Turbo whistle?

mikeyboy

mikeyboy

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Alright peeps. Haven't been on here in a while mainly because I've just been too busy and burning the candle at both ends lol. The car in question is an A3 2.0TDI 140 (BKD). Last week I was driving home with the window down and noticed a bit of a whistle from the turbo at just under 2000revs to about 2400 revs and then it dissapears. I've done a quick search on google where I've read that it could be a small boost leak or the turbo is failing. My mate who studied car mechanics at college (but threw in the towel after a year) reckons that is the normal noise for a turbo diesel to make? I did notice the other night however when one of my neighbours drove past my house in his A6 TDI that it was also making the same sort of whistle (whistling for a few revs then dissapearing). The whistle cant be heard when the window is up, only when the window is down. Can anyone on here shed any light on this?
 
Most turbo's I've heard have had a slight whistle, but I'm no expert. There was an a3 1.9 tdi I went to look at once with a 100k on clock, now that had a really loud whistle, audible with the windows up and even at low revs, hpi check showed actual mileage was closer to 180k!
 
Mine started this on Saturday.. it sounds like a siren when it spools up right through up to 3,000 rpm (havent taken it over that). My friend had a Mk5 golf TDi and his did the same thing, then 2/3 months later of driving it as normal, the turbo went completely.
Hopefully its a boost leak, but im sure the turbos gone.
 
gurdeep_singh said:
Mine started this on Saturday.. it sounds like a siren when it spools up right through up to 3,000 rpm (havent taken it over that). My friend had a Mk5 golf TDi and his did the same thing, then 2/3 months later of driving it as normal, the turbo went completely.
Hopefully its a boost leak, but im sure the turbos gone.
Click to expand...

Soon you'll find yourself generating 'over boost' values and limp mode. Definitely sounds as though your in need of a new turbo.
 
mikeyboy said:
Alright peeps. Haven't been on here in a while mainly because I've just been too busy and burning the candle at both ends lol. The car in question is an A3 2.0TDI 140 (BKD). Last week I was driving home with the window down and noticed a bit of a whistle from the turbo at just under 2000revs to about 2400 revs and then it dissapears. I've done a quick search on google where I've read that it could be a small boost leak or the turbo is failing. My mate who studied car mechanics at college (but threw in the towel after a year) reckons that is the normal noise for a turbo diesel to make? I did notice the other night however when one of my neighbours drove past my house in his A6 TDI that it was also making the same sort of whistle (whistling for a few revs then dissapearing). The whistle cant be heard when the window is up, only when the window is down. Can anyone on here shed any light on this?
Click to expand...

All turbos should whistle, but there's a difference between a healthy whistle and one that will see a hole in your pocket.

You only really need to worry if you have the Siren noise. Sounds like there's an ambulance approaching all the time!
 
I have had a whistle on my turbo since I owned it (about a year now) and it has never caused any issues.

When Audi serviced it, they said it needed replacing (Quote for £1500!) which I expect them to say, took it to my local garage and they said is sounded normal, most diesel turbo's make a whistling/whirring noise but as mjr901 said, you only really need to worry about it when it starts sounding like a siren!

Check youtube for some video's of turbo noise's.
 
Oh and I think I will book my car in to have a boost leak check, just encase I have a crack/leak in one of the hoses.

Anyone got any idea's how much a boost leak check is, roughly?
 
I have a 2.0 TFSI and get a small whistle on acceleration and a little whoosh when I ease off and this is normal.
Never heard of this siren noise from a turbo though :uhm:

Sorry, not helping but hope its not serious and sorted quickly
 
mjr901 said:
All turbos should whistle, but there's a difference between a healthy whistle and one that will see a hole in your pocket.

You only really need to worry if you have the Siren noise. Sounds like there's an ambulance approaching all the time!
Click to expand...

