Turbo problem i need help.

[xTSIx]

I had bought my car about 3 months ago and it has been on the road about half the time. The rest of the time it was getting the head redone and a new axle. It was boosting 16psi and then one day it gradually started to drop. It now pushes 2 psi. I have done a leak test and didnt find anything. Yesterday we disconnected the vaccum line from the waste gate and it ran easily 10 psi ( i didnt want to run it any higher just to be safe). Then this morning i took off the intake tube and put my fingers in the turbo to check for play and there is very little play side to side and no play up to down. Does anyone have an idea what is wrong and what needs to be done?

 

[Game Over]

I'm unsure, but there could be a problem with the wastegate actuator, or that vacuum lines coming off of it.

 

[hillbillyboostn]

how many miles are on the turbo? what size is it? how long was it boostin 16 psi? i may be the thrust bearing ?

 

[oldman]

My guess would the following.

1. A defective actuator opening prematurely, apply pressure to it and see at what psi does it open.

2. If you have a ball & spring type mbc, it's possible the bleeder hole is not bleeding off the pressure between the mbc and the actuator causing the wastegate to stay open.

Good luck.

 

[blue1]

Stupid question that wastegate hose is not shared with the BOV is it?

 

[xTSIx]

i have very little bit of side to side play and no up and down ply. what do you think?

 

[oldman]

You have already try running the car without the actuator and you easily got 10psi so the turbo and the rest of the system is ok. If you did the pressure test correctly, system holding 20 psi reasonably, and you're 100% sure there're no leaks then do a test run with the pressure source connected directly to the actuator. If problem came back, it's pretty clear that your actuator is opening too early.