I have a 1996 A4 1.8T Sport with less than 50K on the clock. I seem to have lost nearly all the power in the car and get a strange noise from the engine bay on accelerating. Do I have a turbo problem? I thought maybe not with the amount of mileage on the car. Anyone got any clues??? Apologies if this has been done before - this is my first post!
Loss of power - blown turbo?
- Thread starter polycage
- Start date
It's a whinning noise. Don't think I can hear it when the car is revved whilst stationary - just when it's moving.
dosen't sound good, but it's hard to make a diagnosis without seeing the car.
I'm a bit concerned though. If it is the turbo bearings that have gone and are letting the comp wheel hit the housing, not only will the end result take out the turbo, but also the engine too.
I'm a bit concerned though. If it is the turbo bearings that have gone and are letting the comp wheel hit the housing, not only will the end result take out the turbo, but also the engine too.
Wow - scary thought. It's been like this for a few weeks but just haven't had the time to take it to the garage. It's booked in for tomorrow so I guess I'll find out then.
Cheers!
Cheers!
madkebab
Registered User
When I bought my 1.8TS it was totally gutless. I could drive it ok as long as I didn't got over about 2500rpm. Diagnosed the problem as a split intercooler to turbo hose so the car had no boost pressure. Fixed the problem for £35. Any good Audi Specialist should be able to source the problem using VAG-COM or similar. Good luck
Yeah the whining noise could indicate an air leak, turbo's tend to smoke if they blow...unless you crack them like I do! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Would be inclined to replace the DV to start with as it's cheap and can make a massive difference to performance if it's stuck open.
Would be inclined to replace the DV to start with as it's cheap and can make a massive difference to performance if it's stuck open.
a dv is a diverter valve. diverter valves work like blow off valves except that instead of releasing the excess air from the turbo presure back into the atmosphere, a diverter valve recirculates the air back into the system
I dont know, but wouldnt the car make an awful "Whoosh" noise all the time if the DV was stuck open? I guess the turbo would just be pumping the compressed air straigh back to the other side of the turbo. I can't imagine that being too good for it, but it may well sound funny!
madkebab
Registered User
Car was in at the garage today. Said that there were noises coming from two places - the diff and the turbo. Said that turbo was not working but there was a rattling noise coming from it. He'll have a closer look on Monday.
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polycage said:
Car was in at the garage today.... Said that turbo was not working but there was a rattling noise coming from it....
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OUCH!!!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif
polycage said:
Car was in at the garage today.... Said that turbo was not working but there was a rattling noise coming from it....
[/ QUOTE ]
OUCH!!!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif
the rattling noise could mean detenation.... happens with turboed engines /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Rattling noise.....odds on it's one of the exhaust gaskets on the turbo, these are prone to failing, or worse case the exhaust housing of the turbo is cracked.
The top and bottom gaskets are very cheap and relatively simple to replace so is where I'd start.
The top and bottom gaskets are very cheap and relatively simple to replace so is where I'd start.
A turbo is a simple creature and if anything was seriously wrong internally then you would see large amounts of oil, water or both consumed along with blue smoke most likely.
The noise may sound like it's coming from inside the turbo, which is infact where it originates but then is amplified if there is a leak of a gasket.
I can't guarantee anything without working on the car myself, and the above is based from my experience of working on VAG motors. The gaskets are the cheapest option by far so can't help to at least try. I think the last time I did the job the cost was about 6 quid or there abouts and about an 1 hour of labour, most of that taken doing the bottom gasket, but the top gasket is easy and is the most common to fail.
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The noise may sound like it's coming from inside the turbo, which is infact where it originates but then is amplified if there is a leak of a gasket.
I can't guarantee anything without working on the car myself, and the above is based from my experience of working on VAG motors. The gaskets are the cheapest option by far so can't help to at least try. I think the last time I did the job the cost was about 6 quid or there abouts and about an 1 hour of labour, most of that taken doing the bottom gasket, but the top gasket is easy and is the most common to fail.
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Sounds like it's worth trying the gaskets. Any idea if there are some pictures of their where abouts on the web anywhere?
from somebody who has experienced turbo failure yet again recently, whining noises from turbos is usually a result of either the blades on the turbos becoming distorted due to either foreign objects hitting them or excessive heat or bearing wear/failure causing the turbine to not run 'True'...
do not buy a turbo car which has turbo whine (or siren type noises!) whilst spooling and full boost and is out of warranty - especially Biturbo engined S4's!!!
do not buy a turbo car which has turbo whine (or siren type noises!) whilst spooling and full boost and is out of warranty - especially Biturbo engined S4's!!!
Had a cracked manifold for about 2 months,gradually got worse,resorted to firepaste to try to nurse it for a couple of weeks until i located one.found a manifold,cleared of the fire paste to remove it at the weekend,turbo starts whining like an old bill siren and oil light flashing on,think i might have as you say distorted the turbo by running it with the cracked manifold,got [censored] hot i know that,or some firepaste has gone through it and done the damage.Either way i think im gonna need a new one.is the oil light a symptom of the turbo going or do i need an oil pump aswell,done the usual flush,filter and fresh oil jobby.
cheers guys
cheers guys
yup,its the turbo,got white smoke bellowing out now,siren noise has reduced to a low struggle sound,apparantly the oil light is because of the pressure drop from the faulty turbo,gives a false reading,anyone got any cheap options before i spend £500 at audi...
Yo,just to say,got a 2nd hand turbo off a v reg vw passat that had done 48000 miles for £200,not bad if youn need a cheaper option than the £400-£600 quotes i was being given.INTA parts in northampton if your near.
later
later
