TDi Going Into Limp Mode

[Moordworsie]

Morning Guys,

So I've messaged a few places, but nobody wants to touch my car due to the fact that it's running aftermarket software.
Maybe somebody here could point me in the right direction.

So, I purchased a VW Golf V 1.9TDi from a lady in Somerset West about 3 years ago, and noticed the car was lacking in power, especially when wanting to overtake trucks on the freeway.
Probably not the best choice I've made, but I paid one of the guys at the office to load software onto my car (Stage 1 ATM software, he's qualified and certified to do it, made sure of that), removed the catalytic converter, installed a down pipe, and a straight pipe exhaust system.
After that, the car drove like a dream.

Till a few months after, where the turbo started dropping into limp mode - Now, this only seems to occur when putting my foot down and the car goes over 120km/h in 5th, sometimes 100km/h in 4th.
The guy who did the software ran diagnostics, no errors, turbo boosting fine - so, he doesn't know what it could be either.
While he's saying it's not a software error - after turning the engine off, and back on, the turbo comes out of limp, and while I'm not clued up on engine, it doesn't seem to be a 'hardware' issue.

Anyway - I blew my turbo in April, got a refurbished unit, and I still have the same issue with the car dropping into limp mode.


At this point, I want to trade in the car for something else, but I can't really do that if the car has the issue. (Would be dishonest and a dick move)
Should I find somebody to flash the ECU back to stock, and check from there?
Any advise/comments are welcome. (including that I was a twat to modify a perfectly fine car in the first place)

 

[Gumpertapolloss]

Morning Guys,

So I've messaged a few places, but nobody wants to touch my car due to the fact that it's running aftermarket software.
Maybe somebody here could point me in the right direction.

So, I purchased a VW Golf V 1.9TDi from a lady in Somerset West about 3 years ago, and noticed the car was lacking in power, especially when wanting to overtake trucks on the freeway.
Probably not the best choice I've made, but I paid one of the guys at the office to load software onto my car (Stage 1 ATM software, he's qualified and certified to do it, made sure of that), removed the catalytic converter, installed a down pipe, and a straight pipe exhaust system.
After that, the car drove like a dream.

Till a few months after, where the turbo started dropping into limp mode - Now, this only seems to occur when putting my foot down and the car goes over 120km/h in 5th, sometimes 100km/h in 4th.
The guy who did the software ran diagnostics, no errors, turbo boosting fine - so, he doesn't know what it could be either.
While he's saying it's not a software error - after turning the engine off, and back on, the turbo comes out of limp, and while I'm not clued up on engine, it doesn't seem to be a 'hardware' issue.

Anyway - I blew my turbo in April, got a refurbished unit, and I still have the same issue with the car dropping into limp mode.


At this point, I want to trade in the car for something else, but I can't really do that if the car has the issue. (Would be dishonest and a dick move)
Should I find somebody to flash the ECU back to stock, and check from there?
Any advise/comments are welcome. (including that I was a twat to modify a perfectly fine car in the first place)

Hey bud. Limp mode could be caused by Various things on a tdi. My advice would be to start with boost pipes. Check if there are any leaks. Maybe check the oil on your boost pipes as well, could be that oil is clogging the Map Sensor.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Moordworsie]

Oh right, should have mentioned my boost pipe did get a tear in it end of December last year - So replaced that.
Any idea on who could check something like oil clogging a Map Sensor?

 

[Gumpertapolloss]

Oh right, should have mentioned my boost pipe did get a tear in it end of December last year - So replaced that.
Any idea on who could check something like oil clogging a Map Sensor?

Okay, could be that the pipe was replaced but not clamped correctly and there could be a leak? Like I explained, check all boost pipes. There could be a minor boost leak somewhere. Alternatively, the map sensor is usually located somewhere on the boost pipes or by the sidemount intercooler.

I map these tdi's as well and have a lot of experience with them. You can send me a pm and we can maybe chat offline? I can log and run diagnostics for you on the car if need be.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Razia]

My friend has a Jetta with the same engine in and he also experienced the limp mode. Apparently he fixed a dirty air filter somewhere that restricted the turbo's airflow.

 

[aiccc]

Blue octane boost pills

What is the cel code?? Is it over boosting?

Get a data log of the car when in limp mode.

You need a mechie bud.

 

[iNAtRUCKTOR]

Check all your sensors, especially the O2 sensor since you have removed the cat and it could be burning away the sensor now.

Way to check this is to look into the readings when in limp mode and when not, or just replace it and carry on with life.