I had virtually no sleep last night because I'm so worried this is going to cost me a fortune. I'm assuming this is because timing is out? Thanks again for your reply. I ran VCDS scan and it throws up 17583/P1175/004469 - Pre-Injection Turned Off This has only happened once but I didn't want to run it again. If I try to run the car at idle to warm up, it stalls. To do the above, does the front end have to come off again? I have elsawin but wasn't able to find pump timing instructions. Thank you SO much for your reply! Re the ATF fluid he said he tied the pipe up high and only a trickle of fluid was lost - no more than 50ml. If one of these is loose (letting out air) or has blown off, you will get this effect. Have you checked the big circlips are on tight on the charged air hoses for the turbo.

You say 'the car is running really clattery, down on power'. Low ATF level in the gearbox will result in sticking gear changes - but I don't believe loss in power. If he disconnected ATF pipes and lost fluid from the ATF gearbox (do you have an automatic?), the gearbox ATF level MUST be checked and re-filled if neccessary. You need to check with your mate if he did it this way.

I have a 2002 AKE automatic engine and you can take the front off this car and swing like a gate WITH THE ATF PIPES STILL CONNECTED. Regarding ATF pipes, you were looking at one of my posts. When the injection pump timing belt was installed by your mate the 3 bolts should have been aligned centrally in the elongated holes of the sprocket - this is what gives the ability to adjust the timing only a little BUT SHOULD BE sufficient to get timing in spec. Retighten the 3 bolts on the cam sprocket (to 25nm I think). With a 24mm (I THINK) spanner on the central bolt (BUT DO NOT LOOSEN) of the Fuel Injection Pump pulley, rotate the pulley a little - clockwise to advance, anti-clockwise to retard. Loosen the 3 bolts on the LH cam sprocket, do not adjust the belt tension (unless the pointers are mis-aligned). If out of spec, again refer to the procedure in ELSAWIN to manually adjust timing. Spec is 2% +- 2degrees RETARDED (or LATE as VCDS reports). As stated in the ELSAWIN manual, first, check the engine temp is >83degrees, then second check the timing reading in VCDS when at 100%. You can only CHECK the Fuel Injection Pump Timing with VCDS.

Vcds tdi timing directions