2002 NB manual constant missing one minute even to limp mode putting pedal to floor, the next ignition cycle runs normally

Rickstah

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Location
Yukon, Oklahoma
TDI
NB, 2002, green, Eurotek STG1
Hi all, car has been running well since last year when I finally put a lift pump in it, cured most hesitation...until a couple months ago. I think it is a coincidence but I put a new egr on it, old one was leaking. At some point I noticed when I would leave for work it would shudder on startup and idle, fairly strong shudders and this would continue into the drive to work.

If I got heavy with the pedal it would start to accel and then bog, then some rapid fire misses as it tried to build speed, inevitably reaching a point where it shut off turbo I think, actually slowed down with pedal to the floor, then if I let off the pedal and coasted down it would "catch" and start accelerating strongly for a few moments or be steady if I found a neutral position of the pedal. If I pulled over and finally turned it off and then started again it usually will start driving normally until I turned it off again, in which case it would start back with struggling, once I noticed it was only showing about 6 pounds of boost during these episodes. I have checked all vac lines, pretty new, when it is running normally it will finally run out of torque with the pedal to the floor but after shifting it worked fine. Then it usually goes back after the next ignition cycle to acting up again. The acting up is getting worse, if I leave the pedal down it will kick into full limp mode until I cycle the ignition. New fuel filter, I can hear the lift pump activate, I have done deep cleaning of the fuel system with conditioner so I am sure injectors are clean. The fact restarting usually makes it either normal or acting up sounds electrical, but I can't pin it down. No codes, the n75 and other vacuum devices are less than six months old. I checked MAF when it started this and it ran worse with it unplugged. Sometimes the ignition trick does not work, though and I have to drive home via back streets because it just cannot make enough power to get out on the turnpike. I don't mind idiosyncracies like having to push the unlock door button after I unlock via the fob to prevent it from auto-locking before I can get the key in the ignition, lol, but this is getting old.
 

Tdijarhead

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Location
Lawrenceville PA
TDI
2003 TDI Jetta Daughters Car, 2001 TDI Beetle, Wife’s car, 2005 Golf TDI Mine, all 5 spds
Diagnostic codes?

Exactly what codes are you getting?

It sounds like you are experiencing limp mode. Which is likely not electrical in nature.

Here is Canadian Grizzly’s limp mode checklist.

 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
You may need to check for stored codes immediately after incident, while car is still running. So I've read.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Urban myth.
I've always thought the same, but I've read too many threads that support it. My current TDI very rarely goes to Limp, yet does not store any code.
 
Last edited:

P2B

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Location
Toronto & Muskoka, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta, 2003 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon
I've always thought the same, but I've read too many threads that support it. My corrent TDI very rarely goes to Limp, yet does not store any code.
@Rickstah's issue seems like a good test case - sounds like limp mode (clears on restart) so there should be a code.
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Urban myth.
Negative.
I had this with my 2003 JSW
First time I had the power loss I found I could step on the clutch, put the car in neutral on the road, shut the key off for a few seconds, turn it back on and let the clutch up slowly and continue (don't remove the key btw).
If I had to do this twice in the same drive cycle then the CEL would come on.
That would be when I scanned for codes before starting the car.
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Negative.
I had this with my 2003 JSW
First time I had the power loss I found I could step on the clutch, put the car in neutral on the road, shut the key off for a few seconds, turn it back on and let the clutch up slowly and continue (don't remove the key btw).
If I had to do this twice in the same drive cycle then the CEL would come on.
That would be when I scanned for codes before starting the car.
 

P2B

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Location
Toronto & Muskoka, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta, 2003 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon
Negative.
I had this with my 2003 JSW
First time I had the power loss I found I could step on the clutch, put the car in neutral on the road, shut the key off for a few seconds, turn it back on and let the clutch up slowly and continue (don't remove the key btw).
If I had to do this twice in the same drive cycle then the CEL would come on.
That would be when I scanned for codes before starting the car.
Cycling the ignition clears limp mode. Doesn't clear the associated DTC. It takes two overboost occurances to turn on the CEL - so the CEL coming on proves that cycling the ignition did not clear the first DTC.
 
Top