tdwesty
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Location
- Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
- TDI
- '04 Jetta TDI 5sp, '03 Jetta TDI Wagon Auto
Hello all,
Our 2004 BEW Jetta 5speed with 376k kms suffered power loss on a long mountain climb this week while travelling to visit family. This has happened a few times before, but never this severely - I had to shift to 4th, then 3rd and speed dropped to under 80km/h (from 120km/h) on a long 8% grade. I babied it the rest of the 300kms and had no issues except for some random oddness during part throttle acceleration. It felt like a loss of boost, so I'm suspecting something in the vacuum control system or the EGR, neither of which I've touched in 14 years/200k kms since owning. Timing belt was done a year ago at 365k. Issue could also be worn cam or EGR I realize, so I will be looking at both when I get home. I did try unplugging the EGR connector and starting engine, and did not get a CEL, so not sure what this means. I do have the RossTech scanner but it's at home of course.
Right now, I'm hoping for ideas on what options I have to limp home if this gets worse, as I need to drive the 600k home through the mountains before I can look into it further.
On a probably unrelated issue, the AC died soon after we arrived, ambient temps were 39C and we were stuck in traffic with it blowing full when I stalled the engine. Re-started and noticed the AC immediately went warm. I have no power at the AC clutch connector with the engine running and AC on, so I suspect that cranking while AC was on may have cooked the fan control module. I don't believe this is related to the power loss issue; engine runs the same after AC died, clutch is not seized, but is not engaging. I have ordered a new fan control module to install before we head home, to hopefully resolve the AC issue, as limping home over the mountains in summer heat will not be much fun...
Thanks
Our 2004 BEW Jetta 5speed with 376k kms suffered power loss on a long mountain climb this week while travelling to visit family. This has happened a few times before, but never this severely - I had to shift to 4th, then 3rd and speed dropped to under 80km/h (from 120km/h) on a long 8% grade. I babied it the rest of the 300kms and had no issues except for some random oddness during part throttle acceleration. It felt like a loss of boost, so I'm suspecting something in the vacuum control system or the EGR, neither of which I've touched in 14 years/200k kms since owning. Timing belt was done a year ago at 365k. Issue could also be worn cam or EGR I realize, so I will be looking at both when I get home. I did try unplugging the EGR connector and starting engine, and did not get a CEL, so not sure what this means. I do have the RossTech scanner but it's at home of course.
Right now, I'm hoping for ideas on what options I have to limp home if this gets worse, as I need to drive the 600k home through the mountains before I can look into it further.
On a probably unrelated issue, the AC died soon after we arrived, ambient temps were 39C and we were stuck in traffic with it blowing full when I stalled the engine. Re-started and noticed the AC immediately went warm. I have no power at the AC clutch connector with the engine running and AC on, so I suspect that cranking while AC was on may have cooked the fan control module. I don't believe this is related to the power loss issue; engine runs the same after AC died, clutch is not seized, but is not engaging. I have ordered a new fan control module to install before we head home, to hopefully resolve the AC issue, as limping home over the mountains in summer heat will not be much fun...
Thanks