Volkswagen Sharan Turbo

Six engine options in the Sharan range: an MPV that puts very different demands on the turbo compared with a saloon

The Volkswagen Sharan is first and foremost a vehicle built for daily hard work: seven seats regularly filled, a loaded boot, and a trailer hitched up for leisure trips. This usage profile places direct strain on the turbo. Unlike a compact saloon that often runs at partial load, the Sharan regularly draws on its full torque range, subjecting the turbocharger to repeated thermal cycles and accelerating bearing wear if the engine oil is not rigorously maintained. Before any replacement, it is essential to identify the root cause of the fault — insufficient lubrication, a blocked intake circuit, foreign body ingestion — otherwise the new part will be condemned just as quickly.

Diesel: three 1.9 TDI families and a 2.0 TDI — not to be confused

The 1.9 TDI unit covers three distinct power outputs on the Sharan. The 1.9 TDI 90 uses engine code ANU; the 1.9 TDI 115 uses codes AUY and BVK; and the 1.9 TDI 130 and 150 uses codes ASZ and BTB. Despite sharing the same engine capacity, these three variants do not take the same turbo: the variable geometry and actuator dimensions differ according to the power output. The engine code stamped on the block — not simply the power figure shown on the registration document — is the only reliable means of identification. The 2.0 TDI 170 and 177 is a family in its own right, covered by codes CBBB, CFFA, CFFB, CFGB, CFGC and CLLA. This variable-geometry unit is prone to carbon build-up on the vanes during short, low-load journeys: a common symptom is a whistling noise accompanied by erratic turbo response before the engine enters limp-home mode.

Petrol: the 1.8 T in two variants — engine codes are not interchangeable

The Sharan was fitted with the 1.8 T under two closely worded commercial names that correspond to different engine codes. The 1.8 T 150 hp is identified by codes AEB, ANB and APU; the 1.8 T 20V 150 hp by code AWC. Both versions share the same quoted power output, but their turbo references are not identical. On this type of turbocharged petrol engine, degraded oil or an overdue oil change are the primary causes of bearing failure: as the petrol Sharan is frequently used on motorways under high load, this point deserves particular attention before fitting a new turbo. All turbos listed for the Sharan are sold new, with their manufacturer references and equivalent references stated on each product page.