Is this normal for a TDI

[natem600]

The car seems to lose power after 3200 RPM. By lose power I mean the car feels as if its Decelerating. Best way I can describe it is like a gas engine that has bad timing, It will run good till you really step on the pedal then it bogs down. Is this normal for a diesel ?

Thanks, Nate

[boblamb58]

Nope. If anything the power should pick up. I never had a bogging down problem with my TDI.

Not sure waht to tell you..

Possibly a bad MAF?

[Growler]

I second a weak MAF,

get yourself to someone with vcds and have it logged.

as a quick test, unplug it and see if it improves, will only find a completely dead MAF. if its working somewhat, it won't feel much different or even worse with it unplugged.

what year is your bug? how many miles? what transmission?

[natem600]

Its a 2004 5 Speed manual with 143,000 miles.
Where is the MAF & how would one go about unplugging it ?
Also there is a hose that keeps coming lose. It has a metal end on it that slides / snaps in to an aluminum piece. Ill try to get a pick posted of it.

[Growler]

Fred's TDI Page. TDIClub.com. VW TDI Enthusiast Community

click that link, sign up and send a PM to user JasonTDI, ask him to send you a Doggy Collar for the hose that keeps coming out of the intake manifold. cost is $25-30 iirc. tell him Growler Sent ya.
the loose connector at that fitting is a VERY common issue and is easily fixed with a doggie collar mod.

the MAF is the electrical connector just to the left of your Air Filter box. unplugging is done by pressing your thumb on the little lever/tab and pulling up/off on it.

see if performance improves.

where are you located, I may be able to suggest someone to send you to for proper diagnosis of your low power issue.

[mrchaotica]

Originally Posted by natem600

Where is the MAF & how would one go about unplugging it ?

Click the picture for more info. Also note that your car might be a little different because yours is newer and has a somewhat different engine. (The MAF location should be pretty much the same, though.)

Originally Posted by natem600

Also there is a hose that keeps coming lose. It has a metal end on it that slides / snaps in to an aluminum piece. Ill try to get a pick posted of it.

Is it a big hose (1"+ diameter), and does the aluminum piece look like a radiator (i.e., has a bunch of little fins on it)? And is the thing in question located down by the passenger side wheel well? If so, then that's your lower intercooler pipe popping loose from your intercooler and the resulting boost leak could easily be the cause of your low power. Of course, that's probably not the case, since the intercooler isn't easy to see looking in from the top of the engine bay...

If the hose is small (i.e., a vacuum line), then it could be either failing to activate your N75 valve (which controls the variable vanes in your turbo, so if it doesn't work then your turbo doesn't spool up) or maybe it could be affecting a sensor that makes the ECU think you're not getting boost (and therefore causes it to cut fuel).

Of course, I'm no expert -- all I'm doing is reading this page, so you might as well look at it yourself and skip the middleman. Really though, your best bet is to ask your question on TDI Club -- the people there really are experts (in fact, most VW dealer mechanics are incompetent in comparison!).

[cep]

How many miles do you have on your fuel filter? That would be the first thing I would suspect.

[natem600]

Total mileage on the fule filter is unknown. The dealer I bought it from was honest and up front about the condition of the car. I knew it needed work before I bought it. As Soon as i figure out how to attach a pic ill upload the shot of the hose thats poping off.

I dont know if its aginst the rules but heres a link to the ended Ebay auction for my car.

Volkswagen : Beetle - New:eBay Motors (item 250514948476 end time Oct-22-09 17:13:17 PDT)

[natem600]

Ok here's a link the the hose in question.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/...754f7036_b.jpg

Its the hose on the upper left in this pic

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/...e212b73d_b.jpg

sorry for the flicker links I don't have the time right now to figure out out to get the pics to show up in this forum.

I live in Michigan The Downriver area AKA Wyandotte, Riverview, Woodhaven, Trenton, Gibralter area.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by Growler

Fred's TDI Page. TDIClub.com. VW TDI Enthusiast Community

click that link, sign up and send a PM to user JasonTDI, ask him to send you a Doggy Collar for the hose that keeps coming out of the intake manifold. cost is $25-30 iirc. tell him Growler Sent ya.
the loose connector at that fitting is a VERY common issue and is easily fixed with a doggie collar mod.

Growler hit the nail on the head, you need a "Doggie Collar." This will fix your low power issue as your engine is not getting full boost pressure.

[natem600]

I would like to say thank you all for your help. I will be getting in contact with JasonTDI on Fred's TDI page and order a "Doggie Collar" I hope . =D

[DZLBUG]

Here is Jason's website with his contact info:
http://www.jasontdi.com

[Growler]

yup, PD with hose popping loose on top of engine.. almost always means needs a doggy collar.

[CoriBug]

Maybe I got a bad batch of fuel or something but Daisy is doing something similar. Obviously I don't expect the power of a V8, but she is sluggish too. I step on the accelerator and there is more of a lag than usual. Then the turbo kicks in. I get up to 75 mph on the highway and she won't accelerate for several seconds. Calling the mechanic tomorrow....

[CoriBug]

Darn MAF! I got a new one for $218. Climbing Monument Hill in Colorado Springs (elevation 7300 feet) wasn't too bad but I would prefer to do it with a working MAF.