No 4wding for me for a while - dead Turbo

[rkinsey]

Well, picked up my Patrol from the Mechanic in town yesterday after he repaired the oil leaks from the rocker cover gasket.

Driving to work this morning and there is absolutley no power at all and then she starts to over heat...!!! WTF!!??

Mechanic graciously organised a towie and calls me this afternoon stating the Turbo has blown. No white, black or any color smoke coming from the exaust at all, just no power.

Anyone know where I can get a replacement Garret T25 turbo in good nick for less than $1600.00??

I can get one from the US for $600.00 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140754928506?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Im off to London on the 5th Jan for two weeks for my new job so wil see if I can pickup one there.

GGrrrr...... :blowup: Thanks Santa.. just what I wanted this Christmas is a new Turbo !!

[NissanGQ4.2]

No time for a holiday........I mean work,

You have more urgent issues to attend 2!!!!!!!!!!

Geta crackin mate, you need it back on the road before the 26th!!!!

[NissanGQ4.2]

Rob, can you tell me what the OEM part number is for your Turbo please?

[nissannewby]

Maybe a different mechanic? Usually blown turbo = low power and hectic smoke and some out there noises from your turbo itself. Have all intake pipes been sealed correctly?

[rkinsey]

Maybe a different mechanic? Usually blown turbo = low power and hectic smoke and some out there noises from your turbo itself. Have all intake pipes been sealed correctly?

Mate. No smoke, no noises just no Power and while I was travelling down the freeway it was a little warmer than usual. 20 mins later I come off the freeway and into street traffic and bam!! she nearly boils.

I did notice that the turbo whine was very quiet so its probably just a coincedence.

[rkinsey]

Rob, can you tell me what the OEM part number is for your Turbo please?

Hi Todd. I pick the car up from the mechanic tomorrow and will bring it home so I can fix it when I get back from London. I will post the part numbers here tomorrow night.

We are probably going to have to postpone the day trip until Easter. Or at least I will have to wait. You guys use the itinery I posted and go n have some fun!

Cheers,

Rob

[rkinsey]

While Im at it. Do you think it would be a good Idea to replace the exuahst at the same time for maybe a 2.5" or 3" unit? I dont think there is anything wrong with the current unit but you know how that Murphy bloke works...!!!

[Yendor]

I'm with newby, it doesn't sound like a turbo problem to me.

I would also check the exhaust for blockages.

[NissanGQ4.2]

Sounds like your mechanic farked it, very hard to believe it dies the day after you have it at the mechanics, are you sure he hasn't stolen your Turbo???? *LMAO*

WE can do it Rob, I have a plan................I'll drink your beers and hand you tools while you fix it, have you up and running before aussie day :)

Do you need a hand 2morrow getting it home???

[rkinsey]

I'm with newby, it doesn't sound like a turbo problem to me.

I would also check the exhaust for blockages.

Cheers Yendor. It does sound a little strange. I have known for a while that the turbo needed some attention but I will also check the air flow of the exhaust before I go and replace the turbo.

I have a month to research it before I get back and start working on it and we do have my wifes car so it isnt usrgent I get the car on the road straight away.

[nissannewby]

Have you ever done the head on it? How many k's on the old girl? Being that it got hot a dud turbo wouldnt cause this. With the info I have it nearly sounds head related.

[Yendor]

They didn't do anything with the timing did they?

[rkinsey]

I don't think they touched the timing Yendor. They were only supposed to replace the rocker cover gasket.

Nissannewby, I replaced the head about two years ago along with water pump and radiator.

One possible cause is that the exhaust isn't flowing as it should. This would explain both the loss of power and overheating where the gasses cant escape. The cooling system seems to be ok where there is plenty of flow through the radiator. So I'm going to look at the exhaust to see if they have accidentally crimped the pipe or there is a blockage of some form. It could be a ceased turbo.

