TURBO: 2012-2014 Passat turbo failures [discussion thread]

[tdireader]

If that does turn out to be the case, then the solution would be to let it warm up, which you should probably be doing anyway if it's necessary to do a haul-ass merge on a cold engine.

Given the choice, I'd take a little lag over a blown turbo any day.

I do usually remote start my car before leaving. However, this is not always possible when temperatures go bellow -22C.

My worry is unpredictable lag. I don't want the computer deciding in the middle of a ride that it is time to change the response time. It is like driving some of the newer high MPG Mazda automatics that up-shift in the middle of a merge. Damn dangerous.

I do realize that a blown turbo is just as dangerous.

The sane solution would be to tune down the EPA mandated hardware until up to temp. We will need to wait and see.

Fortunately, it looks like I'll be spending most of this winter in a warmer climate.

 

[Busydiver]

what happened to the video?

TurboDieselPoint's video confirming turbocharger surging during the emissions warm-up routine. This "warm-up routine" blasts the turbocharger with high boost and extreme exhaust temperatures in 3rd gear and higher during the first minute or two. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyZfdEYtmzU

I updated the first post in the thread with the service action information.

 

[pedorro]

Are the two issues of high temps and high boost interdependent? That is, can the system be heated quickly without inducing the insane PSI on the cold turbo?

WTH, California has freezing and cold temperatures that should qualify the updated software to be CARB approved. Our place in Big Bear is at 6000' and was in the teens last night; Mammoth Lakes is even colder. How expensive would a tow job be from those locations to the nearest authorized VW dealership...?

 

[jhinsc]

Just had my 10k service done and the software update 23N5 was performed. In all, I was at the dealer about 1 hr 45 min. Since car was already warmed up, I'll see how it reacts tomorrow morning on a cold start up and report back.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

My 2013 doesn't start the warmup untill coolant reaches 120*f.

Switch up your routine a bit. I've seen our 2012 do it in the 90s.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

You can see it start at 91F in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay4S8pxjiLs

 

[jhinsc]

Just had my 10k service done and the software update 23N5 was performed. In all, I was at the dealer about 1 hr 45 min. Since car was already warmed up, I'll see how it reacts tomorrow morning on a cold start up and report back.

This morning it was in the mid-40's with light rain. Did my usual routine and didn't notice any difference in my warm-up time, how it felt driving, no lags, fuel mileage still good, etc. I'm not a hot rod driver, but my drive to the main 55 mph road is about 4 miles so I do have plenty of time to warm up. I have noticed the reaction time for the rear view camera, radio displays, etc ., are just a bit faster. I'll keep on eye on it and post anything unusual as I see a couple of nights where it will dip into the mid-high 30's over the next week to 10 days.

 

[tdiatlast]

jhinsc: How are you monitoring your temps?

 

[jhinsc]

I just observed how the engine temp gauge move to it's normal operating temp, how it felt driving it this morning, etc. I don't have a scan-gauge or any other device monitoring everything that I couldn't possibly want to know.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Observing the temp gauge won't tell you much. You need to watch exhaust temps and turbo boost on a ScanGauge or something similar.

 

[jhinsc]

Observing the temp gauge won't tell you much. You need to watch exhaust temps and turbo boost on a ScanGauge or something similar.

Then someone else with a ScanGauge can report back after their software update. I just pointed out my observations as a driver of the vehicle - nothing seemed different to me in how it drove or operated.

 

[tdiatlast]

jhinsc: Your observations are good news, assuming of course the forced blow-torch warm-up routine is changed. If you don't notice any change, hopefully the software tweak is a mild one!

 

[jason_]

There is a ton of data that needs to be transferred over a slow network. Flashing a commonrail takes time.

I'm curious how much. 1Gb? 20gb?


I can't imagine an awful lot. Probably just a turtle bus speed....

Sent from my rooted HTC Supersonic using Tapatalk 2 Pro

 

[jhinsc]

I observed them starting the software upgrade on what appeared to be a laptop computer after the oil change and tire rotation were completed. I had another appointment to go to, so after about 5 min with the hood still up, the service tech looked at the screen then went to help out on another car, so I asked the service writer how much longer it would take. He walked into the service area to inquire and was told about 20 min.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I don't know how big the files are, but I'm sure one of our friendly tuners could tell you.

I do know that it takes about 5 minutes to flash my 6.0 PowerStroke over the diagnostic port, but a 6.4 takes about 20 minutes.

 

[Busydiver]

Warm up

I had the software update done on Tuesday Dec. 16 and on Thursday I installed the Polar unit. Today I noticed at about 120 degrees coolant temp (not before) the SG1 temp went from 800 or so up to 1200 and stayed for about 30 - 45 secs. Temp was not real cold today about 34 so not the best test for real cold conditions but the change was observed. I did not notice any power lag or performance issues when I started the drive.

