Hiya, my VW Touran has developed an issue with its turbo. The interweb and symptoms suggest vanes sticking. I popped it into the VW dealer as it has been serviced by them since we bought it on 29k and tho I haven’t seen the diagnostic report they have quoted us for a turbo replacement.

To be fair they have knocked 600+ off their price but it is still coming in at £1480 which is a cost I could massively do without..

So a couple of questions.

Can I just keep running the car tamely so as not to trigger the limp home mode from really putting my foot down?

Is it worth trying some of the additive type treatments mentioned on the internet?

Would I save more going down the indi vw garge route generally as the car is a 58 plate so the dealer badge is less important than a new car?

Any info appreciated as modern cars are not my area of specialism! 🙂

Ta

I’d definitely google a local independent turbo specialist for a second opinion.

If mine had sticking vanes I’d be taking it apart and lubing it up or giving it a good clean. Of course, your garage probably can’t be bothered and would rather bend you over a new turbo…

Maybe show them this link:

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/vnt-turbo-cleaning-disassembly-replacement-repair-stuck-vanes-mk4/

As enfht says – there are such things as turbo specialists. Call one and ask them specifically if you can recondition your existing unit.

Get a quote, see what they say.
You do know that you need to drive a little differently with a turbo engine, don’t you?

This might sound a bit odd but I came by a lot of people Useing some oven cleaner to in stick the turbo
A quick Google will soon bring it up. That was for older 1.9tdi

And I must add I’ve not tried it myself

1400 quid. They are having a laugh mate. Take it off and clean it. Or at least get a specialist to have a look. Get some quotes at least. Robbing barstools.

AET turbos in Castelford sorted mine out for me a while ago. If by any chance you are local, give them a ring.

Any turbo place will be able to do it for you though, and no doubt a load of local garages too.

It’s not difficult and certainly doesn’t require a new turbo just because the vanes are bunged up a bit.

(Innotec cleaner can do a decent job too if it’s not too badly bunged up)

If you can handle a spanner at all, you should be able to take it off and send/bring it to a specialist on its own – that’ll save you some cash. To be honest if you can do that you can probably open up the actuator and clean it yourself.

Actually yes good point – engine cleaner might work – the stuff you spray into the air intake. Costs £20 a bottle. Also, some garages offer a de-coke for about £80 or so.

To be honest you might as well try the Italian tune up first. It won’t hurt and it’s quite fun. As long as you don’t die doing it. Assuming that a Touran is likely to be driven fairly easily most of its life…

Those turbos are easy peasy to change. 3 hours labour max, we charge £600 all in for replacing them inc the new modified oil feed pipe.

To clean that turbo though would require removing it from the engine. No chance you would get it open in place.

sbob what do you mean drive a little differently?

I have found a few vw indies to ring tomorrow. Had seen the mr muscle video aswell as a few posts regarding using Millars additive and giving it a thrash.

Makes me realise ow much trust you put in people when it is an area outside your own knowledge.. if only I could barter some design/web consultancy with them! 🙂

Even a reconditioned turbo from an independent company will be cheaper than that, make sure it’s a reputable replacement, ie turbo technics.

Makes me realise ow much trust you put in people when it is an area outside your own knowledge.

Yeah I don’t implicitly trust any garage any more…

The variable vane turbo on my Ibiza TDi Sport got gunked up and would trigger limp mode on full throttle.

Cleaned it in situ with Innotec turbo cleaner stuff and it was perfect afterwards. Worth a try 1st before you shell out for a new snail 🙂

PS, see what I did there…..

maxray – Member

sbob what do you mean drive a little differently?

Very important to let a turbo warm up gently, even more so than just the engine. Also important to let the turbo wind down gently; don’t hammer along then stop and instantly turn off the engine. The turbo will continue to spin for a surprising amount of time with the engine off but will have zero oil pressure.
Also a good idea to give them a good caning every now and again.

Assuming that a Touran is likely to be driven fairly easily most of its life…

Why would you make that assumption?
I had one for 75km and it was a fun motor as is my Kia Sorrento which replaced it 😆

Aye sbob I was aware of letting the turbo wind down. As you can imagine tho it doesn’t exactly get thrashed, other than the kids and theor sticky paws!

Very important to let a turbo warm up gently, even more so than just the engine. Also important to let the turbo wind down gently; don’t hammer along then stop and instantly turn off the engine.

Yes but for most people that’s not a problem. Most of us have to come in and out of parking spaces or driveways at low throttle for quite sometime. Maybe if you lived on an NSL road and parked outside your house you’d be able to slam on the anchors and immediately turn the car off 🙂

The cooling down a turbo thing is way less important now than it was a few decades ago, and you don’t need to do it at all with diesel turbos.

Unless you are talking high performance cars, or doing track days, I don’t think it’s anything your average motorist needs to concern the self with.

Midland VW in Cannock – 01543 495700

Best Indy VW place out there.

Slightly more pricey than average indy but worth the small increase considering they are still way cheaper than stealers.

If you can speak to Jody then hes the gaffer and loves anything 2 wheels 😉

nice one cheer almightydutch, will be sure to mention my mtb and motorbike then 😉

After a bit of faff from the dealer i know it’s overboost that is the problem so I think i will try the additive route initially and see where to go from there. 🙂

Different issue- my old Altea TDI had issues. Main dealer said new turbo.

I popped it out- cleaned and as normal. Why they wanted to charge me a similar amount I will never know..

Different issue- my old Altea TDI had issues. Main dealer said new turbo.

I popped it out- cleaned and as normal. Why they wanted to charge me a similar amount I will never know..

where abouts are you? Smashing in Leeds is an excellent VW/Audi specialist, i’ve been using them for years. A bit rough and ready but they get the job done and don’t rip you off. They charged £650 to replace a turbo on my dads Passat about 2 years ago.

I actually probably won’t buy another non VAG car cos I don’t want to go to another garage!!

I recently replaced the turbo on my touran 2.0 tdi, it had done 115k, I’d had it remapped at 20k so it had lasted well. Paid 900 quid from an independent which included a service and MOT. Wouldn’t have even bothered with a franchise dealer outside of warranty. Drives great again, still feels pretty rapid.

AET sorted mine first class service.

I think the touran uses the 2.0 tdi BKD engine. Its not hard to change the turbo yourself – it all comes out through the exhaust tunnel. I changed the one that I had on my A3 with the same engine in it.

I tried the innotec turbo cleaner initially but found that it didnt really help much. I bought a recon turbo from ‘the turbo guy’ in Glasgow for £330 and it was brilliant. Add in new oil feed pipe and oil and filter change and thats alot of change from 1400!!

Argh my post makes no sense.

I had MAF issues. Dealer said it was the turbo (need a new one etc). As Im adverse to spending silly bills on cars I googled/found out it was the Maf sensor and just needed a clean.

Ive also been quoted 1k for a new exhaust from Subaru… £350 at an Indie specialist fitted.

Looked at the turbo guy before I replaced mine but bottled it and went new and the warranty that came with it.