Am i in limp mode...?

[kovalevandrew]

My car hates me.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243419

Hi all,

My car has really begun to frustrate me as of late. It's just been one this after another. It recently went in for its 200 000km service, which was at great expence.

The car simply hasn't been the same since it went in. They replaced the plugs, cambelt, water pump, filters, oil etc...

Could they have done anything to put the car into limp mode...? How would i check if this is indeed the case...?

The turbo begins to spool up, but then nothing, it's totally flat. I have stripped the entire intake and vacuum system and inspected all the pipes for cracks etc. I did replace the in line check valve as this had a massive hole in it.

Another thing, when i start the car, there is a very loud clicking sound that happens when the accelerator is pressed while the car is still cold, after it warms up, this noise goes away. During the time the noise is there, there is no boost at all.

Any ideas...?

Thanks in advance,
Andrew.

[kovalevandrew]

So i did some messing about with the car earlier, and i found something which could be a problem. If i unplug the MAF Sensor cable, the car behaves exactly the same. No check engine light, nothing. Could this be the cause of my massive loss in power...?

[maxspeed]

if your an 00 or 01 your car can run off the map sensor when the MAF fails

[kovalevandrew]

Yeah, it's a 2001, literally the last B5 1.8T sold here in South Africa.
It used to be running so well, now i just don't know what to do anymore, simply hasn't been the same since its last service.

Anyone, any ideas...?

[kovalevandrew]

So today i changed the following:

Coil packs.
Plugs.
Ignition timing controller.

None of these made any difference, so i'm back to square one again.

Any ideas.....

[cparke]

I'd like to know exactly what limp mode means from somebody; does it mean that the transmission electronics are in fault or otherwise offline? If I drive without the transmission control unit installed, does this mean I would be driving in llimp mode?

If that is the definition, I guess the clues for limp mode are fault codes in the transmission controller, missing transmission info on the instrument cluster trip display, shift lock light always off on the automatic gearshift. This is my problem right now---am I in limp mode?

[kovalevandrew]

Ok, so it turns out i had a bunch of boost leaks, broken wastegate actuator, and my ECU had been reset to factory default. I've had it rechipped, sealed up two leaks in the vac/pcv system as well. The car is totally different now.

I am going to be removing the vac/pcv system from the car during this week. the reason for this is to get rid of the last boost leak. It's somewhere under the intake manifold, and i'm so no going to mess around trying to find it.

I have also ordered a new exhaust manifold, have it made by a local company that does work for other racing groups. It will be a tubular stainless steel one. They're also going to be doing a full 3" cat delete exhaust system for me. Having an RS4 clutch fitted sometime this week as well. The one in there now is the original the car came with, and after 210 000km of abuse from me, it's rather tired now.

[EnviedA6]

I'd like to know exactly what limp mode means from somebody; does it mean that the transmission electronics are in fault or otherwise offline? If I drive without the transmission control unit installed, does this mean I would be driving in llimp mode?

If that is the definition, I guess the clues for limp mode are fault codes in the transmission controller, missing transmission info on the instrument cluster trip display, shift lock light always off on the automatic gearshift. This is my problem right now---am I in limp mode?

Limp mode is when you can't boost and maintain that boost thru the power band. Say you boost max or peak 9psi stock, and then the next time you boost at the same RPM band and you only boost 5psi consistently means that you're in limp mode because you don't boost what you normally boost. This is correct only if you're positive that you don't have a boost leak. It has nothing to do with your transmission. Limp mode is caused by hidded fault codes in the ECU and not the transmission so it sounds like you're not in Limp mode.

[kovalevandrew]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243419

Problem solved... Sorta...