Today when I was coming home from work I got on it a little bit, but nothing happened that seemed out of place. Then as I got closer to home I started hearing a noise, so I turned everything off to see what it was. It sounded like my charge pipe came off at first, and I was only about a half mile from home so I thought I'd just check once I got home. I looked under the hood, and everything looked intact. I took it out around the block once, and there was no smoke so I figured it wasn't the turbo. I got on it, and there was no boost. Shortly after that it started making a pressure sound like the turbo was spooling in the passenger seat, along with a chattering noise. There is still no smoke coming from the exhaust, but in my best estimate the turbo is probably shot. Can anyone say for sure that what I am experience verifies that my turbo is toast? If it is shot, what is my best course of action? Is it more than likely fixable by just rebuilding it?

 

Zfr time

 

Did you check the intercooler?

 

Check the lower charge pipe connected to the TB or the intercooler end tanks/connectors.

 

It's pretty dark here now, I'll have to check the lower charge pipe in the morning. From what I could see it looked alright, but I'll have to check it out closer before I do anything to drastic. What worries me is the chattering noise it makes :S.

 

Thank you guys, I would have checked that right away but since I live in an apartment and don't have any tools here I wanted to get a better idea of what I'm dealing with before I trailer it some place.

 

while ur at it, take off intake and check for shaft play on turbo, that will tell u pretty quick. lol if there is none, probably safe to say that the chattering wasn't the turbo.

 

When most everyone has complained about hearing a "supercharger" whine come out of their turbo, that usually means it's toasted. If you take the intake tube off the turbo, put a camera down there, and squeeze off a shot into the turbo inlet, you can see if the wall of the inlet has been scraped by the impeller. It'll look like this:

 

What about a vacuum leak?

 

No codes?

 

So I took off the intake, and before I could even get down to the turbo I knew it was screwed. There is bits of oil splattered on the inside of the intake tube, not good. I am going to get it trailered to someplace I can work on it. Just for ***** and giggles, does anyone know how much it would cost to get done by a mechanic? I'm guessing in the 1500-2500 range. Any suggestions on a rebuild kit, or place that sells rebuilt turbos?

 

Theres used ones for sale on here all the time, pretty cheap too. Honestly its not hard at all to swap it yourself.

 

Does it sounds like a blender when it is idling or you get on it? Had mine blow. Cost me $700 for parts and labor at the dealer but that was a hookup. Heres my thread.
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-0l...-maybe-303360/

 

I know I can do it, but being that I don't have a place to work on it living in an apartment I'm just worried about inconveniencing people. I thought about just doing a turbo upgrade since I'm going to have everything apart anyway. I'm just worried the previous owner beat the crap out of it with the turbo blowing so early :S. I guess that's to be expected with these cars when you buy them used.

 

There is a guy selling a brand new ko4 for $400

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/part...-turbo-307673/

 

Oil on the intake pipe is pretty normal if you don't have the Powell oil separator installed.

 

ZZPerformance also sells new OEM turbos for $570 if you decide against upgrading.

 

This. There's usually a little puddle of oil in the flat spot. Check the shaft play just to be 100% sure.

 

I suppose saying it sounds like a blender is a pretty accurate description of the sound it makes.

 

Yeah, sound advise. I'm going to make 100% sure it is the turbo before i start buying parts, but I'm almost positive. Hope to have a verdict on the issue tomorrow.

 

Did you check the link I posted? If you decide to stay stock then it's a pretty good deal.

 

A bit of oil in the intake is normal from the PVC system. Don't jump to conclusions

 

Make sure this is the Borg Warner, not the Mitsu, if you decide to buy.

 

Then im about 99.99 percent sure it is blown. The way you describe it blowing is almost identical to how I described mine in my thread that I linked.

On mine the intake shaft had little side to side play, put noticeable in and out play. When the dealer took it off, the exhaust side was blown. That side of the turbine had major side to side play. So I wouldn't plan on being 100% sure until you take it off.

Again perks of knowing people at dealers. $700 later and the balt was back on the road.

 

I always stayed away from the 24PSI tune because of some data that ronn came up with in his time on this board. 21-22 psi seemed to work for most people, so I stayed there and am still on the stock turbo. Of course, I'm only at 27K miles. With how much it spins on 22psi and E47, I never understood the need for 2 more psi.