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Lost boost. 500 mile trip Friday need fixed. Help!

Following a lorry this evening and went to pass it on a big of DC.

 

Put foot down and nothing, (well it sort of accelerated, but you get the picture.).

 

Boost guage only goes up to '0' so I'm assuming that's just WOT and normal pressure.

 

It was fine right up until I went for the overtake. No rattles, smoke or bangs.

 

I need it fixed before Friday.

 

Any ideas?

Featured Replies

check all vacuum hoses, sounds like one might of popped off.

 

Agree, loose intercooler pipes are a common cause of sudden boost loss too.

 

Jeff TT

  • Author

OK guys, thanks for the input.

 

I'd hoped that'd be the problem, but having searched the forum, (ok, I know I should've done that in the first place!! :rolleyes: ), I found a thread by someone who'd experienced the same symptoms and it was a siezed turbocharger.

 

I'm having it looked at the morrow, but if it is a siezed turbo, am I going to do it any damage driving 500 miles home on Friday?

 

I might just drop it of at yours Jeff, I'll almost be passing your door!! ;)

 

Just a thought then, if I do need new 'tubs', would it be in my best interest to look at upgrading? What would be the costs involved?

 

Thanks again guys!! :thumbsup:

OK guys, thanks for the input.

 

I'd hoped that'd be the problem, but having searched the forum, (ok, I know I should've done that in the first place!! :rolleyes: ), I found a thread by someone who'd experienced the same symptoms and it was a siezed turbocharger.

 

I'm having it looked at the morrow, but if it is a siezed turbo, am I going to do it any damage driving 500 miles home on Friday?

 

I might just drop it of at yours Jeff, I'll almost be passing your door!! ;)

 

Just a thought then, if I do need new 'tubs', would it be in my best interest to look at upgrading? What would be the costs involved?

 

Thanks again guys!! :thumbsup:

 

 

i personally wouldent want to drive it with a seized turbo?? you'd probably end up with engine failure after 500 miles! however i would of though its more likley to be a hose issue,

OK guys, thanks for the input.

 

I'd hoped that'd be the problem, but having searched the forum, (ok, I know I should've done that in the first place!! :rolleyes: ), I found a thread by someone who'd experienced the same symptoms and it was a siezed turbocharger.

 

I'm having it looked at the morrow, but if it is a siezed turbo, am I going to do it any damage driving 500 miles home on Friday?

 

I might just drop it of at yours Jeff, I'll almost be passing your door!! ;)

 

Just a thought then, if I do need new 'tubs', would it be in my best interest to look at upgrading? What would be the costs involved?

 

Thanks again guys!! :thumbsup:

 

Aways check the easy things first. never jump to assumptions. first port of call, vacuum hoses.

 

To check if its a seized turbo can be a little bit difficult. take the exhaust off at the elbow, remove the elbow and you should be able to spin the turbine. if you feel it grating or it just doesn't move. its more than likely seized.

 

But agree with Wales on this one. i wouldn't drive it with a seized turbo. but check your vacuum hoses first, might just be as simple as replacing a bit of tubing, or popping it back on.

  • Author

OK, the car's been away at the mender's............

 

So he reckons that the problem is with the actuator on the nearside turbo. Apparently it's not 'actuating'. The offside one is fine and he's checked all the vacuum hoses and they don't appear to be leaking. Are both actuators plumbed into the same line or are they served from different sources?

 

He also reckons the turbine itself is fine as he removed it a couple of weeks ago to fix a coolant leak and checked the bearings at the time.

 

So, is the actuator a replaceable part or do I need a new tub'?

 

Given that the turbine is most likely turning freely, would it be alright to drive the car home like that?

If you drive it home make sure you don't boost. the actuators can be changed independently of the turbos but its a fiddly job. and they are fed separately iirc.

  • Author

Thanks chap!

 

Gonna try and drop in on Jeff and Jamie on my way up the road on Friday.

 

I'm happier for them to take a look at it.

 

Jamie reckons the actuators don't tend to fail. :rubschin:

  • Author

But surely a faulty actuator wouldn't cause loss of boost?!?!?!?!?

 

If anything, I would have imagined it would cause over boosting. Unless I guess if it was jammed open.

 

Opinions?

Just because the turbos were free a couple of weeks ago doesnt mean they are now. Not trying to bring you down or anything but I would have got it fully checked again. I'm sure jeff and jamie will be able to locate the source of the problem!

when the diaphragm fails in the actuator it holds the waist gate open so you don't get boost. had the same happen to a turbo diesel i had. and just because they don't tend to fail, doesn't mean it wont.

  • Author

Made it home.

 

Started it this afternoon and turbo's made an appearance!

 

(Wish it'd done it last night when I was messing with that Skyline!! :-/ )

Made it home.

 

Started it this afternoon and turbo's made an appearance!

 

(Wish it'd done it last night when I was messing with that Skyline!! :-/ )

 

Exactly what Jamie mentioned might happen, seen this before.

 

Jeff TT

Had this happen with mine when my turbo seized i left the car a few days then when i took a look everything was fine again. Took car for a drive and it pulled lovely and boosted, then give it some beans and turned boost controller on (was running safety boost) so i had a round 10psi then heard a rattly noise. I let off the power and came back on again and sure enough the tub was dead again!

Really annoying cos even tho you know its dead for a split second it builds ya hopes up!

 

Good luck with the new turbos anyway

  • Author
Exactly what Jamie mentioned might happen, seen this before.

 

Jeff TT

 

So what'dya reckon Jeff?

 

Am I as well leaving it be?

 

I guess I'll need new ones at some point, but if I leave them then maybe I could save up and get better ones when they finally throw inthe towel eh?

 

That said, I haven't tried it today, it might have decided to stop working again! :-/

So what'dya reckon Jeff?

 

Am I as well leaving it be?

 

I guess I'll need new ones at some point, but if I leave them then maybe I could save up and get better ones when they finally throw inthe towel eh?

 

That said, I haven't tried it today, it might have decided to stop working again! :-/

 

Well as Jamie mentioned we have seen this before, one case in particular was booked in for new turbo`s and on the way to the workshop they freed off, and that over a year ago.

 

The main reason turbo`s seize is lubrication problem to the bearing, another one bit less know is debris caused by induction kits with too large filtration, maybe ( defo maybe) your in this position and the debris cleared and released the impeller, I would be inclined to leave it, but monitor it, check out what air filter you have too.

 

 

Jeff

  • Author

Thanks for the thoughts and opinions guys.

 

I think, certainly as I'll be using the car less from now on, I'm inclined to play it by ear and see how it goes.

 

I haven't tried the car properly today, but will hopefully get the chance tomorrow and see what it's like.

 

Jeff, I'm not aware of there being anything other than a bog standard air filter there unless you know different from Friday.

 

Tell you what though, I swear it went better than it had before. It actually scared the cr4p out of me when it came back 'on line' and continued to do so until I returned home from the short trip.

 

I think I'll keep an eye on it and look at upgrading in a wee while as I think the rest of the engine's fairly sound.

 

Thanks again.

  • Author

Well it passed it's MOT today needing nothing and the only advisory being on the number plate being the wrong shape/size. :taz:

 

The turbo's still spinning so I'll not worry about it for a wee bit.

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