Turbo stopped working

[Supracentral]

I'll clarify this thread a little.

Read this over then decide where the problem lies:

Patient: My turbo stopped working. What is wrong with it? Can it be upgraded?

Doctor: Yes it can be upgraded. Does the shaft spin?

Patient: I don't know. How much for an upgrade?

Doctor #2: How about more info on the problem?

Patient: My turbo doesn't boost.

Doctor #2: Did it make noise? Does it smoke? Idle stronge? How are the temps?

Patient: There's nothing wrong with my car. I drive it all the time. The only problem is the turbo doesn't boost.

Doctor #2: Please answer Doctor #1's questions.

Patient: Is this going to cost me a lot of money?

Patient: Yes the wheel moves.

Doctor #3: Boost leak!

Doctor #4: Broken Gauge?

Doctor #2: Posts basic diagnostic guide from shop manual. (Probably hoping to get the patient to provide something we can work with)

Patient: Thanks for the info, I guess I'll go to a shop

After this we get ForcedTorque's rant about how we aren't helping people.

This post is so offbase I'm going to reply to it line by line:

So far unimpressed with this thread! 87turbo obviously isn't the kinda guy who seems like he knows everything (not trying to slam ya 87turbo), and right off the bat, he gets told to buy a turbo.

Actually, go back and re-read the thread. Not one person told him to buy a turbo! He's the one that keeps bringing up buying a turbo. If you are going to attack people, at least try to have a clue.

And then, when a question is asked, we get no answer, just another question.

That's because we don't have enough information to work with. You go to the doctor, he asks "Where does it hurt?" - if you don't answer, how the fuck is he supposed to start treating you?

Joel W's info was good to have, BUT we ( people such as myself and 87turbo) could use a little instruction on how to check each part needed to check in order to find a boost leak. How do you check for a boost leak.???????????? While under your hood it's hard to get boost, therefor it won't be leaking while you check. I was reading this post hoping his answers would help me find my problems.

No, you want someone to hold you by the hand. There are two ways to get your car fixed. The first is to pay someone else. The second is to put the MINUMUM AMOUNT OF EFFORT into learning about the car, it's problems, how to fix it, etc. Read the forums. Read the Supra info sites. But a freaking shop manual. Read it. Learn. I enjoy helping people. Go read my posts on technical topics. I'll write 10 pages of detailed instructions to help someone out. But in a thread like this, I can't do jack, because the 'patient' isn't answering the questions that are being put to him.

This is a problem that is becoming more and more common these days.

In order to diagnose a problem, the members here need to know what the symptoms are. So far we've been told that the "turbo doesn't boost" - we haven't been told how the poster has come to that conclusion. Is this based upon the boost gauge? Or does he not hear the turbo spin? Or is he experiencing a loss of power?

Until we get information, we can't help out.

And ForcedTorque, your little misguided hissy fit isn't helping get the problem diagnosed. I do know the one thing that it has accomplished is that it's completly destroyed my motivation to help you at all, has led me to classify you as a whiner, an ingrate and someone of questionable value to this community. So far, I'm very unimpressed with you.

As for 87Turbo. I'll spell this out very clearly:

If you do not answer the questions we have posted, we CANNOT help you. We can't give you an idea of what it will cost if we don't know what the problem is.

Answer ALL the questions which were directed at you above, and we can likely quickly and easily diagnose what is wrong.

Or take it to a mechanic if you aren't interested in answering the questions.

 

[87turbo]

i am no expert at any type of mechanic work all i do is drive my car and when i see that theres a problem i get it fixed by a professional and i already stated the problems that i know. the turbo isnt doing anything it runs like a regular n/a car there are no problems such as smoke. but the guage does sit a 0 that is the only diference that i have noticed but engine wise there is nothing irregular going on im sorry if my information isnt sufficient but that is all i can tell by just looking at my car.

 

[87_7MGTE]

^^ totally agree with Mike. i read through this whole post and was like, wow people are dumb, and now they have made me even more dumb.

PS: 87turbo: you probably shouldnt own a supra, if you cant fix anything, this car is not for you.

 

[Supracentral]

i am no expert at any type of mechanic work all i do is drive my car and when i see that theres a problem i get it fixed by a professional and i already stated the problems that i know. the turbo isnt doing anything it runs like a regular n/a car there are no problems such as smoke. but the guage does sit a 0 that is the only diference that i have noticed but engine wise there is nothing irregular going on im sorry if my information isnt sufficient but that is all i can tell by just looking at my car.

No, that's ok. We just need to take the questions one at a time. We can walk you through step by step, giving you instructions on the way.

Does the turbo make any sound? When you go wide open throttle when driving, do you hear the turbo at all?

You said the turbo does spin by hand. Does it spin easily? Or is there any resistance? The shaft should spin like a skateboard wheel. Very little resistance.

