Will a bad turbo still make boost?

[sluggo42]

My car runs like a champ, it's a bone stock 91 now with 119K on the clock.
Anyways when I jump on it lightly, it boosts up and scoots real nicely, but when I REALLY stand on the go pedal, it boosts up, but the motor makes the strangest noise I've ever heard. The only thing I can equate it to is like when we were kids (I'm 51 years old, so I guess this eliminates about 98% of you all) we had these toy cars that you would repeatedly rub along the floor to "rev" up the "motor" for 4 or 5 times, then you would let the car go and the centrifugal force of the "motor" would drive the car for a few feet. Kinda like a zing, zing, zing, zzzing, zzzzzzzing!, and then you let the car go, and off it went. Anyways, that's the noise my car makes when I'm jumping on it. It seems, or sounds, like the turbo is making some weird noise, yet still it's making good boost, and I'm flying!.

My question is, if the turbo is beginning to go out, will it still make boost? Or will the boose start falling off as the turbo slowly dies. Or, do turbos just "die" all at once?

Sorry for the long post, it's just a very difficult situation/noise to describe..
Thanks all, and may your bellies be on the verge of rupturing next week during the feeding frenzie called Thanksgiving..

 

[MK3Brent]

Could be turbo death-wine, or an exhaust leak between the manifold and the turbo.

Based on the sounds you describe.


ps.

Do you tell kids to get off your lawn?
Just checking.

 

[IJ.]

Sluggo: Pull the accordian hose off and wiggle the shaft and tell us if there's play in it please.

 

[NeatOman]

/\/\/\/\ best way to find out. If i sounds like a supercharger then you're turbo's rubbing. If it sounds like a big smooth vacuum its good. Make sure you are running 10W-30. Also make sure you are not below full, as full is normal on Jap. cars. So make sure you're always over full.

 

[willfish]

kinda sounds like the problem with mine..

Will

 

[7MsuprO]

Brent and IJ both had good suggestions. I've also had the noise I think you're describing from a coupler on the intercooler piping that was not sitting right. Essentially a boost leak but not big enough to be noticeable till youre making a few lbs of boost and sounds like a whistle. You dont NEED to be running 10w30 as pointed out above either. I think thats irrelevant.

 

[A-to-the-J]

is there blue smoke?

 

[KicknAsphlt]

I think I've got that noise....kicks in at about 5k on the tach...sounds like air escaping between a piece of rubber and metal, but the rubber flexes....or rather, sounds kinda like a kazoo...or the blower on a cobra or lightning. I know I've got a boost leak or two, so I'm guessing that's the problem with mine...I'm still running a stock IC and plumbing.

 

[sluggo42]

I think I've got that noise....kicks in at about 5k on the tach...sounds like air escaping between a piece of rubber and metal, but the rubber flexes....or rather, sounds kinda like a kazoo...or the blower on a cobra or lightning. I know I've got a boost leak or two, so I'm guessing that's the problem with mine...I'm still running a stock IC and plumbing.

Justin,
I live in Camarillo. We should take a ride in each others car and compare "noises". Are you a 5-speed or auto? I'm auto.

 

[suprabad]

If I'm not mistaken you said "it boosts up when you stand on the go pedal" which tells me it's probably not a boost leak but just getting worn out and what your hearing is shaft play.

Get the turbo rebuilt before it siezes or comes apart on you and gets really expensive. Good luck.:icon_bigg

 

[sluggo42]

If I'm not mistaken you said "it boosts up when you stand on the go pedal" which tells me it's probably not a boost leak but just getting worn out and what your hearing is shaft play.

Get the turbo rebuilt before it siezes or comes apart on you and gets really expensive. Good luck.:icon_bigg

How much shaft play is ok?
I can wiggle it back and forth just a very little bit...

 

[KicknAsphlt]

Justin,
I live in Camarillo. We should take a ride in each others car and compare "noises". Are you a 5-speed or auto? I'm auto.

I'm a 5-sp. Mine's about ready to go in the shop for body work here soon (I'll probably drop it off next week...or might wait 'til after T-Giving), but you're more than welcome to stop by either before then, or after.