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12-05-2012, 11:06 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 319238
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mountain View, CA
Vehicle:04 WRX |
Screaming like banshee in boost/high RPM.
So I'm pretty certain my turbo is on its way out and I already found one on this forum (with next to no miles on it so even if its not my turbo, it was worth changing). I just want to get some opinions because I personally have never heard a turbo go bad, but I've heard it described. The noise is coming from the turbo area and only seems to happen past 3500 rpm and only if I'm building a pretty decent amount of boost. The best way I can describe it is a high pitched very loud kind of scraping (maybe?) noise that has a slight flutter to it. Its lower pitched than a slipping drive belt, but still pretty high pitched. I poked around under the hood and found nothing that could possibly make that type of noise other than stuff that I can't see i.e. the insides of a turbo.
I've been driving it because if I stay at low boost/lower than 3500, there is no noise at all (feel free to tell me why this is a horrible idea and I might listen to you). Is there anything that makes a similar noise that you guys have experienced? I'm open to ideas here. Also, anything I should fix or change while I have the turbo out? Reliability stuff only, I have another car to mod, this is my DD. Already have a catless up pipe. |
12-05-2012, 11:19 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 246813
Join Date: May 2010
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
|
Have somebody step on the gas while you have the hood open and are looking at the engine. What your describing does indeed sound like its on its way out. Best would be to have someone rev it while you can closely diagnose it : ).
& I don't see anything else needing to be changed imo if its just a innie-and-outie turbo swap |
12-05-2012, 11:33 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 319238
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mountain View, CA
Vehicle:04 WRX |
We actually tried that but the sound only happens right as you get to redline and at that point the engine is so loud that it just overpowers whatever the noise is. My only chance of hearing it is inside the cabin, and from what I can tell its coming from the general direction of the turbo.
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12-06-2012, 07:37 AM | #4 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 70395
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Da-boonies,Va
|
Boost leak. A turbo on it's way out will do it the moment it starts getting into boost or sooner and they also don't die slowly.
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12-06-2012, 10:03 AM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 319238
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mountain View, CA
Vehicle:04 WRX |
That was my second thought (the fluttering led me to believe boost leak at first) but I pulled the intercooler and didn't really see where it would be leaking from. Didn't see any damaged hoses or anything. Also I feel like a boost leak that is big enough to make that noise would have a noticeable effect on power. The car still pulls. I will check again anyway.
Any pattern failures/common issues with boost leaks that would decide where I should look first? Do the intercoolers themselves ever break and start leaking boost ? I'm going to see if I can build some pressure or use a smoke machine to find any issues. |
12-06-2012, 01:49 PM | #6 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 70395
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Da-boonies,Va
|
Pulling the intercooler doesn't do much. Do a boost leak test. And finish filling out your profile. Asking technical questions without listing mods or what vehicle you have just prolongs diagnosis.
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12-06-2012, 03:25 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 328097
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Culver City, Los Angeles
Vehicle:2006 STI WRB |
I have had 2 turbos blow out on me in the past, not on the Subie, but on the old DSM. It is definitely not a slow thing, it will just happen at random. More likely than not, you will see tons of white smoke and the car will stutter and barely move. That's when you immediately pull over.
I've also had boost leaks cause EXACTLY what you are describing. You should buy a boost leak tester online or make one from home depot. The problem with the testers is that they only test after the intake and MAF. So, you should run 2 tests, the main test to see if you hear any leaks on your whole system (use a 15psi setting on a compressor) and then try to find any leaks around the intake and MAF. The intercooler could be damaged but it is VERY unlikely. Having bent fins and stuff doesn't cause a leak in most cases so it should be fine. I actually had the rubber coupler on the end of my IC break and cause a leak, I just never noticed because it was on the underside of the rubber where I couldn't see until I took it off. |
12-06-2012, 03:27 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 319238
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mountain View, CA
Vehicle:04 WRX |
This is a stock 04 WRX.
^Thank you, thats the kind of info I was looking for. I figured someone has had a boost leak that sounds like this. Any recommendations for boost leak testers? I'm gonna buy some cheap one online. |
12-06-2012, 03:30 PM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43853
Join Date: Sep 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Methuen, MA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Sedan Stg 2 Platinum Silver |
Screaming like a banshee usually means cracked uppipe. Run some seafoam through the vaccum lines to help find the leak.
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12-06-2012, 03:35 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 319238
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mountain View, CA
Vehicle:04 WRX |
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12-06-2012, 04:06 PM | #11 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 43853
Join Date: Sep 2003
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Methuen, MA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Sedan Stg 2 Platinum Silver |
Quote:
When mine went at first I thought holy crap my turbo is junk cause it sounded like metal scrapping. |
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12-07-2012, 01:52 AM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 328097
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Culver City, Los Angeles
Vehicle:2006 STI WRB |
Yeah the turbo will sound like clunking/scraping metal and blow instantly.
Test for leaks, it should look like a hockey puck with a gauge and a valve on it...and come with a clamp to hold it on. Here is where I got mine...but it was for the DSM. It only matters because of the inlet size. http://www.boostpro.net/prodtester.html |
12-16-2012, 01:19 AM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 297802
Join Date: Oct 2011
Chapter/Region:
W. Canada
Location: Casa Rio, Saskatchewan
Vehicle:2005 WRX OBP |
Check your turbo inlet, I had your exact issue. Once I got to a decent boost level ~8ish psi and up it would start screaming really loudly. Thought it was possibly the turbo at first. I did a smoke test and it ended up being the clamp had worn through the turbo inlet on the compressor housing.
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