Give gsf (German Swedish & French) car parts a call, they'll quote you around £60 exchange. They can quote you if you give them the engine code, or alternatively the part number from te MAF unit itself. Its usually the Bosch MAF units that fail-Pieburg are pretty bomb proof. It's a simple procedure to remove and install the new one yourself. You'll only need a screwdriver and a decent pair of slip ring pliers/ groove joint pliers to undo the large spring clip. The MAF is a common fault, but don't assume it's that. Try to borrow a MAF unit from another car (with the same part number) or find a friendly parts supplier who'll let you try a MAF and return it if it proves not to be that causing the fault. I hope it is your MAF- it's the simplest snd least costly repair. They tend to get tired around 70/80K miles (generally) I've recently come across A3's Bora's Passat's which have problems with loss of power through the car going into limp mode and limiting the turbo's performance. This feels like you're towing a caravan, and you notice a loss of power (particularly going up hill) around 3000 rpm upwards. Switching off the ignition and restarting tends to cure the fault temporarily. If you have the fault codes read or "scanned" they usually plug either a VAGCOM or Sun/Snap-On or similar hand held machine into a port under the dash or below the ashtray or under the handbrake stowage bin (fitted in different positions depending on which car it is) This identifies the fault, gives the operator a text readout on a LCD screen along with a fault code which can be confirmed in a manual (or on the internet) If any codes are read, they can erase them from the memory and reset them, so that if the fault (or another) reccurs they can try to use the information to identify the fault. i.e. as a diagnosis. Many cars are now reporting " Inlet manifold pressure exceeded " and are proving impossible to cure. Anyone with any information to the contrary-i'd be very interested to hear from you. Good luck. Regards. Paul.
