Hi everyone, I bought an A3 1.8T Quattro back in Jan' 04. It was brilliant, especially as I had a Golf 1.6 before. I really felt the 180bhp difference. The thing is, I don't anymore and I think I messed-up the turbo!!!!

Its a '99 V-reg and has only done 38k miles. Audi serviced it a month ago and checked it over with the diagnostics but said that it was fine. The turbo does not kick-in in 1st and 2nd gears, but does in the upper ones. I've seen Golf 150 & 130bhps kick-off faster than me!!!! I really need to rev it in the lower gears to get going fast - there is no boost at all. But the thing is, I know it should not be performing like this, because on occasions it has really zoomed off fast like it should do. Audi is looking at it again next week and are doing a road test this time.

Can anyone help. Also, I'm in the UK and its a standard model. Help, I'm so sad!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks guys

This is just a suggestion but could be a problem with the vacuam pipe which fits onto the turbo? When my TDi went in to have a cam-belt change the vacuam pipe was accidentally knocked and on the way home, having picked up the car, I could feel no turbo boost lower down the gears and speed. Hopefully it is tas it's very simple to rectify

good luck!

Probably just a Vac leak, or MAF sensor...BPV perhaps ?

thanks Chris, I'll get Audi to check on that as well. Also, someone mentioned it could be the MAF (mass air flow meter)? So I was gonna ask them about that as well? When I first bought the car, it smoothly zoomed off as it should do, now its got no boost in lower gears and makes alot of noise with very little performance to show for it!!
Admittedly I'm new to Audi and this is my first real racey car, but I'm pretty certain its not meant to be driving like this! I just hope its not a f****d turbo cos their so expensive to replace!! Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks guys!

thanks, what does BPV mean? (abit green on these things!) and would AUDI have a VAG to check the car with? Is that the handheld thing that hooks into the computer? Cos I can get a local garage to do that.

Thanks mate!

Audi would have the VAG-Tool yes, but it would be better for you if you had someone local with a Ross-Tech Vag-Tool to help you out...

Cheers... there's a local garage that I know has one, I'll take it round there first.

Thanks guys!

i think you will find that the air mass meter is at fault as it is a very common prob with these ...i have fitted many of these on a3,tt,and golf's for this very problem...we are in leatherhead surrey if any use a.v.s audi vw specialists 01372383038