[Vwdiesel] 01 Golf TDi TURBO issues

[Rolf Pechukas]

> Rolf,
> 
> Sounds nearly like my deal on my '04 Jetta TDI (BEW)
> Mine started with a P0101 then 401 then several EGR codes, MAF tested
> marginal (replaced it) nothing helped.
> Then finally the timing belt broke and I found the real problem a failed
> lifter (intake #4) and camshaft.
> Failed cam on intake would give low MAF flow, AHHH.
> They say most fail on exhaust giving symtoms of turbo issues.
> ALH can have similar problem but much more rare.
> 
> The classic failed problem that's all over the TDIForums. Great german
> engineering. ;)
> 
> 
> BrianG


thanks Brian
this sounds, sadly, plausible
does anyone think it's possible that having the intake pipe disconnected from turbo return (so that air filter is bypassed, sucking unfiltered air directly into the intake) could cause a lifter, cam, valve, or head failure essentially overnight?

key facts:
1. car was driving perfectly - excellent boost, zippy turbo, clean exhaust, great economy - before the alternator was replaced
2. shop left intake hard pipe disconnected after alt job, leading to TERRIBLE running
3. shop 'drove the car HARD' to try to 'reset the computer' (problem, of course was the disconnected turbo, not anything to do with the computer)
4. roads near the shop are all dirt/sand/potholes, so if they were 'driving it hard' they were probably sucking a lot of dust into the unfiltered intake, if not sand and rocks (!)
4. they recommended I 'drive it hard' for '30 miles or so' - I, thankfully, ignored this advice
5. but I did drive it disconnected, probably about 30-50 miles, a lot of that on dirt roads, before I finally tracked down and identified the disconnected intake
6. even after the shop replaced the (shredded) hard pipe and changed the oil, car was still running WAY different, and noticeably worse, than before the alt job - less power, more noise, no turbo, smelly exhaust

it seems to me entirely possible that something could have gotten sucked into the intake that could have damaged something somewhere
they use an air filter for a reason, don't they?
and the dirt roads of Cape Cod are probably the worst place to not have an air filter

anyone else want to chime in? thoughts?
thanks for all the feedback
- ROlf in MA