Hi all
My Townace (H Reg 4WD 2.0TD) has started making a whiney fan-belty kind of noise when I accelerate hard. I had the local garage service it and they indicated that the problem was not the belts but probably the Turbo bearings. I could now use a little advice.
1) Garage says Turbo probably unserviceable and would need replacing at a cost of £500+. Does this sound right? Are the bearings inaccesible for individual replacement or do you really need to dump the lot?
2) Garage says Turbo probably not giving much benefit on a slow family wagon like the Townace and that we might consider disconnecting it/ignoring it until it dies completely. Does this sound reasonable or would slow become even slower?! Any damage to the vehicle possible from this tack?
3) Noticed previous observations on this site that sometimes the problem is hoses/gaskets/manifolds. At risk of sounding dumb, how can I check this over a hot and noisy engine? Stethescope?
Thanks in advance. Regs.
---- JIM - (#2440) Jim Reynolds, 7 Mar 02

Jim
not sure cutting the turbo out of the link is wise. It would decrease your mpg for sure. Don't see how you would diagnose a hairline crack or a warped exhaust manifold or faulty gasket, without a strip down. Maybe you could run it until it failed, that is if it is the turbo. I think I would want to know what it is before making a decision about what to do next.
Ian - (#2441) Ian Dunse, 7 Mar 02

A partial stripdown is the only answer. If the turbo fails big time, it could take the motor with it...
And no, you can't do without it. It's an extra 15HP you can't afford to do without... - (#2444) david miller, 7 Mar 02

Could be a slack connection somewhere in the intake ducts. 7psi makes quite a squeak getting out. - (#2445) david miller, 7 Mar 02

David's right. If the turbo is breaking down then get it sorted out, and quickly.
If you were a regular user of this site, including the home page, in June to September last year then you may have read of the problems I had with my engine. The garage told me it was all caused by the turbo disintegrating and came to just over £2,000 to put right and 3 months out of action......Be warned...... - (#2446) Mark, 7 Mar 02

I'd like to echo David's comments here, if your turbo seizes completely, it will damage the seals & burn the oil through the exhaust & almost certainly destroy the engine as well. A little worrying if your garage is recommending this course of action, I would suggest that you find yourself a decent garage that know a little something about diesels & turbochargers. - (#2448) Rob Drinkwater, 7 Mar 02

Eek!
This all sounds pretty downbeat. Looks like I need to find another Garage pretty sharpish. As a steer though, should the Turbo Bearings be replaceable or is it a straight replacement of the whole unit?
Also, anyone know of a good garage in North-East London or roundabouts?
Regs,
--- JIM
- (#2461) Jim Reynolds, 8 Mar 02

Jim
As ever it's getting parts. Probably easier to replace. Anyway you don't know it is the turbo yet. May just be a duff gasket. Be optimistic!
Ian - (#2462) Ian Dunse, 8 Mar 02

if it IS the turbo bearings, there's nothing you can do about it even with the parts, unless you happen to have a 100,000rpm vsr machine to balance it again with...
turbos are best exchanged - (#2463) david miller, 8 Mar 02

hi got same van same thing and got told same but on a good look about the bottom pulley had come lose and was moving about ,but could not tell if belts were slack when van not running look under pulleys wick to see the out come good luck - (#2480) wick, 9 Mar 02

My 2litre turbo diesel has started to whine whilst accelerating. I have recently had the timing belt replaced and the noise wasnt there before.
Anyone had the same problems.
Help!!!!!!!!!!! please.

- (#2884) Drew, 10 May 02

Are the timing belt and accessory belts tensioned correctly?

- (#2885) david miller, 10 May 02

i had a very similar noise but this was due to the gases leaking at the exhaust manifold. you can check that out by removing driver seat/floor pan and looking for sooty deposits around the manifold area (you may need to remove the exhaust manifold heat shields to see if there are any cracks). i would check this before condemning the turbo. this really did sound like belts slipping on my 2ct 4wd.

- (#2887) Ray, 10 May 02