Greetings all.

I'm 12 days into my 98.5 AEB 5spd w/146k. Coming from the E34 BMW platform, it's quite a bit different, neither better nor worse, just...different.

Anyway, I have a question about the turbos in these things. I've searched through a bunch of threads but the specific info didn't really bubble up.

Is it possible for the turbo to be completely dead and yet the engine shows no signs? I don't have any squealing, dentist drill sounds or other unusual nosies. If it's still operational then it's the weakest turbo I've ever run across. I can't feel any kind of boost passing 2500rpm at all.

There's no boost gauge in the car so I can't track it that way. Is there another method to tell?

 

You can use VAG-Com to log requested boost vs actual. The turbo isn't big at all but you should definitely be able to tell when its fully spooled up. You probably have a massive boost leak as i would think you'd be able to tell the turbo had **** the bed(noise, smoke etc.)

Where are you located? I'm sure someone near you has VAG-Com and would help you out. The guys on here are really cool.

 

Yeah, I figured I would be able to hear or see something if the turbo had died. The car idles and accelerates just like I would expect, just lacking any punch even from a small turbo.

I'm in SE WI so if there are any brothers/sisters in Milw or Far North Chicago suburbs willing to lend out a Vag, I'd mucho appreciative...

 

Not with his narrowband ecu.