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Old 12-15-2008, 03:17 PM   #1
justincredible
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Default how to tell if turbo is going bad?

As of yesterday my turbo (stock) is making a wierd noise.
I think it's the turbo, because the sound only happens when I am in boost (usually takes 4-5psi before the sound starts).
It's hard to explain, but it sounds like normal engine sounds just become louder and more high pitched. (like I'm going into warp speed)
Everything still seems to run normal, and I still see full boost according to my gauge.
So I guess my question is how do I know if my turbo is going bad? could it be anything else?
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Old 12-15-2008, 03:18 PM   #2
jcbluescooby
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did you install a downpipe yesterday??
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Old 12-15-2008, 03:20 PM   #3
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nope, I did nothing but drive to and from my parents house for dinner.
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Old 12-15-2008, 03:22 PM   #4
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if its still running the same it did before then you should be fine..if your turbo went you would know it..as for the sounds..maybe a leak but you said the car still hits boost at the same rpm so who knows
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Old 12-15-2008, 04:04 PM   #5
justincredible
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So if not the turbo, what else could it be?
Maybe me bpv is busted and is opening at 4psi? but boost seems good and car still pulls like normal.
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Old 12-15-2008, 09:07 PM   #6
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If its loud and screaming then its somewhere in the exhaust half.
Do you build boost the same way?
What mods do you have? An gasket may have let go...
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Old 12-16-2008, 11:49 AM   #7
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Up pipe, down pipe, exhaust, stage 2. (Been running this for years.)
Boost seems to build and hold like normal.
there is no abnormal noise at any rpm as long as I stay out of boost, but once boost hits so does the noise.
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Old 12-16-2008, 12:00 PM   #8
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Default hmm...

I would check all around the downpipe where it meets the turbo. The exhaust leak there, if its a small one on the wastegate side, will not be very noticeable in your gauges, but it is definitely audible. If you take off the heat shield, start your car, and have a friend rev the engine a little bit, you should be able to hear the exhaust coming out of there. OR....you can take some soapy water or kids bubbles stuff and brush it real thick over the part where the turbo and downpipe meet...if it blows bubbles it has a leak. Mine sounded kinda like that when I was leaking out of the wastegate side of the turbo to downpipe gasket. Just a guess and easy thing to check...
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Old 12-16-2008, 01:11 PM   #9
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I will check the turbo to down pipe gasket tonight.
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Old 12-17-2008, 09:18 AM   #10
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There was a small leak in the turbo > downpipe. I ordered a new Grimmspeed gasket, let's hope it's that easy.

Thanks for your help.
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Old 12-18-2008, 04:28 PM   #11
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Default well...

awesome if it is that easy...and...if not, a decent used TD04 is really cheap on here, and not too bad to install. I would say that for a used TD04 in good shape plus the gaskets wouldn't be more than $125 shipped so...not too bad either way.
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Old 12-29-2008, 09:59 AM   #12
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I installed the turbo - downpipe gasket, but the sound still persists, so I decided to run a little sea foam through and look for smoke.
It appears I have a leak down low on the passenger side. I'm thinking either header - downpipe, or block - header, so I am just going to replace all the exhaust gaskets.
I just find it realy strange that boost seems normal.

Thanks for your help.
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Old 12-29-2008, 10:05 AM   #13
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Very helpful post as i`m having the very same problem....
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Old 12-29-2008, 10:36 AM   #14
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Probably the header/uppipe gasket, that thing is a PITA. A leak there would have to be HUGE to cause boost problems. I had a massive leak there once (3-bolt header/uppipe, one of the bolts fell out), it was silent when I was in vacuum, sounded like I had an EWG when I was in boost, yet it still hit and held boost like normal.

Last edited by the suicidal eggroll; 12-29-2008 at 10:51 AM.
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Old 12-29-2008, 10:43 AM   #15
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This is what my car sounded like when it had an up-pipe leak where it meets the turbo:
http://homepage.mac.com/sgallagan/ot/scream.mov
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Old 12-29-2008, 10:55 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the suicidal eggroll View Post
Probably the header/uppipe gasket, that thing is a PITA. A leak there would have to be HUGE to cause boost problems. I had a massive leak there once (3-bolt header/uppipe, one of the bolts fell out), it was silent when I was in vacuum, sounded like I had an EWG when I was in boost, yet it still hit and held boost like normal.
That sounds exactly like what I have.
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Old 12-29-2008, 03:27 PM   #17
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Bingo.......same problem here(as stated b4)...efing car sounds like it have a s/c intead of a turbo
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Old 12-29-2008, 04:56 PM   #18
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Considering that it has been WTFCOLD there lately I would guess its one of your pre-turbo exhaust gaskets, OR the headers themselves cracking. Since you are not running aftermarket headers the latter seems less probable so I would guess gaskets
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Old 01-05-2009, 08:22 AM   #19
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It's not the uppipe gaskets. Changed those out yesterday.
Moving on to the exhaust manifold/crosspipe gaskets next week.
One of these SOB's is going to fix the problem.

Last edited by justincredible; 01-09-2009 at 02:08 PM.
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Old 01-05-2009, 08:40 PM   #20
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Does smoking count as possibly going bad? Like literally smoke coming from the hot side casting? Egt's are wonderful... Don't think the td04 is doing so hot, or maybe its too hot...


Jerod

Seriously though this just happened on my way to pick up the wife, never once came out of vacuum
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Old 01-09-2009, 11:59 PM   #21
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blargh, I got an exhaust leak on the manifold-UP gasket too (blew through the remflex gasket, apparently it's a relatively common problem).

I got the Grimmspeed double thickness gasket to go in there. Anyone got any tips on how to replace the gasket? Do I have to take out the o2 sensor that's in the manifold?
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Old 01-10-2009, 10:33 AM   #22
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Yes the O2 sensor needs to come out. You can get the tool at Autozone. Unless you have small hands and can get the two bolts out with the sensor there. I could not. Good luck.
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Old 01-10-2009, 03:24 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ernest View Post
Yes the O2 sensor needs to come out. You can get the tool at Autozone. Unless you have small hands and can get the two bolts out with the sensor there. I could not. Good luck.
Which bolts did you have to loosen? the UP-manifold, mani-crossover, head-manifold? I hope I don't have to loosen all of those things; I may end up just getting more exhaust leaks
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Old 01-12-2009, 04:10 PM   #24
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Still no fix.
I'm going to stab someone in the eye with a fork.


also, when I did the lower up-pipe gasket I just removed the heat shield, used a flex head ratchet with deep socket (can't remember if I used an extension or not) to remove the 2 bolts, slipped the old gasket out, slipped the new one in, bolted back up, replace heat shield.
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Old 01-13-2009, 09:43 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turd_ferguson View Post
This is what my car sounded like when it had an up-pipe leak where it meets the turbo:
http://homepage.mac.com/sgallagan/ot/scream.mov
My brother has the same problem. It sounds just like that. People who have this noise,, are you doing anything about it or just leaving it alone?
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