Turbo Health Questions

[MICKAJ]

I had the intake off and took the liberty of spinning the turbine while I was there. I can't remember for sure but seemed like last time I did it the wheel span for a lot longer than this time. If I spin by hand as fast as I can it might last for 3 seconds before stopping, is that bad?

Also there was enough oil sitting on the intake lip and pipe joiner to be noticable. Is that common with no catch can or should I be worried about the turbo?

Also where is a place in Melb where I can rock up and get somebody to check it out without telling me it needs a rebuild unless it actually does?

Thanks in advance

Mick

[PHANTMXR6]

When you spun it how long had it been shut down for?

The longer it's been shutdown the less spin time as the oil drains out of the cartridge.

A small amount of oil in the intake pipe is quite normal.

[ETM]

Forget how long it spins for when you spin it by hand. Just pay attention to the noise it makes when you shut the engine off, you will know when its on its way out by the rough sound it makes.

[Benji_vs]

They are not meant to be silent are they? Mine makes a sound when the engine turns off which is usually quieter after a longer engine running period, It sounds like ball bearings not loud but noticeable when the bonnet is up or parked in a quiet spot I.e garage.

[ETM]

No they are never dead quiet. You will know it when the bearings go because it will be instantly noticable that it is making extra noise. I recommend everyone get familiar with the sound the turbo makes after shut down so you can easily identify a blown bearing as soon as it starts.

[Benji_vs]

Its kinda a rolling sound if that makes sense, not a metal grinding sound which you would wanna look out for. BTW ETM you still selling those oil lines? may be interested rather soon.

[stevet]

Yeah I think mine makes the same sound benji hard to describe though. Sorta like the sound you hear when you close your mouth and exhale throuh your nose?? Except like you said with a bearing sorta sound lol

[Benji_vs]

Dont mistake the gas sounding sound being the turbo, if you have had your air con running its just normal for the thing to hiss for a little bit. Not sure what it is though.

[MICKAJ]

Hi,

Awesome news, my turbo is only days from sh**ing itseld

Today it started making a sound, kind of like a cricket/grass hopper. Its a more mild metalic sounding squeel.

I have heard of a place called Eastern Turbos being good, how much have people paid for rebuilds and what sort of rebuilds can you ask for with turbos?

[MICKAJ]

Went and got turbo rebuilt as per last post. Read my review below as it could save some dollars and problems. Note, this site cannot be sued etc for me providing a non-favourable review to a business, so nervous jumpy mods relax and don't rip this thread down.

General

First of all I asked for inclusive GST quotes for the repair works. In the end I was billed and it was exclusive of GST, hence I paid more than first off, and that was that, as I couldn't really form a good argument without a written quote. Timeframes for the job also blew out from 1/2 days to 4/5 days.

Customer Service

Poor. Especially when I went back weeks later to show him the noise was still there and he wasn't interested at all, struggled to get him to listen to it in the car and gave me sh!t for even coming back. In the end he said it was fine and tried to blame the pod filter for the noise, even though I know what it is supposed to sound like because it has actually ran properly previously with the pod on, I'm not a f***wit, I do know what my car sounds like.

Workmanship

Questionable.

I found I was treated like a bit of an idiot who didn't know much about cars or the noises my turbo was making which p!ssed me off. The reason I took the turbo for a rebuild was because a trusted mate (gearbox rebuilder by trade) said the turbo was on the way out. I also came to the same conclusion previously. A couple of weeks later the turbo started making a metalic noise which was a trigger to get a rebuild. After paying 2k from an initial quote of 1.3k and taking a week instead of 2 days the turbo still makes the exact same noise and my assessment is that for that money that noise should be gone, end of story, period. I can also move the shaft up/down and in/out. It sounds worse spinning down than a mates 100,000 T that has not been rebuilt.

Diagnosis (Apparently)

Was told my shaft was bent and needed straightening or replacing. Was told this could have been caused by my ball bearing cartridge which was apparently seized and missing balls out of it. He showed me a bearing cartridge but I beleive in all honesty it is one he keeps laying around to show everybody who gets repair work. I say this because he happened to still have it behind the front counter when I returned a few weeks later. (I mean who doesn't bin this stuff?? not like it was an example worth keeping)

Overall

The experience left me several hundred dollars more out of pocket than initially quoted, and the alarming noise that my turbo makes has not been fixed, it sounds exactly as bad. It has been one of those experiences that has left a gut feeling like I have been ripped off and taken for a ride. Car is going in for a second independant assessment this week. Will take action with Consume Affairs Victoria if anything eventuates from second look.

Note to him, you can't be a c**t to anybody these days if you run a business. Look at how far an internet review will go across Melbourne. Anybody with a similar diagnosis please contact me via PM as I believe he has a scripted story that is told to everybody.