Hello -

I'm wondering if anyone here is having a boost issue with their A4.

My turbo builds boost but won't feed the motor. I think there is a gate that holds the boost but it's suppose to open to push the air into the motor and mine isn't doing that. THe dealer explained to me that i need a new turbo.

Is there a way to fix this issue?

 

Is your car still under factory warranty?

If so, then i'm sure the dealership would try to fix the turbo if they could. I'm sure they don't like buying new parts when the current one can be fixed.

If youre not under warranty? yikes. bank account buster.

 

I had a similar issue. Is the check engine light on? Mine was, and when read was 'low boost'. Luckily, it was still under warranty, but would've been $2,600 otherwise. The turbo to come as a unit including the exhaust manifold, which is probably why it's so expensive ($1,600 plus gaskets, etc.).

My turbo was replaced at 59,000 miles with the car less than 4 years old. I don't drive it hard, and I cool the turbo before switching the engine off, but it didn't make any difference. I have a theory that it failed because the engine uses oil (1 qt/4000miles) and the residue clogs the turbo.

 

Not sure who explained that too you but it's not anything how a turbocharger works.

The turbo is always feeding air to the engine. There is a piece on the turbo called a "waste gate" which opens when the desired amount of boost pressure is met and this controls the boost level by dumping off a little bit of exhaust gas away from the turbine wheel thus keeping it at a constant. If you didn't have a waste gate the turbo would just build boost until it couldn't flow anymore air.

If the waste gate is stuck open for any reason most of the exhaust gases will be routed round the turbine wheel. If this happens your car wont build any boost.

This sounds like what might be happening in your case. Either way if your vehicle is under warranty a trip to the dealer might be in order.

Jason