Help Requested: Test-driving TDI but low "oomph"
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:45 pm
Hi:
I haven't posted for a while and normally when I did post it was in other forums because I drive a '91 Golf 1.6 NA diesel.
Yesterday I test-drove an '02 Golf TDI on behalf of my in-laws. They live in a different city & province but found this car in Winnipeg (where I live) for a good price and asked me to test-drive it on their behalf.
The car is a lease buy-back from Montreal that was auctioned off by VW and picked up by a local independent used car dealer. Everything seems great with the car except for the lack of power. My in-laws and I are wondering about the car considering that it looks to be in great shape, has a great price, and really low mileage (78,000 km).
I timed it and it took ~35 seconds from stationary to 100 km/hr. This seems really long, especially considering that my old 1.6D Golf could probably do just as good. It also seemed like there was no grunt when flooring it ink 5th gear at 100 km/hr. That being said, I had no trouble keeping up with traffic but it was cold & slippery outside so people were driving more slowly.
Couple of questions:
1) How apparent is the turbo-whistle from inside the cab? I couldn't seem to hear it clearly.
2) Any ideas on the loss of power, how to fix it and probable cost? FYI: there were no check engine lights when I drove the car. Is this one of those dreaded MAF sensor problems? Weak turbo?
3) It was -20°C outside yesterday...would cold outside air temps play into the MAF calculations and cut-back power output?
4) I'm guessing the car has mostly city miles. Could this be a case of a gunked-up intake manifold and/or dirty injectors?
It's hard for me to objectively speak on the power output of the car because I have only driven a TDI a few times in the past and most of my experience is based on my old 1.6D. This one is peppier than my 1.6D but more sluggish than I expected out of a TDI.
Any feedback is appreciated. Respond here or send me a PM.
Thanks.
Derek
I haven't posted for a while and normally when I did post it was in other forums because I drive a '91 Golf 1.6 NA diesel.
Yesterday I test-drove an '02 Golf TDI on behalf of my in-laws. They live in a different city & province but found this car in Winnipeg (where I live) for a good price and asked me to test-drive it on their behalf.
The car is a lease buy-back from Montreal that was auctioned off by VW and picked up by a local independent used car dealer. Everything seems great with the car except for the lack of power. My in-laws and I are wondering about the car considering that it looks to be in great shape, has a great price, and really low mileage (78,000 km).
I timed it and it took ~35 seconds from stationary to 100 km/hr. This seems really long, especially considering that my old 1.6D Golf could probably do just as good. It also seemed like there was no grunt when flooring it ink 5th gear at 100 km/hr. That being said, I had no trouble keeping up with traffic but it was cold & slippery outside so people were driving more slowly.
Couple of questions:
1) How apparent is the turbo-whistle from inside the cab? I couldn't seem to hear it clearly.
2) Any ideas on the loss of power, how to fix it and probable cost? FYI: there were no check engine lights when I drove the car. Is this one of those dreaded MAF sensor problems? Weak turbo?
3) It was -20°C outside yesterday...would cold outside air temps play into the MAF calculations and cut-back power output?
4) I'm guessing the car has mostly city miles. Could this be a case of a gunked-up intake manifold and/or dirty injectors?
It's hard for me to objectively speak on the power output of the car because I have only driven a TDI a few times in the past and most of my experience is based on my old 1.6D. This one is peppier than my 1.6D but more sluggish than I expected out of a TDI.
Any feedback is appreciated. Respond here or send me a PM.
Thanks.
Derek