Help! Intercooler hose?

[davejel]

Just had a bad experience. Big pop whilst accelerating, erratic loss of power (car barely made it up small hill). Power a little on/off, but managed to coast home.
Whooshing on drivers side under blipping throttle, could these symptoms be just an intercooler hose popped off or likely to be more serious?
Anyone had serious loss of power from just hose?

ESP warning light on permanently, engine management, and emission lights on periodically.
Even lost all power, alternator light came on and car cut out, but sudden pop and whooshing noise makes me think not alternator. Help!

[ecain63]

Boost hose 'off' wouldnt do that i dont think. It would just go into limp mode and you'd be on engine power with no boost. Sounds more severe to me. Sorry.

[davejel]

Thanks for that comforting thought, I better find my wallet!
RAC on way to have a look. No I won't let them do too much, but at least they can jack it up and check hoses etc, while I sit with a cold beer and pray. Better buy my son a beer also as I may be just about to blow budget for his first car,Ii was going to buy him this month.
Just started car again and it is running fine with emission light on only, but staying put on drive.

[ecain63]

You dont have vagcom do you? Could be gearbox realted if its cleared.

[davejel]

No, unfortunately not.
I did think gearbox at first due to hunting a bit, but I think that may have been due to lack of power. Definate whooshing noise from front under load, but also when just blipping throttle standing still.
Too late,and too hot to worry about tonight. Will sleep on it and hope tomorrow brings good news.

Was just considering getting serviced, then putting up for sale, as summer is here and I am pining for something a bit more fun.
Sorry all, capable yes, heavy yes, blindingly fast yes, but fun on the twisty bits it is not. Not sure what I want next, but guess on hold for now anyway.

[davejel]

Forgot to say above that emission light is still on, so all is not well.

[ecain63]

Where in the UK are you?

[davejel]

I am in Brentwood, Essex.
Not too far from AMD technik, and was going to book in for a service with them in the next week or 2. Flatbed down to them I think, if no good news tomorrow.
I know everyone will say Unit 20 or MRC, but for convenience I used AMD last year for service, and gearbox oil change, and for reference can say service and knowledge was very good.

[paul_23]

My intercooler hose popped off a while ago so I got the loss of boost and low power but none of the other bits or fault codes you mention so it sounds ominous...

Its easy to check the hose at the top as you can get your hand on it from the engine bay - the jubilee clips are a bit*h to get good access to to really tighten it on.

[davejel]

All fixed, and my wallet is safe!
RAC came this morning, jacked car up and found intercooler hose off. 2 fixing bolts missing from metal link pipe near bottom of intercooler, meant metal pipe had dropped and joint opened up above sub-frame. Re-fixed, fault codes cleared, and running like a dream.

Moral is, when the big bang happens, it is not always bad news.
I think ESP warning light on may have been due to road I was on at time, and fact I was turning corner when it blew, and car just confused it's self. Emission lights on for obvious reason.
I was surprised at how dramatic the effects were, that I could not even drive up a small hill, and at one point car even cut out.
Thanks all for the responses above, just glad on this occasion you were wrong.

[chunky79]

So your son has his car to look forward to after all. Glad it was a cheap fix.

Dunc

[davejel]

Thanks Dunc.
Even more good news, is that my son is now the "very" proud owner, of that famous powerhouse known as a 1.0L vauxhall corsa!
Unfortunately insurance costs put paid to his dreams, of the even more extreme 1.2L version.
£2.5k for a car, and near on £2.5k to insure. Only good reason I can think of not to be 17 again!

[ecain63]

Glad you got it sorted mate and that it wasnt the dreaded gearbox.

Tell your son to enjoy what he has and to take his time whilst learning the ropes. The less damage he can do to himself and his car the better and his insurance will reduce in good time. Dont run before you can walk is the phrase i think.

[davejel]

Thanks eddie.
As for my son, he,s not even 17 until end of month, and already looking at "Halfords" website, oh dear!

I remember being 17 myself, just barely, and it's not going to be easy when he's out in his new "wheels". Having petrolhead mother (golf R32), and father (RS6) doesn't help convince him speed is bad.
On the plus side he is sensible, and has been driving 2 years already courtesy of the excellent "Essex young drivers scheme".
He's still not having a go in the 6 though!

Dave

[slimmyreed]

Glad it's sorted, sorry I didn't see this thread sooner as I had exactly the same symptoms when I blew an intercooler hose. I could have put your mind at ease