My wifes car has about 150,000 miles on it. I drove it a few weeks ago and noticed that it was making absolutely no power. You could hear the turbo spool up but the compressed air is going somewhere rather than to the intake.

Is this car equipped with a wastegate, BOV, or just the diverter valve? With the windows down, you can really hear the air escaping. It sounds like a wastegate stuck open to me.

I build a leak tester and ran 10 psi of air through the system. It wasn't leaking anywhere other than pushing a little air out of the dipstick and oil fill. I'm at a loss on this one.

 

These cars come with a DV. If the diaphragm failed then that would most certainly cause a loss of power. If it's never been replaced then it is DEFINITELY worth replacing. If you want an OEM part that's stronger than the original part but still pretty cheap, check out the 710N diverter valve:
Audi B5 A4 Quattro 1.8T Engine Intake Valves Diverter Valve OE ES#581 710N Diverter Valve - Priced Each - 06A145710N

 

These cars also have horrible rubber hoses that need to be replaced. When I purchased the car it had 4.

Do you have any Check Engine Lights? That may help narrow it down.

Also, I had a mechanic buddy spray a bit of (brake cleaner I think?) around the engine.. when the car started sputtering we knew where abouts it was.
The other couple times my buddies and I each grabbed a flashlight and went very slow.

 

Hooked the leak tester back up this morning and started crawling under and over everything. I found the hose coming from the turbo down to the cross tube to the intercooler was split.

The dealer wanted $197 and Oreilly wanted $155. I figured I would try to patch it with epoxy and silicon tape. Everything seems to be holding for now. Hopefully it holds for a few more weeks until I can get this thing sold.

 

$155?! Do you have a picture of it by any chance? If not, get one and we'll look together for an inexpensive alternative.

If you're bold enough, there should be white writing on it.. that'll show the part number.

 

We have aftermarket ones available for $119.95
Click HERE to order or for more information


Jason

 

aaand that's why I love ECS.

 

Jason

 

Too much. ONE single hose we ALL need at some point should not be $120. Especially this one, as it is still made from rubber when we can find better ones out of silicone, a WHOLE HOSE KIT, for almost half of that. Come on ECS, I challenge you to make a worthwhile complete hose kit for $120 that is made of silicone, and I'll buy it. Happily.

 

ECS doesn't control pricing of OEM parts... and if you're bothered by the price then just buy the cheaper kit