My 98 VW 1.8t all of sudden doesn't accelerate like before?

Question

I was driving today and out of nowhere my car issn't accelerating like it did this morning. I have turbo but don't think that is the problem, but I really dont know. It sounds less powerful and makes a noise more like a bike of some sort. Any ideas on what could be causing this, and is it safe to drive?

Answer 1

I had the same problem on my 2001.  My check engine light (CEL) came on after an hour of driving with the noise and less power.  I thought it was a problem with the turbo but it ended up being a small puncture in the vacuum hose ($89 diagnostic fee + $6 part).  Is your CEL on?

Answer 2

1.your blow off valve could be messed up

2. coolant for turbo itself is low/bad

3. you chains might be loose

4. misfires in the engine (check engine light?)

5. moisture in your fuel lines is VERY possible  

Answer 3

it could be the turbo cooler. its underneath so maybe if you bottomed out it busted it. that definitly will affect accelleration

Answer 4

Sounds to me like a misfire (running on 3 cylinders). On the head of your engine are 4 coilpacks. They are black square things with green text and audi logos on them. One of them is probably fried. The best thing to do would be to get your car hooked up to a code reader at a shop to see which cylinder is misfiring, or see what the problem is altogether. Is the engine light on or blinking at you?

If you have to drive it, go slow and not far.

Answer 5

First i would tell you to check all of your air ways(exhaust, air intake). Secondly if your car's computer has been fried you will have little power (my jetta's computer got fried and its vr6 and it wouldnt hardly get to 3000 rpms).

I recomend taking it to a shop to diagnose it, it'll cost around $70 but it may be worth it.