2003 A3 SE TDI Auto sudden loss of power at speed from newbee Audi owner

[CNix]

I've driven crappy cars for years and finally treated myself to a lovely 2003 A3 TDI Auto 1968CC 3 door with only 53K on the clock - lovely car!
Been driving it around for 1 month just fine.
Today, at speed on the motorway, I had a sudden loss of power. Couldn't get it over 60mph or 4,000 revs, or to any lower gear than 4th. No amount of accelerator pedal pressure made any difference to the car.
When I stopped at the next service station, turned off the ignition then turned it back on again, all was fine until I reached 70mph (usual power, usual response etc) then the problem returned.
When I finally got to the North Circular Road, the car was fine and lovely and responsive so long as I kept below 60mph. Over 60mph and the car lost all power again.

At no point did any warning lights come on, any odd noises or any fumes. However, at low speeds, I noticed the MPG was reading upto 200MPG. Does that help isolate the fault?

I am completely new to this forum and to the joys of owning a lovely car. I am also broke (having just bought this baby). Don't want to just walk into an Audi service area without some sort of knowledge as to what the fault may be and how much I may be expected to pay for it.

I thought I'd ask here as you guys know what you're talking about and I don't! Any suggestions???

HELP!!!

With thanks
This is the car:

 

[paddy]

Come on all you oil burners !! I know nothing about diesels but lets help a new guy out here

Tell us where you are and someone might be able to scan with VCDS for you ??

 

[Jord]

Sounds like mine, it was a combo of faulty fuel sensor, split intercooler seals and some sort switch/paddle just before turbo
Hopes this help, the Vw mechanic that looked at mine, said the previous owner didn't boot it enough haha

 

[Lings]

Where abouts are you mate .Plenty of people on here with vcds that would be happy to scan it for you .
Have you checked the obvious things such as oil water etc?Im not sure about the older models but is yours a 140 or 170 ?

 

[CNix]

Lingy, I'm in West London (Ealing) and would LOVE it if someone on this forum could help out with a computer scan for me. Any takers? I'd be happy to pay in beer for anyone decent enough to offer some expertise to someone who is very new to all this. I work from home and am happy to drive to where you are during the week if that helps...(might be wise if I avoid motorways though as barrelling along at 55mph isn't much fun!).

By the way, I've checked the fluids (oil etc) and they all seem OK but I really don't know how I tell if it's a 140 or 170 - can you tell me how to tell the two models apart?

 

[mike foster]

Your car has gone into 'limp' mode for protection. This usually happens when the turbo goes into overboost or underboost. A VCDS scan is essential to help isolate the reason.

If you have just bought the car did you buy it from a dealer ? If so then take it back and get them to fix it !

As far as the 140 or 170 is concerned, if you look inside the front cover of the service book you will see a three character engine code. If it's BKD then it's a 140. How did you get insurance without telling them ? The engine power (140 or 170 ) is also shown in the log book details.

 

[CNix]

Mike,
Thanks for the tip about "Limp Mode" - I didn't know that. So it would seem that I certainly need a VCDS scan and have put up a posting on the VCDS forum asking if anyone can scan the car for me (and I'd pay in beer!).
The car is a 140 and regrettably, I didn't buy it from a dealer so can't go and complain.

 

[paddy]

Limp mode is basically "get you home mode". The computer has registered a fault that could damage your engine but rather than leave you half way up the M1 its gone into limp mode. as Mike says you need a scan.

There is a page of people with VCDS on the site

Audi-Sport.net VCDS Users - Google Maps

there are a few people near you that you could PM that might help but many of us are not registered with the scan gear but still willing. ie: i have the gear but i am quite a way away.

 

[CNix]

Results of VCDS scan regarding loss of power at speed
I had my car scanned last night (thanks Staz!) and below are the results. The car is currently behaving itself just fine, last time I had a problem with the car losing power at speed was last Thursday.

Any of you experts out there can tell me what to look for/expect to go wrong/prepare for etc from the data below? I note that in the Engine Labels, there was one fault found:
16618 - Boost Pressure Regulation: Limit Exceeded (Overboost Condition) . Does anyone know what that means? Is this a "one off" (hence the reason why it only happened last Thursday) or is it indicative of some sort of intermittent fault that will just nag me from time to time until it fails completely? If you think it's the latter, then I'd be keen to have that fault repaired now before I have some sort of failure.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Chris


Monday,20,June,2011,20:01:16:28482
VCDS Version: Release 10.6.4
Data version: 20110418



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chassis Type: 1K0
Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 25 42 44 46 52 56 7D

VIN: WAUZZZ8P84A104350 Mileage: 87600km/54432miles

00-Steering Angle Sensor -- Status: OK 0000
01-Engine -- Status: Malfunction 0010
02-Auto Trans -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: Malfunction 0010
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: OK 0000
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 0010
7D-Aux. Heat -- Status: OK 0000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 03G-906-016-BKD.lbl
Part No SW: 03G 906 016 AT HW: 028 101 145 3
Component: R4 2,0L EDC G000AG 5689
Revision: 12345678 Serial number: AUX7Z0CNFN40BZ
Coding: 0000078
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 75CF282D6551

