T5 Transporter Turbo Charger Wastegate leak

[deleteruser0520]

The local dealer has found a wastegate leak, so they have recommended the whole turbo and every associated part be replaced including Diesel Particulate Filter (DPI), total cost $7400 just for parts!!! there is no fault code for the DPI, no symptoms. Sounds like a money grab.... i.e you don't replace the whole wheel when you have a flat tyre

Seems grossly excessive to replace absolutely everything right down to a $2 nut. Are they having me on?

They also reckon an occasional knocking sound I get is Flywheel and DSG Clutch Splines. The knocking is only on occasion. If it was a mechanical fault surely it would make the knock all the time?

The only thig I know for a "fact" is that I have a leaking turbo intake pipe from the back of the engine.

Are they having me on and just guessing?

[Stickshift]

It’s pretty normal for vw to recommend replacing the whole unit if there are issues.

I’d be taking the van to a good independent mechanic that specialises in European cars. In my experience, they spend more time on problem diagnosis and may propose a variety of options to resolve any issue.

[Sunny43.5]

It,s the way of the world today , I was told by a lady that dealers do not trust their own mechanics oops sorry technicians to repair things these days . The dealers and manufacturers work on the basis of warranty repair times , so of a part fails during warranty the car makers will only pay for labor to change the part rather than pay for time spent doing R & R and then repairing the part itself . A $20 bearing failed in our AC compressor bill for repair ? $1600 because they wont pull it apart .Maybe consider deleting the DPF and getting second opinion on the wastegate .

[LogicprObe]

Yeah, most nuts and bolts on VW are supposed to be replaced every time you undo one.
(don't know why they bother with threadlocker then!)
Sounds like a money grab to me.
Did you have any symptoms?

[Transporter]

Yeah, most nuts and bolts on VW are supposed to be replaced every time you undo one.
(don't know why they bother with threadlocker then!)
Sounds like a money grab to me.
Did you have any symptoms?

Not most. Only these that are torque to yield tensioned.

[deleteruser0520]

Thanks for the feedback. I do have a mechanic I trust, but he has no VW diagnostic equipment. My symptoms are intermittent knocking when at its worst,with corresponding slight rough running. Other times it is just a popping song from intake pipe but no rough running. Mechanic feels it may be an injector, but he can't rule out camshaft and lifters. Car is running perfect one day, then has these symptoms another day. When the knocking is at its worst, it is very loud....today....nothing but the popping and hardly noticeable, it did start making the loud knocking but I gave it some hard acceleration and the knocking went away and power returned to normal. The knocking is becoming more regular though.

I'm in Darwin, not much choibpce up here. No VW specialist other than the VW dealer, but common thinking is they can't diagnose, they only go. Y error codes and recommend replacing everything. I bought my own code reader...no fault codes are recorded in the ECU.

[deleteruser0520]

I'm at a loss to work out what is wrong with the car

[Sunny43.5]

Some things to check , make sure the Intercooler hose is properly attached as the stupid circlip wears out with the end result of rough running etc , check all the vacumm hoses for any splits as the years roll on those hoses get brittle and split with vacumm loss .

[deleteruser0520]

Thanks, I'll check that. Has had a recent service.... but they are lazy