[nissannewby]

If turbo was knackered you would have bulk black smoke coming from the rear. Check the crankcase breather isnt blocked either.

[stock patrol]

Mate. No smoke, no noises just no Power and while I was travelling down the freeway it was a little warmer than usual. 20 mins later I come off the freeway and into street traffic and bam!! she nearly boils.

I did notice that the turbo whine was very quiet so its probably just a coincedence.

Mate. Has old mate the mechanic altered the timing or valve adjustment whilst having the lid off.

[stock patrol]

If turbo was knackered you would have bulk black smoke coming from the rear. Check the crankcase breather isnt blocked either.

Usually knackered turbo, white smoke and heaps of it. Black smoke un burnt fuel.

[rkinsey]

Thanks for the comments boys. This is an unusual one.

Although Im disappointed that I Paid for my car to be repaired but it was running fine, just leaking a little bit of oil to now the car is completely off the road and potentially is going to cost me thousands to get it back on the road again. To say that I wont be using that mechanic again is an understatement.

I'll get it home today and start troubleshooting the problem properly until I find the root cause of the problem, and if I find that they have caused the issue then there may be a vacancy opening up for a new mechanic.......

Cheers,

Rob

[nissannewby]

Depends on how much damage is done to the turbo. If its chewed it completely and allowing oil through then you will get a white/blueish smoke due to it now burning oil. You can get black smoke as well due to the fact the fuel pump is still supplying fuel for forced induction and now there isn't enough air unburnt fuel.

[threedogs]

x what the others say , NQR in my books, no power, could just be filthy MAF over heating is either over fueling or no boost.
I''d be checking and cleaning before forking out $$$$$, when you blow turbo They tend to want to come out through the Exhaust,
nothing like you mention IMO

[rkinsey]

Thanks boys. Well I found the root cause of the overheating problem at least, its a blocked radiator core! This is left over from the head replacement two years ago where the mechanic who did the work wasn't completely honest with me in the work that he performed.

First he didn't flush the cooling system before putting the new radiator in (although I should have done a bit more maintenance and I would have caught it earlier) and there was still some sediment in the system that has been caught by the radiator.

He charged me for a new Thermostat housing and the one I took off yesterday was definitely not a new one two years ago.

So, its a new radiator. But that has to wait until the end of January when I come back from London.

The turbo hasn't been the best since I bought the car and I have been planning on replacing it any way so I am going to bite the bullet and get one, but most likely from the US or the UK as they are less than half price of the ones here in Australia. $600.00 in the US or $2000 in AUS.... a no brainer really. I will also install a snorkel as well as boost and pyro gauges. I know I don't really need the boost gauge for the T25 but it will keep me informed on what is going on. Any information is better than no information in my book.

TD. I don't think the RD28T has a MAF. ( I may be wrong though ) there is no sensor on the intake pipe between the Air Filter and the turbo that I can see at least. If anyone can shed some more light on my inexperience, I'm all ears..

During my diagnosis work over the past few days I also found a very small fuel leak coming from under the fuel pump so that is going to get a service as well.

The silver lining to all of this?? At least I found all of this before travelling north for 4 hours and being stuck in the middle of the freeway in 40 deg heat with a fully loaded car, kids, presents and food for all of us for a week..!!

[MEGOMONSTER]

Great news, but this blocked radiator is really starting to be a common occurrence.

[rkinsey]

I know what you mean MM.

Its blocked with very fine silt like red mud. It took me ten minutes to clean out the overflow bottle on the radiator so I know it hasn't happened in the last two years because I have not been anywhere near any tracks that were built out of that stuff.

It just proves what happens when your maintenance schedule is not kept up. It also helps when you get a mechanic that actually does what he says he has done.....!!

[Steve4wdin]

Hey Rob, If I can help in any way give us a shout ol mate You have my number.

[threedogs]

Apparently mixing different coolants tends to make a gel and blocks a few cores,
good to hear its not a big $$$$ fix.