Occasional Limp Mode

[OllieCollieCali]

Hi All,
I have a 2006 2.5 litre 130 Auto, and occasionally it seems to go into limp mode shortly after starting a journey. Most times is when its cold as I've just started the journey, and I've noticed it tends to be when it changes from 3rd to 4th gear. Fairly gentle acceleration. I stop and turn the engine off and on again and its completely fine for the rest of the journey. It doesn't happen every trip either, just very occasionally. The gears don't seem the smoothest of changes especially when cold, but I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

Anyone got any ideas what it could be causing it? I don't have the tools to read error codes, and haven't got around to taking it to the garage yet, although guarantee it wont happen if i take it there.
There are no lights or warnings appear on the dash when it happens, it just feels like there's no turbo and very sluggish.

Anything I can look at or clean? or anything I can suggest to the garage if I take it in? I have read threads of others having issues with limp mode, but the garage not finding any fault codes etc. but they have been more under hard acceleration.
Could it be a gearbox issue? or possibly anything to do with DPF filter?

Many thanks

Graeme

 

[Azteccamper]

I had a 2007 2.5 Tdi 130 BNZ engine and it had this problem for years - particularly in cold/ damp weather about 30 secs after taking off. Numerous mechanics and dealers could never find the fault. It was a brilliant drive apart from this occasional issue - pulled like a train.

 

[OllieCollieCali]

I had a 2007 2.5 Tdi 130 BNZ engine and it had this problem for years - particularly in cold/ damp weather about 30 secs after taking off. Numerous mechanics and dealers could never find the fault. It was a brilliant drive apart from this occasional issue - pulled like a train.

That sounds the same as mine! great drive apart from this - like you say pulls well, and only an occasional issue so I havent looked into it too much yet, but usually happens when you have cars behind you and cant stop straight away.
Considering getting it remapped at some point as well, but not sure if this would help / make worse this issue.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Hi All,
I have a 2006 2.5 litre 130 Auto, and occasionally it seems to go into limp mode shortly after starting a journey. Most times is when its cold as I've just started the journey, and I've noticed it tends to be when it changes from 3rd to 4th gear. Fairly gentle acceleration. I stop and turn the engine off and on again and its completely fine for the rest of the journey. It doesn't happen every trip either, just very occasionally. The gears don't seem the smoothest of changes especially when cold, but I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

Anyone got any ideas what it could be causing it? I don't have the tools to read error codes, and haven't got around to taking it to the garage yet, although guarantee it wont happen if i take it there.
There are no lights or warnings appear on the dash when it happens, it just feels like there's no turbo and very sluggish.

Anything I can look at or clean? or anything I can suggest to the garage if I take it in? I have read threads of others having issues with limp mode, but the garage not finding any fault codes etc. but they have been more under hard acceleration.
Could it be a gearbox issue? or possibly anything to do with DPF filter?

Many thanks

Graeme

Have you tried connecting it to an OBD 2 reader? It may well be able to tell you the problem.

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Have you tried connecting it to an OBD 2 reader? It may well be able to tell you the problem.

Not yet, as I don't have one and haven't managed to get it to a garage yet, but be good to see if there's any fault codes. I might look at buying one.

 

[Azteccamper]

That sounds the same as mine! great drive apart from this - like you say pulls well, and only an occasional issue so I havent looked into it too much yet, but usually happens when you have cars behind you and cant stop straight away.
Considering getting it remapped at some point as well, but not sure if this would help / make worse this issue.

Had a pendle performance remap and he did diagnostics first to see if there were any problems - nil. Had about 120k miles on it when I sold it, run like a dream for about four years apart from that!
The remap was superb. I still miss it.

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Had a pendle performance remap and he did diagnostics first to see if there were any problems - nil. Had about 120k miles on it when I sold it, run like a dream for about four years apart from that!
The remap was superb. I still miss it.

Ah excellent! That's great to hear! I have been in touch with a local Pendle performance garage specialising in transporters, and also been recommended a company in Portsmouth PSL Performance, but it seems most on here have the pendle remap so probably go With them mines on 130k at the moment and still feeling very strong apart from the occasional limp mode.

 

[WelshGas]

Ah excellent! That's great to hear! I have been in touch with a local Pendle performance garage specialising in transporters, and also been recommended a company in Portsmouth PSL Performance, but it seems most on here have the pendle remap so probably go With them mines on 130k at the moment and still feeling very strong apart from the occasional limp mode.

Note, VW anticipate the DPF should last for approximately 120,000 miles.