My New slow car :)

[joshwa]

It's a 2001 X Reg VW Passat TDI 1.9 (100PD Engine)

It managed 0-60 in 18 seconds (should be 12ish apparently)
and a top speed of 84% of it's manufacturers claimed top speed.

I've had it checked out at the garage on the computer diagnostics and it found no problems :/

Is there anything I can do that will fix it cheaply or help me diagnose the problem?

I replaced the dirty bug filled air filter with a new one... but it made little or no difference...

some pics:
http://baboba.blogspot.com/2006/09/f...urs-later.html

[dave87]

Have you had it dyno'd? If not that would be where I would start - to see if there is a reason that it is being so slow (but I am not a mechanic)

You could have this done at the same time as the Remap from the likes of Jabba sport, to give extra power

[joshwa]

my only concern with that plan is that if i go there to get it done (remapped) and they find something drastically wrong with it (maf, turbo etc), will they still be able to remap it or fix the problems for me?

[dave87]

I'm sure they can, as they simply change the fuel map to suit the characteristics of your engine?

As I said, I'm no mechanic, but it might be worth a call to them to see what they think - they have more experience with VAG diesels than I

[5lab]

first step, get the codes read. theres something very wrong, my hunch would be a dead turbo, or the cars in limp-home mode due to something

[dave87]

first step, get the codes read. theres something very wrong, my hunch would be a dead turbo, or the cars in limp-home mode due to something

Would this not be the diagnostics Josh mentioned? Surely that would tell whether the engine is in limp home mode - or if anything is drastically wrong...

[SilentDeath]

Lots of things could cause that.. but manufacters are not always as honest as they should be..

Has it been serviced recently? oil/plugs/leads? check all the basic things.

If the turbo is dead you would notice.. if its worn it *should in theory* make lots of noise (although Ive never played with a turbo )

It really shouldnt be in limp home mode. the point in it is to get you home/to a garage without causing more damage to whatever is broken. IIRC the manual for my fiesta says max speed of 30mph and probably 2.5k max rpm.
85% of top speed is more running/half arsed sprinting...

[XA04]

Add racing stripes. At least another 100bhp for you there.

[5lab]

by dead i meant - there might be a split in the pipe from turbo->interooler->manifold, or even a split intercooler, not necessarily the actual turbo..

yeah the diagnostics will help - but a chipping place won't necessarily know what each code does/means. i'd take it to an indipendants specialist

[chuckskull]

First of all, that car will never do 0-60 in 12 seconds. I'd expect it to be a bit lower than 18 though(then again it's a diesel). I'm a bit low tech but just getting the car jacked up and poking around will tell you if theres a problem or not.

Not many engine problems that wont leave a pool of something or other in there or a tell tale crack.

The other option is old fasioned tune-up. All the bog standard bits of the car you can pick up from halfords (plugs, leads etc) and whack those in. Should make it a bit more responsive, never going to be a ferrari though

[jon bda]

The other option is old fasioned tune-up. All the bog standard bits of the car you can pick up from halfords (plugs, leads etc) and whack those in. Should make it a bit more responsive, never going to be a ferrari though

You find me the spark plugs and leads on his car and i'll buy you a Ferrari...

[Howard]

Those diesels aren't slow, 18 seconds is way off. Mind you at ~70k miles (according to your pics) I wouldn't expect everything to be peachy...

You didn't buy it like that did you?

You find me the spark plugs and leads on his car and i'll buy you a Ferrari...

ROFL

[BenW]

Can you hear the turbo spin up when you give it some poke? Should be able to hear it whine a bit, make sure the windows open

[chuckskull]

Everytime I post before 9am I say something comepletely stupid. I managed to forget I was talking about a diesel in the space of 10 words

Oh well not as dumb as banning myself from an IRC channel I run (done that this morning too). Remind me to be more careful tabbing names. :B

[joshwa]

Can you hear the turbo spin up when you give it some poke? Should be able to hear it whine a bit, make sure the windows open

I'm not sure that I can

When driving it originally it seemed o.k. better than other TDIs and a bit worse than other TDIs (a 110).

It was serviced 2k miles ago. I've changed the air filter. Oil (slightly black) and water levels appear ok.

[5lab]

oil's always a bit black on diesels, that's nothng to worry about.

thing is, if it was in limp-home, something on the dash should be telling you that..