VW Bora - Poor performance

Trippynet · 14-07-2008, 04:32 PM

Hello,

I've recently bought a second hand VW Bora with the 90bhp 1.9 TDI engine. The problem I have with it is that the performance tails off rather suddenly at higher speeds. Up to around 60mph, performance is reasonable enough. Between 60-70mph however, it suddenly and rapidly runs out of steam.

For example, if I accelerate hard in 4th gear at around 45mph, you can feel the acceleration and the car's speed picks up quite nicely. Between 60 and 70 however, the acceleration suddenly drops off and it literally feels as if I've suddenly released the accelerator by a fair chunk. After that, the car will sedately gain speed until around 80-85mph or so when it completely runs out of puff - a long way short of this engine's supposed 110mph top speed.

The end result is that above 70mph, I actually got better performance out of my previous Peugeot 106 which only had a 1.6l none-turbo Diesel engine and which only kicked out 58bhp compared with the Bora's 90bhp.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem could be with it at all? I've added some Diesel injector cleaner to my current tank of Diesel and have done around 50 miles with that in so far, however I have a sneaky suspicion that there might be more to it than just slightly blocked injectors.

Many thanks in advance,

Dave.

cruiser647 · 14-07-2008, 07:09 PM

Hi, it's usually the MAF. It's a weak point on many VAG cars. It measures how much air is coming in to the engine and reacts accordingly with fuel pressures, amounts etc etc.
It sits between the airbox and the engine on the air pipe.
It's VERY fragile so remove the housing carefully - take off the air pipe between the engine and air box, unscrew the 4 bolts holding the MAF tube, disconnect the electrical connector and then you can spray in some Halford carb cleaner.
Put everything back, and you should see a big difference. It is remains so, buy a new MAF. They are about £50 from a VW indy shop. Fit it and you'll be fine!

I eventually had to change mine, after copious amounts of carb cleaner stopped working!!!

Trippynet · 16-07-2008, 04:35 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll have a look into that this weekend. Thankfully, despite being second hand the car does have a 2 year warranty with it so if the sensor is a bit iffy, I'll probably just get it replaced to be on the safe side.

Cheers,

Dave.

14-07-2008, 04:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trippynet stranger Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	VW Bora - Poor performance Hello, I've recently bought a second hand VW Bora with the 90bhp 1.9 TDI engine. The problem I have with it is that the performance tails off rather suddenly at higher speeds. Up to around 60mph, performance is reasonable enough. Between 60-70mph however, it suddenly and rapidly runs out of steam. For example, if I accelerate hard in 4th gear at around 45mph, you can feel the acceleration and the car's speed picks up quite nicely. Between 60 and 70 however, the acceleration suddenly drops off and it literally feels as if I've suddenly released the accelerator by a fair chunk. After that, the car will sedately gain speed until around 80-85mph or so when it completely runs out of puff - a long way short of this engine's supposed 110mph top speed. The end result is that above 70mph, I actually got better performance out of my previous Peugeot 106 which only had a 1.6l none-turbo Diesel engine and which only kicked out 58bhp compared with the Bora's 90bhp. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem could be with it at all? I've added some Diesel injector cleaner to my current tank of Diesel and have done around 50 miles with that in so far, however I have a sneaky suspicion that there might be more to it than just slightly blocked injectors. Many thanks in advance, Dave.

14-07-2008, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
cruiser647 BBC Correspondant Join Date: May 2004 Location: Anywhere but work.... Posts: 11,021	Hi, it's usually the MAF. It's a weak point on many VAG cars. It measures how much air is coming in to the engine and reacts accordingly with fuel pressures, amounts etc etc. It sits between the airbox and the engine on the air pipe. It's VERY fragile so remove the housing carefully - take off the air pipe between the engine and air box, unscrew the 4 bolts holding the MAF tube, disconnect the electrical connector and then you can spray in some Halford carb cleaner. Put everything back, and you should see a big difference. It is remains so, buy a new MAF. They are about £50 from a VW indy shop. Fit it and you'll be fine! I eventually had to change mine, after copious amounts of carb cleaner stopped working!!! __________________ "There will be no whitewash in the White House." Richard M Nixon. Speaking of liars, look at this website:- www.labour.org.uk

16-07-2008, 04:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trippynet stranger Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	Hi, Thanks for your suggestion. I'll have a look into that this weekend. Thankfully, despite being second hand the car does have a 2 year warranty with it so if the sensor is a bit iffy, I'll probably just get it replaced to be on the safe side. Cheers, Dave.