New to the Forum here, but quite familiar with the badge. Having been in the automotive sector and being quite mechanically inclined which these days includes proficient in research leave me with the urge to poll this forum.
Recently purchased a well maintained 07' v10 Tdi. I spent close to 1 full year researching the good, bad and ugly aspects of this remarkable engineering masterpiece. In total I must have looked at close to 8 vehicles before my purchase. Patience was a virtue, the best was to come last.
As well known it is that it is not the engine that is to worry about, it's everything which surrounds it. From my analysis, it became quite clear that far too many failures/dtc's were being misdiagnosed, I became aware of this through this and many other forums and posts of the Cel of death. This is not to say that there weren't any genuine turbo failures but I quite confident to say that a gross amount of turbo related CEL DTC codes have been misdiagnosed and cost not only the manufacture under warranty but private individuals out of pocket. OUCH!!
My experience is very recent and I am sure the DTC/CEL I experienced was apparent to the previous owner prior to his trading and my subsequent purchase from the dealer I purchased from.
Since this engine boasts an incredible torque package, it is rarely necessary to push the engine past 2200-2400 rpm, the gremlin for many intemitent Cel that come and go under a key on/off reset, soft code/limp mode become apparent only after boost program figures are surpassed which is in the post 2500-2700 rpm area and dependent upon load as well. It isn't until the boost is really demanded and then exceeded do the DTC/CEL get illuminated.
My experience started in the first week of ownership, egg run beautiful until I go out and get on highway with slight elevation hill and the glow plug warning light comes on and flashing/see engine workshop, WTF! Get to destination two miles ahead and after leaving, light gone. I did some internet research, not much except for some suggestions to DPF clogging.
Light never came back on for weeks, that was until the other day or about 3-4 weeks later same thing, so I start my analysis mind and say, really WTF now! So the next day, a Saturday with the light out again I start monitoring my actions, I get on the highway again in Sport shift mode and watching closely the Rpm's, voila shifting between 4-5gear at btween 2500-3000 rpm the glow plug indicator on and flashing but this time the CEL comes on..
I headed straight to my friends Import auto shop and scanned the code, P0234, not much here in the Touareg forum or any other Touareg forum about this code P0234 which is engine overboost. The flashing glow plug indicator I could not read because I turned off the engine and is cleared at that moment.
Many post in other VW forums suggest the worst on a P0234, stuck VNT/turbocharger...Dread!
So I thought and as others have suggested due to the low rpm load of these motors it may be possible with a workout of the engine to unstick the possibly stuck gate. I embarked on a 1 hour turbocharger exercise. Everything was going well until I pushed the 2500 rpm window again and voila CEL and flashy glow plug light.
Time to call the dealer and set up a visit. All the while I'm not blaming the failure of a turbo, but I have to expect the worst and hope for the best knowing the many things I have come to learn here and in other forums.
On the way to the dealer I pushed the egg into fault mode 2700 rpm, just like clock work, flashy glow plug light on, I arrived at the dealership, left the egg running so they could read the flashy glow plug light, otherwise if I turned the egg off, they'ed have to duplicate the scenario, but luckily I had already done half the diagnostics for them.
They plugged it in, 10 minutes later suggested according to the A-Z spelled out by VW that the Turbo charger on Bank I forget needs to be replaced, WOW, the worst!, now how the F does this happen I said now(to myself) and before as well.
I then suggested, trying not to be the mechanic without a licence that I am and the untrusting visitor to a big badge dealer that I am, but since I was on a good basis with this shop form previous and had earlier conversations about an issue that has been discussed here and there about boost/turbocharger performance issues, I said we need to look actuator control rod which on many occasions can mysteriously loose its retaining C-CLip, and they did look...10 minutes later, indeed it is an AWOL retaining clip on the turbo actuator rod, WOW f'n WOW!
The dealership I go to is first rate! they offered me the respect of being able to suggest a plan of action and for that and our teamwork will go no other place but there.
It just goes to show you that information is the key to everything! It pains me to think of how many people have been gouged out of their hard earned money on this type of miss diagnosis. The v10 tdi is very difficult, its like working in the dark, hard to see or feel anything in the engine compartment, not many shops work on many if any at all.
I am lucky the VW shop I was working with are forward thinking, more inclined to repair and not the reaping of profits. VW lost so much money on this issue replacing turbos for what? a 3 dollar C-clip actually it's an E-clip which in my opinion is the wrong fastener for the wrong application. E-clips were designed to make disassembly easier, only in this case, it seems to be automation. LOL!
Anybody reading this, drive your egg, exercise your turbos, load them up push them, this engine and these turbos need it! shift 2500-3000 at least one day a week....otherwise you may never now if your controling one or two turbos. this is also a good way to lose on fuel economy..
chime in and cheers!
