2012 Audi a3 tdi blowing black smoke and not starting anymore

[lthuffman05]

For some background, I bought a 2012 Audi a3 tdi that now has 145k miles on it and it starting to hesitate when accelerating and blowing black smoke out of the rear of the car. After talking to a few people I decided to trash the dpf and get a tune for it from tunezilla. Once I finished the install and downloaded the tune I started it and the black smoke got a lot worse. I shut the car off then after a while I tried to start it again and it wouldn’t. Any idea what this could be? Injector? Hpfp? Also very new to these cars so sorry for any ignorance. Thanks

 

[Mozambiquer]

For some background, I bought a 2012 Audi a3 tdi that now has 145k miles on it and it starting to hesitate when accelerating and blowing black smoke out of the rear of the car. After talking to a few people I decided to trash the dpf and get a tune for it from tunezilla. Once I finished the install and downloaded the tune I started it and the black smoke got a lot worse. I shut the car off then after a while I tried to start it again and it wouldn’t. Any idea what this could be? Injector? Hpfp? Also very new to these cars so sorry for any ignorance. Thanks

What fault codes is it throwing?

 

[lthuffman05]

What fault codes is it throwing?

No check engine light on the dash. Going to hook up my dads scanner when he gets into town tomorrow

 

[Mozambiquer]

No check engine light on the dash. Going to hook up my dads scanner when he gets into town tomorrow

There would likely be a fault code thrown.
Also check and make sure the turbo isn't locked up/broken... That can cause a similar issue

 

[ZippyNH]

When you say "trash the DPF" did you use a race pipe style or just cut it open and remove the chunks then reweld it?
Asking because any debris left could easily have locked the turbo.
But there is a tell...
You had some issues BEFORE the removal of the dpf...to have smoke WITH a DPF is not only really bad but hard to have happen.... DPF is essentially a ceramic filter, and diesel repairs have been made harder by the simple the DPF HIDES many issues that we once saw or noticed because of smoke etc.

I would check the turbo ASAP...might be the cause or simply a symptom of the problem... MAYBE THE SEAL was leaking and it locked up preventing a runaway...just spitballing since many others know more about VW diesels here

 

[lthuffman05]

The dpf was deleted and replaced with a 3in downpipe. While I had the dpf off I spun the turbine and it spun but it didnt spin for a long time but I chocked it up to not having a great grip on it.

 

[lthuffman05]

Update.
I took the downpipe off the turbo and attempted to spin the turbine. You can spin the turbine but it’s not spinning freely so I’m going to replace the turbo. That being said. Any suggestions on potential upgrading ?

 

[Mozambiquer]

Update.
I took the downpipe off the turbo and attempted to spin the turbine. You can spin the turbine but it’s not spinning freely so I’m going to replace the turbo. That being said. Any suggestions on potential upgrading ?

It would depend on your budget and goals. The cr170 is a pretty good upgrade..will need an updated tune and 4 bar map though .
Being an A3, make sure it's got oil pressure. They have the balance shaft that can fail and could be the cause of the turbo failure.

 

[lthuffman05]

It would depend on your budget and goals. The cr170 is a pretty good upgrade..will need an updated tune and 4 bar map though .
Being an A3, make sure it's got oil pressure. They have the balance shaft that can fail and could be the cause of the turbo failure.

It’s never thrown the warning light for it so I’m assuming so. I still want to be able to daily drive this car so I don’t wanna do anything crazy so maybe 200-250hp

 

[McGuirk]

While the A3 TDI does have a balance shaft assembly it has the upgraded version. 100mm stronger shaft, and gear driven. I've inspected several A3 TDI vehicles at various mileage even up to 190k and very minimal wear was found. I replace them anyway because their only like $10. This engine may be a CBEA but it's basically a CJAA. Even has the newer thermostat unlike the 2009 CBEA in the Jettas. Do whatever turbo you want the car is good for it.

 

[oilhammer]

I love it when people have a broken car, and don't bother one bit to find out the why and what of it, and jump straight to modding it, only to end up right back at square one with a broken car. Never fails to entertain me.

 

[lthuffman05]

I love it when people have a broken car, and don't bother one bit to find out the why and what of it, and jump straight to modding it, only to end up right back at square one with a broken car. Never fails to entertain me.

welp I was thinking about putting a larger turbo on it anyways to have some fun with it and if it’s broken why not upgrade plus the turbo had shaft play and was difficult to spin anyways so it was in need of replacing anyways but i appreciate your input

 

[Tuheeden]

A bad turbo usually will not prevent the car from starting (although it can dump a bunch of oil into the intake). Do you check the oil level? It it's dropped noticably, I would pop off one of the lower intercooler pipes and see what's there. I would not start modding until you find out why it's not starting. Does it crank?
If the HPFP blew, that's a bunch of money to fix.
The rule of thumb for exhaust smoke is: Black is fuel, blue is oil, white is coolant

 

[lthuffman05]

A bad turbo usually will not prevent the car from starting (although it can dump a bunch of oil into the intake). Do you check the oil level? It it's dropped noticably, I would pop off one of the lower intercooler pipes and see what's there. I would not start modding until you find out why it's not starting. Does it crank?
If the HPFP blew, that's a bunch of money to fix.
The rule of thumb for exhaust smoke is: Black is fuel, blue is oil, white is coolant

There was oil in the intercooler when I took it off but it wasn’t like full of oil just some dripped out. It cranks and will start after turning it over for 5-10 seconds and it idles rough. I took the metering valve off the hpfp and there was not metal or anything like that in the screen so that leads me to believe it’s a stuck injector or something to that effect. My dad has a scan tool to test the injectors so that’s on the list of things to do. The smoke is a straight black. No blue or white smoke in the mix. I had a 06 Jetta tdi that windowed the block due to a bad turbo so blue smoke has been instilled in my brain