Hello everyone, I was wondering if anybody could shed some light on my turbo problems and preferable give me good news rather than "it's knackered" or "start saving" but I fear that maybe the outcome.

 

Ok the problem.

The drivers side turbo had been making a sort sueeling sound under hard acceleration sporadically and the boost was limited to the 0 mark on the boost gauge.

 

This was fine as it only happened once in a while but 2 weeks ago the car completely refused to go past 0 and would just keep revving but with no extra boost. Up until this point the boost is as usual strong and feels like normal, but as soon as it hit's zero then power delivery is stunted.

 

I checked the ECU diagnostic and it came up with error code 13 so I cleaned the points on the ECU temperature sensor which got rid of that and the ECU now says that there are no faults (code 55). I had hoped that the temp sensor had gone as that is cheap and that the car was in safety boost but it seems that now the code is gone it cold be something worse.

 

Also my friend informs me that the actuator on the wastegate is not opening on this turbo and that there is quite a bit of oil leaking around this area.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions of what it could be? i understand that it may be something that only getting underneath the car will diagnose. Apologies I cannot be too exact as my mechanical knowledge is pretty crap.

 

Appreciate any suggestions or past experiences

 

Jon

sounds like new turbos are in order matey, ya could be in safety boost

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anybody could shed some light on my turbo problems and preferable give me good news rather than "it's knackered" or "start saving" but I fear that maybe the outcome.

 

Ok the problem.

The drivers side turbo had been making a sort sueeling sound under hard acceleration sporadically and the boost was limited to the 0 mark on the boost gauge.

 

This was fine as it only happened once in a while but 2 weeks ago the car completely refused to go past 0 and would just keep revving but with no extra boost. Up until this point the boost is as usual strong and feels like normal, but as soon as it hit's zero then power delivery is stunted.

 

I checked the ECU diagnostic and it came up with error code 13 so I cleaned the points on the ECU temperature sensor which got rid of that and the ECU now says that there are no faults (code 55). I had hoped that the temp sensor had gone as that is cheap and that the car was in safety boost but it seems that now the code is gone it cold be something worse.

 

Also my friend informs me that the actuator on the wastegate is not opening on this turbo and that there is quite a bit of oil leaking around this area.

 

Does anybody have any suggestions of what it could be? i understand that it may be something that only getting underneath the car will diagnose. Apologies I cannot be too exact as my mechanical knowledge is pretty crap.

 

Appreciate any suggestions or past experiences

 

Jon

 

Sorry to hear bud, if you can get a diagnosis then I will help you out with any work needed if I can. Have some tubs coming off mine at the end of summer.

Appreciate the offer of help Anthony, I may need it because my mate who used to work at hyeline said I'd be looking at the best part of £2500 to repair both turbo's.

 

As for previous post, I hope it is safety boost, but that should cap boost at -7 (although I know std boost gauges are pretty inaccurate, and car has been chipped with boost upped from standard).

 

I'm getting it looked at on Saturday so hopefully will have a clearer idea.

 

How's the car running Anthony? Looking forward to seeing it at the end of the month.

Sounds like a siezed turbo to me. "...the car completely refused to go past 0 and would just keep revving but with no extra boost" and "...the actuator on the wastegate is not opening on this turbo and that there is quite a bit of oil leaking around this area."

 

Classic symptoms.

£2500 is rather steep to say the least.It can be done much cheaper than that without cutting corners ;).

I agree with Jimmer £2500 is over priced.

 

I would also agree with Dunk, it sounds like your turbine wheel has either come loose a little and the squeeling it it trying to spin but being obstructed by the castings.

 

Are you getting smoke as well, as the standard turbo seals are oil based and they would usually leak inside the turbo turning into blue / grey smoke out of that side of the exhaust.

 

The temp sensor error code 13 would not put you into safty boost, it would however have other sympoms like limited and juddering acceleration and also stalling when stopping quick and changing down gears once warm.

 

I know you don't want ot hear this but not being able to boost past 0 is a sure sign that at least one of the turbo's have given up. I had the same on mine 3 years ago, smoke from the zorst then rattleing/squeeling as I'm trying to go into boost. Then eventually no boost at all not even safety boost. I took the engine out and checked the turbo's the one that was smoking had eaten away the edges of the blades against the casting.

 

Sorry to hear about this but I think the best thing you can do at the moment is shop around on here and ask people for quotes and more importantly timelines (these are usually a priority and slip more than the overal cost).

Big thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. £2500 was a complete estimate but it's always best to prepare yourself for the worst.

 

As for the suggestions from SMW1, I do have those other niggling problems so the temp sensor has probably gone aswell (at least it's £20 or so).

 

However I get no loud noises or smoke from the exhaust under acceleration, just a little on start up but thats always been there and goes pretty quickly. I have been noticing a sort of rattling or diesel esque chain driven sort of noise (vague I know) which is worse when cold and comes in when revs are applied but dissapears after about 4-5000 rpm. I assumed it was the lifters after much investigation but unfortunately the cheap solution of wynns lifter treatment did not cure it so I suppose that could be turbo related.

 

The only thing with that being that again the noise isn't very loud around the time the boost holts at '0'

 

I'll get it looked at this weekend and I'll take it from there. Might have to go back to my reserve car, a austin Mini 889 CC auto in yellow running approx 40 BHP through it's 13" rims which are probably 135 in width. What credit crunch?

However I get no loud noises or smoke from the exhaust under acceleration, just a little on start up but thats always been there and goes pretty quickly. I have been noticing a sort of rattling or diesel esque chain driven sort of noise (vague I know) which is worse when cold and comes in when revs are applied but dissapears after about 4-5000 rpm. I assumed it was the lifters after much investigation but unfortunately the cheap solution of wynns lifter treatment did not cure it so I suppose that could be turbo related.

 

The only thing with that being that again the noise isn't very loud around the time the boost holts at '0'

 

When turbo's go 9 / 10 times you will get smoke on acceleration. It's a little strange that you don't have any. But then not being able to boost past 0 is 9 / 10 times pointing at your tubo failure. The other 1 / 10 time is pointing to one hell of a boost leak :D.

 

I think the smoke you are getting is probally either condensation or pcv valves are a little clogged.

 

The noise you are hearing could be a number of things, but as I say that fact that you can not hit boost will usually point at your turbo's. Although it may be a pinking sound where the timing is out. It's really hard to tell without seeing the car.

 

It may be worth checking to see if you are near to anyone to get a second opinion before lifting the lump out and buying new tubs.

I'll certainly get a second opinion too much money to really make rash decisions on and I spent £800 on welding getting it through the MOT in March so not exactly flush.

 

I'll let you know when I get some mechanical opinions.

Bit of a negative turn. Car is booked in for a dignostic at Hyeline next week but when I got home today I noticed that there is now a large patch of oil on the ground which seems to have come from my car. Not going to drive it now but I'm guessing thats not a good thing. Oil seal?

Bit of a negative turn. Car is booked in for a dignostic at Hyeline next week but when I got home today I noticed that there is now a large patch of oil on the ground which seems to have come from my car. Not going to drive it now but I'm guessing thats not a good thing. Oil seal?

 

Oil seals for the tubs tend to leak inward hence the smoke from the exhaust, if the squeeling is coming from the turbo then it sounds like friction and it needs to be replaced. I wouldn't book it in for a diagnostic just to be told something you already suspect, take it to a reputable garage and ask what they think it is and get a quote as it doesn't cost for an opinion.