Mr2 turbo issues - what now??

[paolow]

Can anyone help on this? Tubby was being fine but went to drive it and theres no boost whatsoever. Its dead slow and the whistle it used to have has been replaced with an induction roar. It still whistles a little when i drive it but nothing like it used to. Is my turbo dead? Tech one seem to think so, but they havent seen the car yet and I could do with a second opinion. Theres a fair bit of oil over the inlet pipes and its been getting more and more smokey.
If it is the turbo - and god help me if it is - whats a good replacement? if im going to swap it out i may as well take the opportunity for an upgrade, no? could it be a jammed wastegate?
there is an external wastegate on ebay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HKS-40mm-Extern
should i by this? or am i just wasting money?
would it be easier to unbolt the manifold from the block and just bin the whole lot and start again with a tubular one with a new turbo and decat? if its easier, with T1 charging about £250 a day, it could well work out the same cost but with new shiny bits for my engine bay. or am i confusing myself?

[combemarshal]

I don't know your engine, but
It could be just a pipe has popped of, sounds the same as when it happened to mine, also could be a split intercooler, What I'd do is disconnect a pipe and see if it make any difference, if it doesn't chances are it's a pipe/intercooler problem!

[combemarshal]

Oh, and also, as you mentioned, on my car there is a little link between the turbo and the wastegate and the clip had gone missing that held it on, thus the wastegate was always open, Citroen poped it back on for free!!

[paolow]

thanks for the reply - i dont hear the sexy as hell turbo whistle any more - i think the turbo either isnt spinning or the wastegate is wide open. its got to be one of those - i do hear a slight whooshing but that could easily be air rushing through the cooler matrix or turbo assembly. interestingly i do hear what sounds an awful lot like a BOV sound when i rev it - almost like the turbos working - or the exhaust impellers spinning but nothing else!

[paolow]

oh - theres no sign of a loose pipe etc. tried that one - im not that lucky it would seem!

[paolow]

im cross cos its only done 60,000 kilometres and the oil is a lovely golden yellow where i change it so often. its always simmered and often this is for 3 minutes on a turbo timer. now the weathers been crap its been warmed for 10 mins before driving too!

[MrFlibbles]

Split boost pipe?

(btw I replaced the trubo on my MRT, it wasnt that painful on the wallet)

[paolow]

had a good look - trouble is that it wont boost properly unless the engine is under load - hence it wont spool up at the kerb. nonetheless theres only so many unions - amd theyre all tight!

[eliot]

can you remove the main inlet to the turbo and try moving the compressor round by hand to see if its siezed.

[paolow]

its a very valid point - however im feeling the effects of a flu bug - i know - isnt life great? hey paolow - god speaking - im gonna ing stitch you up with a double whammy!
sorry - i did consider this - i popped the hood and stood there for a full five minutes but i thouht i just couldnt do it - when im feeling less sick ill pop the pipe off and see if the wheel stilll spins!

Edited by paolow on Wednesday 8th November 21:11

[stevieturbo]

If its a later MR2 Turbo, with the ceramic turbine wheel, they arent exactly renowned for their turbo reliability.

Very good chance the turbo is dead, and god what a hateful job to try and remove one !!!!!!

[paolow]

my local (and to be fair quite trusted) mechanic is going to charge me 2 days labour to swap it out. not good.

[combemarshal]

Maybe it's worth putting it on a rolling road first??

[stevieturbo]

paolow said:

my local (and to be fair quite trusted) mechanic is going to charge me 2 days labour to swap it out. not good.

And it WILL take 2 days....and possibly more.

Nothing is easy about how Toyota designed those cars ( and GT4's )

I hate them with a passion.

[paolow]

so i hear - im just going to bite the bullet - to be fair it probly IS the turbo and thanks to the evil spectre of international terrorism i have got some overtime this month - so its not as bad as it mite have been. in fact im actually looking quite forward to a screamer pipe