Let's start there. Answer those questions and we'll move on.

87turbo: you probably shouldnt own a supra, if you cant fix anything, this car is not for you.

This isn't necessarily true. I know a few Supra owners who wouldn't know a sparkplug from a blow off valve. Either you do it yourself, or you pay someone to do it. Left in 100% stock form, these cars are VERY reliable, and are no more expensive to own than any other 20 +/- year old car.

I guess the more accurate statement would be "You probably shouldn't try to modify a Supra if you can't fix anything."

 

[jdub]

Right on Mike!

Trying to guess what the "Patient's" problem is one of the most frustrating things I see here...most times I won't even try to answer until a thread develops and the problem becomes more clear. Most of the time, that never happens...the problem never gets answered and/or you get the "I've heard" or my "buddy told me".

Bottom line: Describe in as much detail in possible...mods, symptoms, gauge readings, etc and there will be a "doctor" here that can help! And just because the answer is something you don't want to hear, doesn't mean there's a smartass attitude behind it

 

[87turbo]

whatever man that car has been in my family for almost 20 years now i grew up with that car and i love is they just dont make them like they use too and im only 17 how much mechanical work am i suppose to know right now come on

 

[87_7MGTE]

^Mike: good call, my bad, what you said was probably more true than "you shouldnt own it"

 

[87turbo]

turbo makes no sound at all ever and about the wheel ill take a look at it again

 

[Joel W.]

I updated my second post to be clearer on some details.

Lol Mike.:rofl:

 

[Supracentral]

turbo makes no sound at all ever and about the wheel ill take a look at it again

Ok, that's a first step. It's likely not a boost leak. If it were the turbo would be spinning & loud. We've eliminated the 1st possiblity.

Go check the turbo and we'll move on.

 

[87turbo]

alright as i was atemping to loosen off the accordian hose i noticed that the hoses that are connected to the accodian hose are incredibly stiff are they suppose to be like that or are they suppose to be soft

 

[Joel W.]

That is normal as I am sure they are the original hoses, If they are cracked or broken, replace them. but they should not effect boost pressure however.

 

[jetjock]

I go abroad for a week and the first thing I see when I get back is this thread. Not nearly as entertaining as many of the threads in the N/A section but pretty good nonetheless. And Supracentral, it's a real pleasure to read your stuff.

 

[87turbo]

ok so i was revving the car and i noticed a small amount of smoke comming out of of the turbo area it was bearly noticible i think it was comming out from the manifold. the manifold is the original one i dont know if it could be that there is something wrong with the manifold because of age or because of the turbo what do you guys think?

 

[jdub]

I go abroad for a week and the first thing I see when I get back is this thread. Not nearly as entertaining as many of the threads in the N/A section but pretty good nonetheless. And Supracentral, it's a real pleasure to read your stuff.

Good to see you back JJ..hope ya had fun! :drink1:

 

[Joel W.]

ok so i was revving the car and i noticed a small amount of smoke comming out of of the turbo area it was bearly noticible i think it was comming out from the manifold. the manifold is the original one i dont know if it could be that there is something wrong with the manifold because of age or because of the turbo what do you guys think?

I think you need to answer our questions first, before asking another one.. IMO

JJ: Also glad your back...:evil2:

 

[jetjock]

It may be hard to believe but spending time in a nuclear wasteland *is* fun

Your comments were also right on. It's amazing how some guys are clueless about more than the car. I could count on two hands the number of guys here who know what they're doing and I'm always amused at how they seldom involve themselves in certain threads.

Even more amusing is why those asking for help wonder why that is. Although I can answer just about any technical question I have a lot of criterion for replying to posts and since it grows every time I stop in here I'll be doing it less. I'll still be calling tech BS when I see it but it'll only be on threads of my choosing. Otherwise I wouldn't have time for anything else.

...Thanks Joel

 

[87turbo]

the fly wheel spins as freely as the wheels on a skateboard

 

[IJ.]

I tried....

I tried again...

I tried once more..

I gave up.

 

[Disced]

Ok, so now that it spins; take a look @ your IC piping from the turbo to the IC.

The IC is the thing in between your front bumper and your bumper support; it's black and has 2 pipes that come off the left side of it.

Check to see if they are cracked or worn down, any part of the couplers or piping itself.

I would also check the plastic piece near your intake; if you don't know what the intake is it's the air box you had to unhook to get off the accordian hose. It goes through the fender and when I first got my car that is what really messed with my head. The car would drive fine but whenever I would go WOT(wide open throttle) it would feel like it was just barely going anywhere.

I then pulled it out and it was cracked a lot and I asked my neighbor (who has built his own hot rod) and he said "that doesn't matter" So i just taped it up and went on with my business.

If all of your IC pipes look fine, there are a couple more things you can check.

Why don't you try and check what I told you to do first, then get back to us.

~Kyle