1.3cdti turbo issue

[johnalford2]

a bit long winded but could do with any advice

my 1.3cdti van, started turning the turbo off on long journeys when pressure in the boost was too much, it is supposedly a common issue with them.
not all the time just long journeys on the motorway if i was accelerating above 3000revs for more than 5-10 seconds it would knock itself off

my local garage suggested taking the muffler out the cat as this would solve the pressure issue etc
they took it out and everything worked fine for a while then 6 months later started happening again, i then took it to a different garage about 2 months ago as it was getting annoying.

they replaced the egr valve and some other things aswel, when it came back the turbo was a bit louder whining all the time - sounds like a fricking abulance- and very randomely the turbo was knocking its self off - before, i knew it would happen at certain times, now it happen's very randomely when they wasnt pressure etc - they said i need to replace the muffler again as they is no back pressure but they are £700 which i dont fancy forking out for it to not solve the issue

and to top it off ive not really used it much in the last month, just short trips, the occasional 30 min drive, on saturday i was in it for a hour or so, and the turbo spun up pretty loud then completly stop working

are any related issues i can go back to the garage about as im pretty sure they will just say its from the missing mufler not being there

on a unrelated note, i think? i recently had to replace the thermostat housing unit as they had cable tied the pipes to the block which caused the pipes to crack and leak

any advice welcome

[jimbob82]

strikes me both those garages don't know what the problem is and are just guessing. if there is no back pressure in the exhaust it will perform better, not worse. it could be that the turbo has "carbon'd up" to the point of seizing, I had this on a rover 220TD. or the boost regulator (if it has one) has gone kaput and the ecu is shutting it off by some means???

What make/model is it?

[johnalford2]

yeah its a protection thing with the ecu cutting it off
these ecoboost rubbish have smaller "veins" inside the normal boost pipe that very easily get full of crap which inturn makes it over/under boost the turbo which knocks it off

the issue now is, before i could turn the engine off and when i turned it back on turbo was fine now it has completely stopped

is it related to any of the works the last garage did and is any of the whining related

its a astravan 07

[stevieturbo]

If they seriously said you needed to either remove the cat/muffler or replace it to fix this problem...never go back near them !!!

WTF.

The 1.3's are horrible engines...but anyways. On teh 1.7 models it is fairly common for the boost control solenoid to give problems, which will cause an overboost, which will in turn cause a limp mode...and will of course throw a fault code.

So find a reputable garage who can actually diagnose problems without just plucking ideas from thin air.
Better still, one with some useful diagnostic equipment and knowing how to use it.

Although that latter paragraph seems to be the hardest thing to find these days !

[johnalford2]

thanks i understand why they stop working and the ecoboost are truly bad

what im trying to figure out is the turbo has completly packed up, does it have anything to do with the last garages work as it needs to go back to them for diagnostics but i get the feeling they will tell me its not down to there work so will cost me x amount extra

[stevieturbo]

"turbo stopped working" is a very vague statement, so impossible to comment without a more detailed description.

It could mean anything from the turbo has blown itself to bits, or simply you think it isnt working because it isnt producing the boost you think it should. But could still be fully functional with a minor control problem.

[Peterson]

So discover a reliable garage area who can actually identify issues without just pulling concepts from slim air. Better still, one with some useful analytic devices and understanding how to use it. Although that latter passage seems to be the toughest factor to discover nowadays. . . . . . . . .

[shoehorn]

Boost control on these is mechanical,a thin diameter pipe from the compressor housing directly to the actuator.
Wastegate seizure is common,which sends the boost pressure high and the ecu does the rest.
All our Combo vans have suffered from this at one time or another.
Some were cured by freeing the stuck wastegate,which is at the back up against the block and a pain to get to,others seized solid and needed new turbos.
Yours sounds like the latter,being as its whining.

[johnalford2]

shoehorn said:

Boost control on these is mechanical,a thin diameter pipe from the compressor housing directly to the actuator.
Wastegate seizure is common,which sends the boost pressure high and the ecu does the rest.
All our Combo vans have suffered from this at one time or another.
Some were cured by freeing the stuck wastegate,which is at the back up against the block and a pain to get to,others seized solid and needed new turbos.
Yours sounds like the latter,being as its whining.

thanks , also need to try figure out if the turbo has gone, is it down to faulty work by this garage as it got worse once they replaced the egr valve and then started whining

[bearman68]

Mmm I'd agree with the turbo actuator comments, especially as the EGR valve has been recently changed. In my experience I've seen a few gummed up with exhaust products (not just on these engines). I've also had some success using a forte efuel additive, as this can (not always) clean the actuator, and remove some junk.