Hello there everyone at the audiforums. I am new to Audi and the Forums and just wanted to say hi. I have a 2000 A4 1.8T that has actually been quite a problem child since I have owned it for just under one month now. Many things have already broken including the turbo. Sometimes it works and others it's not. I had actually planned on upgrading to an aftermarket, just not this soon. Please recommend an affordable yet reliable swap without changing too many other things ie exaust maniflold, cat, injectors, etc. I really want to get this car first off up to spec and move on to better performance from there. Thanks for any info.

Bruce

 

Gpopshop K04 - $625
You can get a 5 bar FPR and a GIAC chip and you will be set.

Total about $1100 or so for the whole setup if you install it yourself. If you have a shop do it then you will be charged more.

Josh

P.S. are you getting any codes for other things? Also how do you know your turbo is bad?

 

Hey there PaintBallGuy, thanks for the insight. What is 5 bar FPR, and codes, and what is determination that the turbo is bad? It's strange like I said sometimes it is working/on and sometimes it's not/off. The clues are first the lack of power/boost upon accelleration and also no turbo sound. I know that intermittent problems are harder to diagnose.

 

get a boost/vac guage first thing...you may have something as simple as a massive boost leak...

you have an error log on your car, if you go to autozone they will use a vag-com and scan it for codes (any problems the car may be having)(autozone will do this for free)

+1 for the Ko4 from popshop, if you actually need a new turbo, fpr is a fuel pressure regulator, used to moderate fuel flow upon installation of a ko4 chip (ecu upgrade/tuning for the slightly larger turbo)

Ko4 isn't a big power turbo, but after it is installed you will not be dissapointed (especially coming from a blown turbo(if this is the case))

sorry to hear about ur situation, hope everything works out for the best!

just to let you know, the cars are extremely reliable when tken care of, it sounds like the owner before you did not take care of it as well as they could have....as long as you keep up w all standard maintenance the car will take care of you...

 

Like everyone else said, the K04 is the one you should go with if you don't want a lot of trouble swapping the turbos.

But if you preffer something more, the GT28 is the way to go, which also requires more work, money, and other upgrades.

 

its possible your misfiring or have a bad knock sensor, my turbo would sometimes spool and sometimes not build any boost and it turned out to be that I was misfiring on one of my cylinders

 

The first thing you need to do is check for codes.Autozone will do it for free. Write the numbers down and clear them. Then drive for a couple of hundred miles over the next couple of weeks and see what comes back. Then post the numbers here.
It is unlikely that the turbo is bad. The A4 in its base state is not a powerful car, and you can barely hear the turbo if you aren't chipped. The most likely thing is that this is normal for the car. You should also check for codes. A worn out diverter valve may also cause some of these problems. replacing it with a 710N will need to be done anyway if you upgrade to a larger turbo.

If you are going to put in a K04, I would suggest investing in a real ross-tech vagcom. It will repay you many times over in trouble shooting problems with the car.

 

(ThePaintBallGuy) I don't know that the turbo is "bad" it is just that sometimes it is working/on and sometimes not/off. The only CEL codes that are current, according to both the stealer and Autozone is O2 sensor related, which I have deduced may be a result of disconnected wiring from the stock ECM to the sensor, would the turbo be linked to this code? Thanks for FPR clarification. (qUaTtRoA4) Not looking for a large increase in performance over stock(immediately), just better, so I will investigate the ko4 upgrade. Also I understand making the maintenance schedules to keep her up to spec. (Quattro_1.8t) I don't think it is misfiring, outside of lack of boost it runs very smooth with no indication of knock or misfire. (david9999) I know that the base is not really powerfull or easy to hear for a novice, however it is distinctctly not working sometimes with lack of sound, I roll with the windows down mostly, and performance. Didn't take not of the actuall codes but as you read above both dealer and Autozone, indicate O2 sensor issues, nothing with the turbo. Is it "normal" for the turbo to work/be on sometimes and others not? Will a worn DV valve cause intermettent on/off turbo?

 

From what i have heard if your turbo is bad its a very loud screeching noise? Something like that.

 

No screeching noise sofar...