'01 1.8T
Driving home today I got off the freeway, which makes up for 27 miles of the 30 mile commute. Once I get to the surface streets my car starts bucking around 2nd gear 3000 rpm, acting like there's no power. The tachometer was all over the place every time I got near 3000rpm, regardless of what gear. I didn't hear any funny noises coming from the car, but when I came to a complete stop it stalled out on me and took several tries to get her going again. I quickly pulled into a parking lot and let it idle for a bit, which it then seemed to do fine. I began driving the last mile to my house and it started doing it again. Does this mark the end of my turbo? Seems kind of early if it is; I only have 70,000 miles on this beast.

I'm taking it in to an Audi dealer tomorrow morning, as the local shop in town that fixes Audi/VW is booked until next week. What sort of prices should I expect to hear from these guys? I've read in the past it's about $1000 to get a turbo replaced; is that about right? Are there different brands I might have the option of getting? This car is not chipped, btw.

 

quite curious how this turns out for you...i don't hear my turbo spool anymore - i too have same car '01 1.8T w/103,000kms. good luck!

 

Not entirely ure what's wrong. You should get the engine codes pulled. Autozone does them for free.

 

Probably not the turbo.

 

I had something very similiar. a hose blew off the turbo caused bucking and stalling. quick and easy fix. get under there and make sure all the hoses are connected.

 

Yeah, sounds like a pressure hose from the turbo or intake hose blew off or is leaking pretty bad.

 

No CEL? Dosent sound like a bad turbo to me. Deffinately get the codes. Sounds like a boost leak if there's no cel, but not a major one or else youd be running real rich and that would cause a cel cuz youd be missfireing. Check the turbo outlet hose that goes into your IC piping... It is sort of notorious for sliding off a bit.

 

what is the best way to check that hose? get it on stands and check from the bottom? or can it be checked from under the hood?

 

I would say remove the front bumper to get a good view of the piping from turbo to IC to intake. I'm not sure of an other way..that's easier than this atleast.

 

cool thanks. is it easy to get to despite the radiator? i'll rip the bumper off today to try to find out where this loud woooshing noise is coming from when under boost. my car did this for about a month then all of the sudden I couldnt even start it and dealer claimed hose blew off the turbo so they fixed it and $200 later its doin it again. I'd bring it back but its a hassle when I can just clamp it myself and this way I know it will not blow off again after I tighten the clamp with my death grip...