Recently purchased a well maintained 07' v10 Tdi. I spent close to 1 full year researching the good, bad and ugly aspects of this remarkable engineering masterpiece. In total I must have looked at close to 8 vehicles before my purchase. Patience was a virtue, the best was to come last.
As well known it is that it is not the engine that is to worry about, it's everything which surrounds it. From my analysis, it became quite clear that far too many failures/dtc's were being misdiagnosed, I became aware of this through this and many other forums and posts of the Cel of death. This is not to say that there weren't any genuine turbo failures but I quite confident to say that a gross amount of turbo related CEL DTC codes have been misdiagnosed and cost not only the manufacture under warranty but private individuals out of pocket. OUCH!!
My experience is very recent and I am sure the DTC/CEL I experienced was apparent to the previous owner prior to his trading and my subsequent purchase from the dealer I purchased from.
Since this engine boasts an incredible torque package, it is rarely necessary to push the engine past 2200-2400 rpm, the gremlin for many intemitent Cel that come and go under a key on/off reset, soft code/limp mode become apparent only after boost program figures are surpassed which is in the post 2500-2700 rpm area and dependent upon load as well. It isn't until the boost is really demanded and then exceeded do the DTC/CEL get illuminated.
My experience started in the first week of ownership, egg run beautiful until I go out and get on highway with slight elevation hill and the glow plug warning light comes on and flashing/see engine workshop, WTF! Get to destination two miles ahead and after leaving, light gone. I did some internet research, not much except for some suggestions to DPF clogging.
Light never came back on for weeks, that was until the other day or about 3-4 weeks later same thing, so I start my analysis mind and say, really WTF now! So the next day, a Saturday with the light out again I start monitoring my actions, I get on the highway again in Sport shift mode and watching closely the Rpm's, voila shifting between 4-5gear at btween 2500-3000 rpm the glow plug indicator on and flashing but this time the CEL comes on..
I headed straight to my friends Import auto shop and scanned the code, P0234, not much here in the Touareg forum or any other Touareg forum about this code P0234 which is engine overboost. The flashing glow plug indicator I could not read because I turned off the engine and is cleared at that moment.
Many post in other VW forums suggest the worst on a P0234, stuck VNT/turbocharger...Dread!
So I thought and as others have suggested due to the low rpm load of these motors it may be possible with a workout of the engine to unstick the possibly stuck gate. I embarked on a 1 hour turbocharger exercise. Everything was going well until I pushed the 2500 rpm window again and voila CEL and flashy glow plug light.
Time to call the dealer and set up a visit. All the while I'm not blaming the failure of a turbo, but I have to expect the worst and hope for the best knowing the many things I have come to learn here and in other forums.
On the way to the dealer I pushed the egg into fault mode 2700 rpm, just like clock work, flashy glow plug light on, I arrived at the dealership, left the egg running so they could read the flashy glow plug light, otherwise if I turned the egg off, they'ed have to duplicate the scenario, but luckily I had already done half the diagnostics for them.
They plugged it in, 10 minutes later suggested according to the A-Z spelled out by VW that the Turbo charger on Bank I forget needs to be replaced, WOW, the worst!, now how the F does this happen I said now(to myself) and before as well.
I then suggested, trying not to be the mechanic without a licence that I am and the untrusting visitor to a big badge dealer that I am, but since I was on a good basis with this shop form previous and had earlier conversations about an issue that has been discussed here and there about boost/turbocharger performance issues, I said we need to look actuator control rod which on many occasions can mysteriously loose its retaining C-CLip, and they did look...10 minutes later, indeed it is an AWOL retaining clip on the turbo actuator rod, WOW f'n WOW!
The dealership I go to is first rate! they offered me the respect of being able to suggest a plan of action and for that and our teamwork will go no other place but there.
It just goes to show you that information is the key to everything! It pains me to think of how many people have been gouged out of their hard earned money on this type of miss diagnosis. The v10 tdi is very difficult, its like working in the dark, hard to see or feel anything in the engine compartment, not many shops work on many if any at all.
I am lucky the VW shop I was working with are forward thinking, more inclined to repair and not the reaping of profits. VW lost so much money on this issue replacing turbos for what? a 3 dollar C-clip actually it's an E-clip which in my opinion is the wrong fastener for the wrong application. E-clips were designed to make disassembly easier, only in this case, it seems to be automation. LOL!
Anybody reading this, drive your egg, exercise your turbos, load them up push them, this engine and these turbos need it! shift 2500-3000 at least one day a week....otherwise you may never now if your controling one or two turbos. this is also a good way to lose on fuel economy..
chime in and cheers!