1 Fault Found:
16618 - Boost Pressure Regulation: Limit Exceeded (Overboost Condition)
P0234 - 000 - -
Freeze Frame:
RPM: 2226 /min
Torque: 256.0 Nm
Speed: 114.0 km/h
Load: 65.9 %
Voltage: 14.21 V
Bin. Bits: 00001000
Absolute Pres.: 2111.4 mbar
Absolute Pres.: 2580.6 mbar

Readiness: 0 0 0 0 0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 02E-300-0xx.lbl
Part No SW: 02E 300 041 C HW: 02E 927 770 AD
Component: GSG DSG 0623
Revision: 04201472 Serial number: 00000509140234
Coding: 0000020
Shop #: WSC 04940 001 00001
VCID: 120573B174FF

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 1K0-907-379-MK60-F.lbl
Part No: 1K0 907 379 K
Component: ESP FRONT MK60 0103
Coding: 0023174
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3A55FB110CCF

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 8P0-820-043.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 820 043 D HW: 8P0 820 043 D
Component: KlimavollautomatH12 0150
Revision: 011186 Serial number: 8P0820043D
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 2D7FC04DCD81

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 8P0-907-279-23-H.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 907 279 D HW: 8P0 907 279 D*
Component: Bordnetz-SG 1.0 H27 0601
Revision: 00027000 Serial number: 00000000251403
Coding: A5885F00A2141000000000000000000000
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 3E5DF70110E7

Part No: 8P2 955 119
Component: Wischer WWS Audi350 0130
Coding: 16711696
Shop #: WSC 00000

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8P0-959-655-84.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 959 655 F HW: 8P0 959 655 F
Component: Airbag 8.4ED H01 0130
Coding: 0011602
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 45AF98ED7531

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel Labels: 8P0-953-549.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 953 549 HW: 8P0 953 549
Component: Lenksäulenmodul H10 0020
Coding: 0012142
Shop #: WSC 00498 210 91495
VCID: FBDBBE15C375

Part No: XXXXXXXXXXX
Component: Lenkradmodul H02 0030

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels: 8P0-920-xxx-17-MY7.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 920 980 H HW: 8P0 920 980 H
Component: KOMBIINSTR. VDO H25 0110
Revision: D07 Serial number: 224NCD07001803
Coding: 0000403
Shop #: WSC 00751 210 93636
VCID: 3C59FD0906FB

1 Fault Found:
00003 - Control Module
014 - Defective
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000011
Fault Priority: 1
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 34717 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2006.08.05
Time: 11:25:38


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 1K0-907-530.lbl
Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 B HW: 1K0 907 951
Component: Gateway H08 0090
Revision: 08 Serial number: 24001039166493
Coding: 3F0F0B40070101
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 266D3F61E877

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 25: Immobilizer Labels: 1K0-920-xxx-25.clb
Part No SW: 8P0 920 980 H HW: 8P0 920 980 H
Component: KOMBIINSTR. VDO H25 0110
Revision: D07 Serial number: AUX7Z0CNFN40BZ
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 3C59FD0906FB

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 42: Door Elect, Driver Labels: 8P0-959-801-MIN1.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 801 A
Component: Tuersteuerger. H10 0010
Coding: 0000120
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3957E41D09C9

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 44: Steering Assist Labels: 1Kx-909-14x-44.clb
Part No: 1K2 909 144 E
Component: EPS_ZFLS Kl.10 1202
Shop #: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 2E7DC741C087

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 8P0-959-433.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 433
Component: KSG H02 0040
Coding: 008800186D288505485AC63000
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: F9D7A41DC949

Part No: 1K0 951 605 A
Component: LIN BACKUP HORN H01 1201

Part No: 1K0 907 719
Component: Neigungssensor 002 0002

Part No: 8P0 951 177
Component: Innenraumueberw.H03 0010

1 Fault Found:
00956 - Key 2
005 - No or Incorrect Basic Setting / Adaptation - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 52: Door Elect, Pass. Labels: 8P0-959-802-MIN1.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 802 A
Component: Tuersteuerger. H10 0010
Coding: 0000120
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: 3A55FB110CCF

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio Labels: 8P0-035-1xx-56.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 035 186 HW: 8P0 035 186
Component: concert II EU H53 0060
Revision: 07S Serial number: AUZ2Z3C1648775
Coding: 0000205
Shop #: WSC 06435 000 00000
VCID: EFC39A45870D

1 Fault Found:
00858 - Connection; Radio ZF Output to Antenna Amplifier
011 - Open Circuit - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101011
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 62
Mileage: 87518 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2011.06.18
Time: 17:40:11