What's wrong with my Ibiza?

Ibiza FR TDI

Newbie
Sep 5, 2006
53
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I have a PD130 and have noticed a few problems recently:-

  • Now hesitates on start up, used to fire straight up
  • Performance decrease - still pulls but I cand definitely notice a difference. To back this up, on the local airfield rolling start at 20mph from one end before needing to slow down and brake at a marker at the other end, it used to do 130+, now it only does 120 max, which is quite a difference.
  • Sounds very rough and tractor like
  • Low volume, high pitched whistle at idle... gradually gets quieter as the engine warms up
  • High pitched noise when start to move off, no difference when braking or dipping clutch.
  • Checked with VAG COM - no fault codes
  • Smoke levels, maybe a tiny bit more but more or less the same


Last service was done 9000 miles ago, so approaching one soon, but air filter has been cleaned etc.

Had a couple of suggestions as to what it might be...MAF, turbo on it's way out?

Can anyone comment on this?

Put dielectirc grease on the MAF a few months back, and it made a nice smooth drive, and the car started on first turn.

Just disconnected the MAF and started it but no difference to any of the problems mentioned above.

Not sure how I can tell if the turbo is going?

Lower intercooler pipe popped off a couple of times before christmas but this has now been sorted.

Any help much appreciated because funds are low at the minute and don't want to throw away £££s just getting a garage to check it.

Thanks
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
5,739
1
Dodgy tank or two of fuel ?
That may give rise to the extra noise, poor starting and reduced performance.

Be worth doing your service first, some fresh oil mught quieten things down.
Have you checked the oil level ?

Then you might want to do a few runs with vag-com to check the MAF readings and boost levels are as expected.
Do some full throttle runs through the rev range in 3rd or 4th gear and post your readings up.
 

Ibiza FR TDI

Newbie
Sep 5, 2006
53
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Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

I use BP Ultimate with Millers all the time, so hopefully that’s not the problem. And it has been through 7 or 8 tanks since these problems started with no change unfortunately 

Oil level is fine but I think I will take your advice and get it serviced early.

Can you do this with the free version of VAG Com? I have got this but only a VAGCOM newbie so can you recommend any idiot proof guides on how to do this?

Thanks
 

Deleted member 19188

Guest
I use BP Ultimate with Millers all the time, so hopefully that’s not the problem. And it has been through 7 or 8 tanks since these problems started with no change unfortunately

Don't you think that might be overdoing it a bit ?? Couldn't the combination of a cetane booster and a higher than normal cetane fuel (Ultimate), cause problems ??

I normally use Millers on ordinary vanilla supermarket fuel, but I'm giving it a miss for a couple of tanks to see if I can tell the difference . . . .

Of course I might be barking up the wrong tree :shrug:
 

phil_monk

Active Member
Aug 19, 2007
166
0
are you waiting for the "Coil" light to go out on the dash before starting? Could be why its not starting right?

Also Oil..... have you check your oil?