# 2001 VW Jetta Jerky Acceleration...turbo issue?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 28, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467 "2011-08-28T05:29:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dlan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@dlan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dlan)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/1 "2011-08-28T05:29:06Z")

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Hi All,

Been having an issue with my 01 Wolfsburg VW Jetta 1.8T.

Whenever I’m accelerating (most noticeable in lower gears), it seems like the turbo can’t keep up. Used to sound like a nice clean consistent whooooosh spooling up, but now its more like brrrr…brrrrr…brrrrr…

Don’t know how else to describe it. Seems to start and stop frequently. Will try getting a video clip of this tomorrow.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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**Author:** ![benabeyta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@benabeyta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/benabeyta)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/2 "2011-08-28T12:14:52Z")

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It does sound like you’re getting a worn out turbo… A worn out turbo can sause the issue very quickly. I’ve found that when the old Subaru WRX’s lost thier turbo they would become “Lazy” in the lower gears.

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/3 "2011-08-28T12:49:33Z")

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**_See If Somebody At A Volkswagen Dealer Or Repair Shop Will Make You A Copy Of A Volkswagen TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) That Discusses The Wastegate Vacuum Actuator For Your Make, Model, Model-Year (Except With 1.9L Engine)._**

It may or may not help you.

CSA

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**Author:** ![benabeyta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@benabeyta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/benabeyta)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/4 "2011-08-28T13:29:15Z")

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deffinately not the waste gate… Sorry… That is not going to cause the problem.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/5 "2011-08-28T20:51:54Z")

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Maybe turbo but there a few parts related that can leak or need repair. They are all far less expensive.

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-vw-jetta-jerky-acceleration-turbo-issue/67467/6 "2011-08-28T23:10:34Z")

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**_“deffinately [definitely] not the waste gate… Sorry… That is not going to cause the problem.”_**

. . . Sorry . . . , but tell Volkswagen (car’s manufacturer) that, not me. They’re the ones that say that because of the actuator’s location they sometimes have become problematic. An improved actuator was made available to help with poor acceleration complaints on 1.9L turbos.

CSA