Low power going uphill

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, I have 65 plate T6, diesel Bluemotion and it’s having trouble going uphill? The accelerator doesn’t seem to have full power? It’s had the cambelt/water pump done on 50k and now on 66k.It’s not due a service for another 6000k approx. It’s been brilliant until this last week, just doesn’t feel right. No lights showing and I’m in Switzerland I’m afraid I don’t know much about under the bonnet these days.

 

[roadtripper]

Are you doing the mountain passes? You will lose horsepower with altitude, roughly 1 horsepower every 300ft if I remember my aviation rules of thumb.

 

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, I have done but I’m down on lower ground now in Buchs and when I press the throttle the engine doesn’t seem to have the power it had, tried revving it hoping to clear something? The rev counter doesn’t go over 2/3?

 

[DaveD]

I'd start by looking at the basics first, so the first things I'd look for would be a dirty air filter (unlikely) or a hole or leak in the intercooler causing you to lose boost pressure.
By design the engine won't rev over 2,500 RPM if you are in neutral, if you didn't know.

 

[roadtripper]

Hi, I have done but I’m down on lower ground now in Buchs and when I press the throttle the engine doesn’t seem to have the power it had, tried revving it hoping to clear something? The rev counter doesn’t go over 2/3?

If you are revving while stationary I believe that's normal, the revs are limited in that situation.

 

[Delilah 1965]

I'd start by looking at the basics first, so the first things I'd look for would be a dirty air filter (unlikely) or a hole or leak in the intercooler causing you to lose boost pressure.
By design the engine won't rev over 2,500 RPM if you are in neutral, if you didn't know.

Ok, I don’t know where to start tbh, - Intercooler, is that the radiator type thing? It’s pi**ing it down here at the moment, hard to see anything. Regarding the revs they just don’t sound the same, like it needs a good clearout! Normally, foot down and there’s plenty there.

 

[cgtmiles]

Ok, I don’t know where to start tbh, - Intercooler, is that the radiator type thing? It’s pi**ing it down here at the moment, hard to see anything. Regarding the revs they just don’t sound the same, like it needs a good clearout! Normally, foot down and there’s plenty there.

Mine went funny like that when the battery was failing, I think it’s sort of a limp mode (assuming you have the same issue with revs while moving). Once the battery had charged and it had sorted itself out it was ok again. Do you have any errors showing and have you tried clearing them?

 

[DaveD]

Ok, I don’t know where to start tbh, - Intercooler, is that the radiator type thing? It’s pi**ing it down here at the moment, hard to see anything. Regarding the revs they just don’t sound the same, like it needs a good clearout! Normally, foot down and there’s plenty there.

The intercooler does indeed look a bit like a radiator, it cools the air that the engine takes in in order to make the combustion process more efficient.
Bearing in mind that your van, like mine, is now around 8 years old, it wouldn't be unusual for it to have developed a leak, although of course the problem you've got could be caused by a number of other faults, I'm not offering a diagnosis, it's just a possibility.
Is it possible for you to get it checked out at a garage?

 

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, there is a VW garage down the road, which will be open Monday, I’ll just have to hang around here until then, I don’t want to use it unless I have to.

 

[cgtmiles]

You need to see the fault codes, if you don’t have a Carista or similar in the glove box then take it somewhere and get one on order from Amazon for next time

 

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, there is a VW garage down the road, which will be open Monday, I’ll just have to hang around here until then, I don’t want to use it unless I have to.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions btw, I just hope it’s easy to fix and nothing major

 

[Delilah 1965]

You need to see the fault codes, if you don’t have a Carista or similar in the glove box then take it somewhere and get one on order from Amazon for next time

Hi, I’ve never had any bother with her before, just typical I’m abroad when it happens

 

[cgtmiles]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions btw, I just hope it’s easy to fix and nothing major

Fingers crossed for you!

As I said, mine did the same after a low battery brought up some faults. Once cleared it worked ok again (although I did need a new battery) so it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a serious issue the engine management is erring on the side of caution

 

[cgtmiles]

Hi, I’ve never had any bother with her before, just typical I’m abroad when it happens

Better to be stuck there than here

 

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, I’ve never had any bother with her before, just typical I’m abroad when it happens

I certainly will buy one when I get home, never heard of it before, thank you Like I said before I’m so out of the loop with these things now, I used to be quite good when you could get your hands proper dirty with spanners etc!

 

[Delilah 1965]

Hi, there is a VW garage down the road, which will be open Monday, I’ll just have to hang around here until then, I don’t want to use it unless I have to.

The van I mean btw

 

[Delilah 1965]

Mine went funny like that when the battery was failing, I think it’s sort of a limp mode (assuming you have the same issue with revs while moving). Once the battery had charged and it had sorted itself out it was ok again. Do you have any errors showing and have you tried clearing them?

 

[RobertO2023]

Don’t take any chances when you are a long distance from UK . Get the local VW service centre to run diagnostics. Worst case have you got European breakdown cover? Hope you get sorted

 

[Delilah 1965]

Mine went funny like that when the battery was failing, I think it’s sort of a limp mode (assuming you have the same issue with revs while moving). Once the battery had charged and it had sorted itself out it was ok again. Do you have any errors showing and have you tried clearing them?

1. Just ignition on, Engine Management Light is on
2. No EML when engine is running

 

[JumpShip]

Thats fine if the EML goes out when the engine is running .
It lights up with the ignition to show you its working.