Loss of power on semi-hard acceleration (Turbo related?)

[EasyBreezy]

I was accelerating from a stoplight trying to get in front of the guy next to me. While keeping the pedal in about the same place i lost most of my acceleration. I could still speed up just at a much slower pace. At the same time I could also hear the turbo whine much more distinctly. There were no catastrophic sounds nor did the check engine light come on. I ended up driving it about another mile home (mostly coasting in neutral.)

My thought is that I lost turbo boost. Because I could hear the turbo spooling up still I think I’m losing pressure at some point after the turbo.

Does this sound like a reasonable conclusion? Any other theories on what it may be? I would also appreciate any guidance on the path that the air takes from the intake through to the cylinders. I’ve been digging around under the hood trying to figure it all out but am having trouble deciphering the maze of hoses.🫤

 

[Tuheeden]

Get any OBD reader and pull up the boost reading. Under acceleration you should get 10-15-even 20psi of boost. If it barely moves then likely the turbo is going OR your DPF is really clogged, but that will certainly throw a code

 

[EasyBreezy]

Get any OBD reader and pull up the boost reading. Under acceleration you should get 10-15-even 20psi of boost. If it barely moves then likely the turbo is going OR your DPF is really clogged, but that will certainly throw a code

Hopefully it’s not the DPF, I just had that replaced like 6 mo back.

 

[privateTDIjet]

My passat had a clogged DPF for a while and just as the turbo was gonna die, it started whining and under heavy pedal demand, after a while, the glow plug light would eventually start flashing. One day, during heavy idling, it just stalled and died. The turbine was completely loose upon replacement and there was a LOT of oil down the intercooler tube before the EGR and anti shudder valve.

 

[EasyBreezy]

UPDATE

I have a kermatune and forgot that it somehow blocks the CEL from coming on. I finally hooked up a reader and it is showing code P0299.
Link to screenshot of VCDS

 

[super1]

UPDATE

I have a kermatune and forgot that it somehow blocks the CEL from coming on. I finally hooked up a reader and it is showing code P0299.
Link to screenshot of VCDS

Here's a check
VW Golf 2.0 GT Tdi P0299 Turbo Underboost

 

[EasyBreezy]

Here's a check
VW Golf 2.0 GT Tdi P0299 Turbo Underboost

That video seems like it should be helpful. I just found a $70 smoke machine on Amazon that will be here tomorrow.

 

[super1]

That video seems like it should be helpful. I just found a $70 smoke machine on Amazon that will be here tomorrow.

You have a vacuum pump similar in video?
here's the link if you have to change the actuator but it's for a Passat might be the same?

Google Search

 

[EasyBreezy]

I don’t have a vacuum pump, but that is the next tool in the list if the smoker doesn’t help me solve it.

thanks