners constantly clear faults so there is no CEL. Makes it hard to troubleshoot problems. But if your MAF isn't reading right, I'd probably start there.

I do have a Malone Stage 1. MAF, MAP appear reading normally. I did take photos of limp mode while monitoring Boost Demand and Boost Actual. The Torque Limit will flat line to about 150 when in limp mode. There is a delta between demand and actual. Repeats easily on deceleration.

 

[dhangejr]

Clogged vnt turbo did that in my old ALH. Boost fell off when pushing hard and limp mode followed. I could usually reset it just by turning the car on and off. mr. muscle cleaned it twice before that shaft snapped from me over fueling it

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Not sure if I can attach a picture of the VCDS. Any help?

 

[dhangejr]

Go to pics.tdiclub.com snd create an album then when your back in this thread snd writing a reply click the little icon that looks like a camera then find your media

D8955FD5-194B-4D08-9643-2E502A5F17EC.jpeg

• dhangejr
• Apr 21, 2022

woof woof

 

[Fasteddie1010]

I added three photos of limp mode into the media section. Can I link them to this post?

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Go to pics.tdiclub.com snd create an album then when your back in this thread snd writing a reply click the little icon that looks like a camera then find your media

D8955FD5-194B-4D08-9643-2E502A5F17EC.jpeg

• dhangejr
• Apr 21, 2022

woof woof

Thank you!

 

[dhangejr]

Try clicking edit on the above post…once you get to the media part look for your albums. I must say technology sucks and so does time.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

3 photos of three limp mode trips.

3 limp mode trips without CEL BEW 5 speed

• Fasteddie1010
• May 20, 2022
• 3

Top line shows torque limit flat lines at about 150. Turbo demand and boost actual at the other two.

 

[dhangejr]

I don’t use the graph feature so not sure what that data is. I can say when doing logs you typically wanna be in 3 or 4th (if speed permits) then you slow your RPM to 1500 press start on the log and take full throttle it to redline in the same gear. Then hit stop. The. You can screen shot the data or upload the file to drive and link it.

Others can help you slot more than me on this.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

So checked calibration of Turbo Actuator, found good, as installed 3 years ago. Checked for vacuum leaks, none found. Check vacuum supply SAT at 25 IN HG VAC.

 

[Fasteddie1010]

Franko believes the ECU may be the issue.

 

[wonneber]

I have read that if you scan the car after going limp, before shutting the car off you may see the error.

Correct.
If you reset the light before reading the code it's gone also.