Engine has lost power help please

[bill lange]

HI,
I have a 2000 jetta TDI with 136,000 miles, it has lost power recently very slow climbing from 2000 RPM to 3000 RPM
and will not climb above 3000 RPM. I have checked waste gate
operation both by hand and with hand vacuum pump at N75 valve and watched waste gate valve operated, Intake was cleaned at 100,000 miles turbo spins free by hand.
Has anyone hade problems with converter clogging up and
restricting exhust flow and prventing turbo from from fully spinning up? Any suggestions would be helpful, I don't have
Vagcom software. Thanks Bill

 

[MRIBOB]

Sounds like the MAF sensor.
Did you check the MAF ?
The symptoms are classic for the MAF.

Can you hear the turbo sounds when you increase the RPM.

 

[bill lange]

No I did not check MAF, what is a good way to check MAF?
would bad MAF set check engine light? (mine is not on)
Have not notice turbo sounds, but been using A/C with windows up Thanks

 

[cage]

Unplug the maf and see if power is better. If so it's the maf

 

[Vin]

Is it okay to drive with the MAF unplugged until the new one arrive? What other side affects will this cause? Just curious.

 

[mavapa]

I suggest a blind test with the MAF. Have two people, one to plug and unplug the MAF and the other to drive. Test the power with and without the MAF plugged in, but don't tell the drive whether it's plugged or unplugged. Also, be careful unplugging the MAF to avoid breaking the lock mechanism on the plug. Good luck, and let us know what you find.

 

[rdkern]

It's OK to drive with the MAF unplugged - but you will get a CEL. I believe you'll need a Vag-Com or equivalent to clear the CEL when you get the new one installed.

I agree that it's likely the MAF, but do you also have some smoke when you're struggling up the hills? If so, it might be a clogged intake.

Also, when was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

 

[diesel_smoke]

The Catalytic converter could be clogged.

In the diesel trucks they fill up with soot causing the same symtoms.

Enjoy

 

[vwdon]

I have same problem. How has you fuel milege been?

 

[bill lange]

No I don't see smoke when struggling up hills, Intake was cleaned 35,0000 miles ago wasen't all that bad then.
Fuel filter was changed 3,000 miles ago problem was there before filter change Milege about same as always 51-53 MPG.
I thought a bad MAF would set CEL mine is not on but is working. Thanks for everyones help to this point I will try
unpluging the MAF and see what happens. I am open for more suggestions. PS sorry for posting in wrong area.

 

[colnago]

Hi

I am having a very similar problem to Bill's. My 2001 Golf TDI (87,000 km) has a lack of power. At some times the problem is more pronounced then others. At times I can push the gas pedal to the floor and the car will max out at 110-120 km/h. This is especially noticed when going up hill.

I had a MAF problem before (just over a year ago) and thought that this was the same thing. My dealership just replaced the MAF again today and replaced the air filter but on the way home from the dealership the problems were still present. Any suggestions given that it doesn't seem to be the MAF? The dealership is now suggesting it may be the N75 valve causing the trouble. Does this seem reasonable? Would you try something else before replacing the N75 valve?

Ezra

 

[bill lange]

I unpluged my MAF this afternoon before I started my 50 mile
drive home which includes some good size hills which have been real hard on the Jetta. As soon as I left work I could
tell a huge diference the engine reved freely, my hill climbing power was back the Jetta is once again FUN to drive
Unpluging the MAF did make my cel come on but I will take care of that when I get new MAF. Thank you for everybodys
input,I have been reading this web site for four years but
this is first time I used it to solve a problem, this site is a GREAT troubleshooting tool. Once again thanks for all your help, I hope this may help others with similar problems
Bill

 

[cage]

Cool! You will have even better power once you get a new MAF in there

 

[tgw]

I am having semilar problem. Loss of power in higher rpm range. I changed fuel filter and it helped a little. I noticed air bubbles in clear line leading from fuel filter (they were there before and after I changed filter). Is this normal even after fuel filter is purged? Where could the air be comming from and how do I stop it?

I have 75,000 miles on my '03 Jetta and drive around 100 miles a day. Half Interstate, half secondary roads.

Thanks for any help!

Terry

 

[wolfsburg]

A few bubbles are normal in the fuel line..you can't get rid of them compltely. Read above posts .. you also seem to have a MAF problem. They go for about $80 US.

 

[tgw]

Thanks, I will try that. The bubbles are down to a few now. It may have been the filter that was causing the problems. Before I changed it, it look like 50-50 air fuel.

Thanks again.

Terry