Observing the temp gauge won't tell you much. You need to watch exhaust temps and turbo boost on a ScanGauge or something similar.

 

[PassatSE4me]

I had the update done Friday. I ordered a ScanGaugeII today. We'll see what the new numbers are.

 

[jhinsc]

I had the software update done on Tuesday Dec. 16 and on Thursday I installed the Polar unit. Today I noticed at about 120 degrees coolant temp (not before) the SG1 temp went from 800 or so up to 1200 and stayed for about 30 - 45 secs. Temp was not real cold today about 34 so not the best test for real cold conditions but the change was observed. I did not notice any power lag or performance issues when I started the drive.

I wonder what causes the temps to spike? I can't imagine the exhaust gets hotter suddenly then cools down. I can understand wanting to get the catalytic converter and DPF up to operating temps asap but that's why it's located as far upstream the exhaust pipe as possible. Does this happen in VW gas turbo's too?

 

[Softrockrenegade]

Post injection cycle just like a regen.

 

[BPofMD]

This is exactly why VW ( and all other manufacturers) do not install EGT monitors in their vehicles.

 

[psd1]

This is exactly why VW ( and all other manufacturers) do not install EGT monitors in their vehicles.

TMI for the average consumer, what dealership wants to field calls all day long about customers EGT's?

 

[eugene89us]

Update greatly improved driving response

Got mine updated today also to new ECM software. Normally, when I get off work, the coolant temperature needle starts to move when I reach the light around 1 minute into driving (primarily getting out of parking and into the small street up to the US highway). This time, it didn't move until I have driven 50 mph on the highway for roughly 2 minutes. Also noticed that the shifting wasn't as sluggish as it used to be - the car still upshifts at higher RPMs when cold, but there is significantly less hesitation. Seems to idle at higher RPMs too than before. Also, this may just be a coincidence, but the engine braking is much less than before when coming to a stop at the light with engine fully warmed up. I used to have to vary my pedal pressure to keep it smooth - today it downshifted with almost no engine braking. The ambient temperature today was around 42 F. Anybody with new ECM software noticed anything like that? Any more data on turbo warm-up changes since the update? Wonder if all the improvements I have noticed are just a coincidence or a real improvement in performance.

 

[jhinsc]

The only thing I've noted since my software update, and it may be just coincidence, it seems to do a DPF regen cycle more often. I will try to note how many miles between regen cycles in the future. Otherwise, everything else is pretty much the same.

 

[Herkguy]

Getting the update this afternoon, I will be watching on the SC the next few cold starts and see what it does EGT wise. We have been -single digits the last couple mornings so I have been letting It idle for 3minutes before getting going. Eng temp is around 40 when I back out of garage and around 70 when I start to drive after idling warmup. The DPF warm up still kicks in at around 25-30mph in 3rd gear. I hope the update changes that or lowers the temp some from the 1150f spike it does now. I'll let you know when I have some hard numbers.

 

[zaphod99]

I've had limited time to observe the behaviour since the "23N5" update, but the exhaust temps (Torque "ET1" PID:0178) appear to be lower now during the warm up phase.
Prior to the update, ET1 would routinely reach 1320+.
Since the update, the highest I've witnessed is 1250 under similar conditions.
I'll keep monitoring to see if this is really the case or not.

 

[Hypermile]

VWoC Released New Recall For The ECM! Finally?

Recall ID : 23N5
Discription : S-23N5 SERV_ACT ? ECM Software


I made an appointment with the dealer for the flash tomorrow and will post my findings. I'm hoping it gets rid of the blow torch DPF warm-up.

Did my American neighbors get this recall as well?

 

[superchud]

Recall ID : 23N5
Discription : S-23N5 SERV_ACT ? ECM Software


I made an appointment with the dealer for the flash tomorrow and will post my findings. I'm hoping it gets rid of the blow torch DPF warm-up.

Did my American neighbors get this recall as well?

We did; I did the update last week and not noticing any changes so far in driving performance.

 

[Hypermile]

We did; I did the update last week and not noticing any changes so far in driving performance.

Do you monitor your EGT? Do you know what the recall is for?

 

[superchud]

Do you monitor your EGT? Do you know what the recall is for?

The recall to my knowledge was to essentially detune the turbo in cold weather so it's not stressing so much on warm up. I don't have a vagcom or other device to check EGT temps but can say that I haven't observed any changes to the driving feel of the car since the update.

 

[Ramairetransam]

so i guess i will be getting another letter in the mail for a recall .