Yeah I know that a siren noise is never a good noise to hear as far as turbos are concerened and there is definitely no siren noise coming from my turbo. I dont even think you could call it a whistle to be honest it sounds more like a slight hissing noise for a few revs and then it dissapears if that makes sense. I've had the car for almost 2 years now but I rarely drive with the window down and if I do I normally have the radio on. It was just last week I was driving with the window down with the radio off and I noticed it lol. But by reading your post and all the other posts in this thread my mind is now at rest. Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Cheers guys my mind is now at rest :icon_thumright:
 
MINE SOUNDS LIKE A SIREN :bye::busted_cop: no loss of power, black smoke or loss of performance.....worried about it now

its a 2005 A3 2.0TDI SLINE QUATTRO
 
russ3376 said:
MINE SOUNDS LIKE A SIREN :bye::busted_cop: no loss of power, black smoke or loss of performance.....worried about it now

its a 2005 A3 2.0TDI SLINE QUATTRO
Click to expand...

Aye, it may operate fine, and still produce the siren noise. There's a BKD Leon at work which sirens like crazy, drives fine though.

It needs a new turbo soon though mate, you can't hide from it! Cars of this year are really typical of it, wish I'd started making my own Turbos for them, could have made a bomb I reckon!
 
So mine went into the garage to get repaired. Turns out that it was a 'worn bearing' that was the cause of this.

Anyway, I've bought a replacement turbo, service parts, oil feed pipe + labour to the tune of circa £700.00 ! The car should be back on road by the end of the week.

Thing is, a turbo service and buying a replacement recon are very similar, so may as well just go for that as the labour cost will be involved either way.

Hope that helps anyone else in a similar dilemma.
 
I have the siren noise for a month now its annoying and when i drive people give me way thinking im the old bill, now ive got clutch to replace too a big bigg hole in my pocket. Most likely the turbo its on the way but to be sure ill strip it off and give it a good clean at friends garage
 
russ3376 said:
Thanks guys...booking it in now....:bye:
Click to expand...

Make sure you change the oil feed pipe and gaskets too! Whilst your at it, it may be worth having the EGR cleaned too..

Best of luck! Just one of those things mate!
 
just found out there's a small indentation on the impeller...so i'm going with a recon...apparently all the hoses are ok....
 
Its in the garage right now and will be ready this evening...went with a recon total costs, inc fitting kit replacement parts, oil and filter change, labour....£580....came out of it lightly i think!
 
russ3376 said:
Its in the garage right now and will be ready this evening...went with a recon total costs, inc fitting kit replacement parts, oil and filter change, labour....£580....came out of it lightly i think!
Click to expand...

not bad russ, who recon your turbo? and where did you get the replacement parts?
 
Sorted it all out with the Garage...i've put quite a bit of work his way so he sorted me out very nicely. reconditioned one was waiting for me when i got there....
 
Forgive me being thick but not being a mechanic I must ask: would a boost leak not show on the VCDS faults? you should be able to see the vacuum pressure?
 
TheAnticitizen1 said:
Forgive me being thick but not being a mechanic I must ask: would a boost leak not show on the VCDS faults? you should be able to see the vacuum pressure?
Click to expand...

no it wont show, you must do a boost pressure test manually.
 
mine ran for a year at least with the whistle i wouldnt bother changing it until it suits or forces you.....
 
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Ok, Car back from garage after recon turbo fitted only to find it smokes quite a bit told to leave it over the weekend incase some excess oil had spilled into the exhaust sytem (dont hold much hope there) ...going back in for a replacement recon turbo to be fitted on Monday....On looking at the old turbo the bearings had worn and the impeller was quite loose. So i probably needed to replace it anyway.
 
russ3376 said:
Ok, Car back from garage after recon turbo fitted only to find it smokes quite a bit told to leave it over the weekend incase some excess oil had spilled into the exhaust sytem (dont hold much hope there) ...going back in for a replacement recon turbo to be fitted on Monday....On looking at the old turbo the bearings had worn and the impeller was quite loose. So i probably needed to replace it anyway.
Click to expand...

This was the problem with mine. Should be getting mine back today from the garage.

Total job cost me £750.00
 
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