weird turbo noise (hello from Buller)

[benzini]

Hi all,
I'm writing this from a net cafe at Mt Buller! Took my landy for it's first big trip. It handled everything well until I started to go up the mountain. A secondary noise that sounds like a high pitched rattling bearing started at about 2700rpm. This is after the turbo hits full boost. What was more disturbing is that the further I went on the sound seemed to be coming in earlier, closer to 2400rpm. So, is my turbo on the way out? :(

ben

[discowhite]

take the intake pipe off the turbo and have a look at the impeller.
the blades should be nice and neat, square corners and there shouldnt be any marks on the housing where the blades circulate.
the impeller will have a small amount of side to side movement, but the impeller should not touch the housing.

cheers phil.

[JDNSW]

Hi all,
(snip). So, is my turbo on the way out? :(

ben

It is notoriously difficult to diagnose sounds by email etc, and I don't really have a lot of experience of turbos on the way out - but I have to say it sounds like it!
John

[langy]

It's your turbo hoses- one has slipped a little. As the turbo boost increases it blows air out thru the gaps. Sounds like a rattle or big noisy fart. Check your elbow hose and bottom intercooler hose - and the clips that hold them on.
Langy

[benzini]

I hope you're right langy!
I'll double check before I leave unfortunatly if it is that I don't have any tools with me to tighten anything! Better a pipe than a turbo tho!

It is kind of hard to identify sounds through the by text John :)
sounds a bit like " zeeeerrrrhhhhhhhaaarr" :D

[Graz]

Hi ben
Sorry to hear about your problems.
The noise you discribe is not something I have ever heard coming from a turbo. Have you discounted the drivetrain. You say that the noise is at its loudest when the turbo is at max boost, therefore at or near max engine power. It could be some sort of imminent failure in the drive train protesting under the load. Try looking for metal debris in the gear and transfer boxes, diffs and possibly stuffed unys.
Good luck

Graz

[hiline]

could even be a warped exhaust manifold.............

when mine first went i thought it was the turbo screaming its last breath:D