My friend is thinking of buying a audi A2.1.4 tdi, 52 plate. 108k. The bloke wants 2200 for it. However it has a slight problem. When accelerating up through the gears you are able to use full power, upon hitting sixty no more seems to be available. You can maintain 60 but go no higher. If you slow down to any other speed you cannot increase speed again at all merely maintain said speed. The only way to get power again is by turning ignition off and on again.

Has anyone seen this problem before and what causes it? Cheers fellas

Not familiar with A2, but I've have an A4 that did this, and an A3 that now does it occasionally.

The engine is going into a limp home mode. I believe it is due to the ECU sensing either too much boost, or boost that is inconsistent with other readings, i.e. MAF.

Various causes have been described. Boost leaks being one of the more common, but sensors can also be a problem (AIT, pressure and MAF).

If you read the error codes then it might help, or at least give you something to search on.

I wouldn't buy it unless you know what is wrong, because these things can be a pain to trace.

Matt

I'd go with MAF sensor or boost leak.
I test drow a skoda octavia tdi was meant to be a 110 bhp it could bearly get to 70! The dealer told me that they just arnt that quick, yeh right, I bought a a4 tdi instead it was loads better until the MAF went, it seemed to reset by unpluggin it keying the ignition a couple of times them plugging it back in.

Fault code as said may help confirm.

I've got one of these. Not had this issue exactly, but the intercoolers are prone to splitting, maf are prone to failure.
Engine injextor loom is prone to failure causing misfires.

The 90 bhp tdi engine is prone to seizing vvt turbo but 70 bhp one not.

Best bet is to plug in a vagcom cable and see what errors are logged.