Volkswagen Golf III GTI TDI

Hello everyone,
I'm having problems with my Golf GTI TDI.
Year of manufacture: 1996, engine code: AFN, mileage: 141,000 km.

A week ago, the performance suddenly started to decrease intermittently.
I had the error codes read, but there were none.
Sometimes it runs perfectly normally, and other times it simply doesn't start up at all.
It's like there's no turbo.
The vacuum actuator on the turbo is working (the linkage moves up and down when I apply suction to it through a hose).
I think I've checked all the pipes for leaks.
I have an appointment at the repair shop next week, and I don't really want to get ripped off.
The expert simply said that it could get quite expensive.

Greetings from Lake Constance.

Hi Barny,

I also had some problems some time ago, but I caused them myself.
While changing the fuel filter, I accidentally pinched a hose while tightening the filter.
I was able to drive normally, but the car was producing excessive exhaust smoke.
The next time I started the engine, it had no power.
Maximum boost pressure is only 0.2 bar, and it's difficult to reach speeds of 100 km/h.
Luckily, I quickly noticed the cause.
I've also seen high inspection costs before.
Well, small causes, big effects.

You could check beforehand to make sure all the connectors are properly connected and that the hoses are clear. Just a thought...

I have no idea if it's really possible to read out all the error codes.

At Bosch, a master mechanic almost tried to sell me a brand new fuel injection pump for my Golf I GTD.
My car couldn't handle the diesel anymore.
However, my colleague was assigned the task, so I only had to pay about 80 DM to have the pump repaired.
One is like this, the other is different.
Hopefully, you'll get lucky, or maybe you'll even find the error yourself.

My 1997 Golf III GTI TDI has already clocked 140,000 kilometers.
Best regards from Essen.
Michael.

Barny wrote:

Sometimes it runs normally,

sometimes it simply doesn't start up at all. It's like there's no turbo.
The vacuum actuator on the turbo is working (the linkage moves up and down when I apply suction to it through a hose).
I think I've checked all the pipes for leaks.
I have an appointment at the repair shop next week, and I don't really want to get ripped off.
The master just said that it could get quite expensive.

Hi.

The statement made by the master would already make me cautious .

My suggestion: Just have the error memory read out again and post the results here.

If you want to approach troubleshooting in a more relaxed way, start by installing a boost gauge.
That the VTG was movable during the check, based on my experience, only proves that it is not completely jammed. Therefore, it can still jam on other days. For me, at least (1997 AFN, only 31,000 km, but mostly driven at low speeds in high gears), I can tell by looking at the boost pressure gauge.

I therefore believe less in the LMM as a problem solver - "sometimes working, sometimes broken" is, at least here in this forum, not a common experience.

In my Audi, the mass airflow sensor (MAF sensor) was defective.
I had the same symptoms.
The part has been replaced, and now it's working perfectly again!

Best regards.

hmm, no error codes in the fault memory match the MAF sensor, but sudden changes don't quite fit that description either. For that to happen, the MAF sensor would have to be mechanically defective, which is less common. I think it sounds more like a VTG story.

Hello everyone,
I'm having problems with my Golf GTI TDI.
Year of manufacture: 1996, engine code: AFN, mileage: 141,000 km.

A week ago, the performance suddenly started to decrease intermittently.
I had the error codes read, but there were none.
Sometimes it runs perfectly normally, and other times it simply doesn't start up at all.
It's like there's no turbo.
The vacuum actuator on the turbo is working (the linkage moves up and down when I apply suction to it through a hose).
I think I've checked all the pipes for leaks.
I have an appointment at the repair shop next week, and I don't really want to get ripped off.
The expert simply said that it could get quite expensive.
Greetings from Lake Constance

Hello,
'On my Golf III TDI, the diesel filter clogged at 55,000 km. Initially, it would suddenly stop working at high speeds. After a while, it would only run at low throttle positions and wouldn't respond to acceleration. Check if there's air in the line from the filter to the pump. The line should be transparent. In my case, that was the problem. After replacing the filter, it ran normally again. It's likely that the 35,000 km of biodiesel had dislodged dirt that had accumulated over the previous 18,000 km of diesel use. I then cut open the filter. I didn't find any mold, but it was quite dark, like a dirty air filter. After that, I continued to use biodiesel without any problems until 165,000 km.' Now I have a Golf 4 TDI that also needs RME. This time, the filter was already replaced at 15,000 km because it was drawing in air :-O. While the car has power, it never quite feels as good as the old one did.
If the expert suspects it might be expensive, he might be thinking there's a faulty boost pressure sensor in the control unit.

So far... Best regards,
Eike