ARL Turbo Issues: Troubleshooting & Solutions (Solution)

Hey everyone,

Since I'm likely dealing with a very rare case of this problem, I hope someone here can help me.

"Since the turbocharger on my Golf 4 (ARL, 150 hp PD) failed four weeks ago while I was driving on the highway, I immediately bought a new one. It's, of course, an ARL turbo (GT1749VB)."

When I was about to install it, I immediately noticed that the two turbos were not identical. Then, I noted down the part number of the turbo already installed in the car and compared it with the part number of the new turbo = they were identical.

After searching on Google several times, I found exactly ONE other person who had the same problem, and it was in some English forum.


I hope that someone here may have already had a similar experience or is familiar with this problem.

I'm adding a picture of the two turbos so you can see the exact difference.
I'm not entirely sure, but I believe the only difference might be the connection for the intercooler hose. If that were the case, it would be the easiest solution to simply order the correct intercooler hose. However, I'm not completely certain whether everything else is identical.

Well, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here you go:

[Images removed for copyright reasons, showing one example of an ARL charger with a threaded connection on the charge air side and another with a clip-on connection.]

(On the left is the modified one, and on the right is the new or apparently standard one.)

Best regards,

I'm almost certain you won't be able to find a suitable connecting pipe for that. The airflow in the Golf goes through the wheel arch; there's a bend coming from the turbocharger that connects to this aluminum pipe inside the wheel arch. You have a turbocharger intended for a different vehicle, and 1749VB is just a general term for the type of turbo. The internal components will probably be correct, but the connections definitely won't fit.

matthiasTDI96 wrote:

I'm almost certain you won't find a suitable connecting pipe. The airflow in the Golf goes through the wheel arch; specifically, there's a bend coming from the turbocharger that leads into this aluminum pipe in the wheel arch. You have a turbocharger for a different vehicle; 1749VB is just the general term for the type of turbo. The internal components will probably be correct, but the connections certainly won't.

Well, my ARL is basically just like any other one. The difference seems to be the rare turbocharger (TL). Don't you think a standard intercooler pipe would fit? It works for other ARL models too...

matthiasTDI96 wrote:

I'm almost certain you won't find a suitable connecting pipe. The airflow in the Golf goes through the wheel arch; there's an outlet from the turbocharger that leads into this aluminum pipe in the wheel arch. You have a turbocharger for a different vehicle, and 1749VB is just the general term for the type of turbo. The internal components will probably be correct, but the connections certainly won't.

I don't see it as entirely pessimistic (as an exception): The left image shows, AFAIK, the old compressor outlet, and the right one shows the new one. Therefore, vantheman would only need to acquire the newer pressure pipes/hoses towards the FMIC, up to the point where there are no more differences in MJ (presumably referring to a specific part number or specification).

"How much does that cost? I have no idea, but you should probably be prepared for some painful amounts..."

ulf wrote:

I don't see it quite that pessimistically: The left image shows, AFAIK, the old compressor connection, and the right one shows the new one. Therefore, vantheman would only need to acquire the newer pressure pipes/hoses towards the FMIC, up to the point where there are no more MJ differences. What does it cost? I have no idea, but you should probably expect to pay painful amounts beforehand.

Hello Ulf, what exactly do you mean by "Druckschläuche," "FMIC," and "MJ"?

Are you 100% sure that the intercooler pipe is not sufficient? As I said, I believe that the intercoolers are identical except for the connection to the compressor.

Please take a picture of your piping system from the loader to the liquid fertilizer tank.

vantheman wrote:

Hello Ulf, what exactly do you mean by pressure hoses, FMIC, and MJ?

Pressure hoses = the hoses that run from the loader to the attachments, etc.
FMIC = Front-mounted intercooler (FMIC).
MJ = Model Year

Hello,

Yes, the ARL is available with both types of chargers and charging port connectors. The one on the left (where it looks new?) is the very old version.
The current and standard version is the rusty loader in the picture on the right.

The easiest solution would probably be to buy a replacement connector hose.

Best regards, Rainer.

And again, I've learned something ; I didn't know that there was a type of golf called "Abgang."

Hello.

Please provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.
Your new one is actually an old design that isn't manufactured anymore today. I had the same problem when I got a replacement; the new charger didn't fit. The old one didn't have the 90-degree bend, but the new one did. I had one like that as a broken spare part, which is the one you now have working. And the new one was just like your old one.

The problem was solved back then by installing new pressure hoses that were original VW parts. You're now trying to reverse the process, just like I did once. The only issue will be finding the correct hoses at VW nowadays.

Where does the loader come from?

Regards,


P.S. Oh, Rainer was faster. Do you think Rainer, are those hoses still available? I can find the new ones at EK.

The left turbocharger has the part number 038253016D (old version).
To the right is the new one with number 038253016G.
The simplest approach is to reuse the existing compressor housing if it's still in good condition.
The problem I see is that the charger with the threaded outlet has a 90-degree stainless steel bend, which, as far as I know, cannot be purchased separately.

Quote:

The simplest approach is to reuse the old compressor housing if it's still in good condition.

I had the same idea, but I'm not sure if it's really identical on the inside... I mean, whether the shape of the compressor wheel or any clearances are different.

You misunderstood. He had the old version installed, and now he needs to upgrade it to the new one.

However, the pictures don't seem to match... I don't understand at all what is supposed to be changed and how.

Make it work.

"You're right, Rainer; he probably just found those pictures on Google. But read what's written below the two images. It clearly states what parts were originally installed and what parts are supposed to be installed."

As mentioned before...

Rainer K. wrote:

The easiest solution would be to buy a replacement connector hose.

TDI-GTI-4-Motion wrote:

You're right, Rainer; he probably just found those pictures on Google. But read what's written below the two images. It clearly states what parts were installed and what parts are supposed to be installed.

That's exactly right! I found and compiled those pictures online. The one on the left shows the old part (which is currently installed in my car and broken), and the one on the right shows the new part.

Thank you for the numerous responses. However, I'm still unsure whether it will be sufficient to simply replace the intercooler pipe, of which I have also posted a picture...

@TDI-GTI-4-Motion: Unfortunately, I can't take a picture right now. The car is parked a few kilometers away from me in the dark because it's smoking so badly that it's impossible to drive.

Is there anyone here who has experienced the same problem? I'm starting to get really desperate. Especially since I urgently need the car for work.

@ Rainer: Is the connecting hose the same as the intercooler pipe?