Firstly. thanks for your advice in py previous thread. Taking all the advice and the suggestions into account, I think my turbo is going to let me down very soon. I'd like to head this problem off at the pass before I end up with a massive repair bill. Would this be a suitable replacement?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K03S-VW-Golf-Jetta-Turbocharger-1-8T-MK4-99-05-Audi-TT_W0QQitemZ130383845026QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1e5b7b96a2

If not, what are your suggestions as I have no real idea of where to go and what to do.

This thread is the reason I think I'm in trouble,

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/153104-turbo-noise/page__p__1901544__hl__turbo%20bearings__fromsearch__1entry1901544

I keep thinking there's a siren in the distance, but it's the car and definitely seems to be the turbo spooling up and down. All the pipes are sound and in good condition. If you could advise, I'd be grateful as I've mentioned in a previous thread, there's no one near me on Briskoda who could help.

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by skinnyman

The link to the ebay one i personally wouldn't touch.

It will be a CCC (Cheap Chinese Copy) and will end up costing you even more when it breaks (and it will).You will be better trying to source one in this country and not though ebay.You can pick a new one up for £550 + vat or maybe even less.

P.S. The turbo pictures is also a unsilenced version and you really need to get a silenced one or you will need to change at least 1 pipe maybe more.

I would get yours in to be checked or a second opinion before you go splashing out on a new turbo.

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by jaymd

It doesn't look fake to me and just to get an idea, around here a k03s can be purchased from 200 EUR (a friend got one off a BT-swap car, 18.000km on it).

yes it is a fake.....!!!!!!!!!!!

get the real deal buy cheap buy twice

get your diagnosed properly first turbo dont just fail there is usaully another underlinning issue

How can you guys tell it's a fake?

How can you guys tell it's a fake?

Probably the price I think. Thanks for the replies so far. I've had two opinions now from garages. One says it's okay and that I shouldn't worry. The other - who is run by more experienced mechanics - say the sound is definitely there and could be the turbo bearings. They can only fit me in next week to have a proper look though. :( One of the lads was stuck in Portugal all last week and they're behind with pre-booked jobs.

Clive, what underlying issues are you referring to? What causes a turbo to fail other than oil starvation?

What causes a turbo to fail other than oil starvation?

Can be oil starvation, can be bearing wear due to shutting down when the turbo is still spinning which bakes oil onto the bearings and causes them to wear out, if foreign objects (even small ones) get in the inlet side of the turbo they can damage the vanes which causes the turbine to become unbalanced and puts more stress on the shaft and bearings, also stalling and/or suddenly spooling the turbo all the time can wear out the bearings.

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by chicken_eyebrow

all the above + bad mapping etc etc driving hard without warm up

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by westallc

If you can get the car jacked up,take the TIP off the turbo end and see how much play you have in the turbo.It should move very slightly.

There are so many fake/copied turbo'c coming over form China etc.,usually they don't have the correct blue plaque on the turbo or even don't have one at all.

Thanks to the three of you (chicken_eyebrow, Clive & Jay). I'm a fairly sedate driver for the most part, and tend to warm the car up. The map is an RS Tuning custom jobbie done last July. As for objects getting in, it could have happened I guess, but not sure how.

Don't forget to also let it cool, i.e. idle for about 2-3 minutes after a spirited drive.

Clive, what underlying issues are you referring to? What causes a turbo to fail other than oil starvation?

Reasons why turbo's fail as follows;

Faulty lubrication..... oil not only lubricates the turbo, it also cools and cleanses critical stressed parts, and any momentary interruptions in the oil supply during periods of high speed or heavy load can cause serious damage.

Low oil pressure or flow......it is vital that sufficient oil is supplied to the turbo at all times to ensure suspension and stabilization of the full floating/rotating bearing system.

Abrasive contamination.....any abrasive material in the oil will result in wear in the following: thrust bearings, shaft bearings and shaft journals.

Incorrect oil spec or extended drain intervals.....can cause sludge and/or varnish to build up on the internal surfaces of the turbo, usually found at the turbine side due to the higher temps.

Foreign material entering turbo...... foreign material can enter the compressor side of the turbo via the inlet and the exhaust turbine side via the engine.

High exhaust temps or overspeed.....poor quality remaps may cause a turbo to overspeed and/or overheat which can lead to bearing damage, turbo distortion, warpage or erosion to the turbine wheel.

HTH

Bill.

Here's a 2nd hand turbo, doesn't say anything about the mileage or condition though :(

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K03S-Turbo_W0QQitemZ300420171929QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item45f2700899

Hi there skinnyman,

I would possibly (if i was an AA member ) take out their mechanical breakdown insurance, see here and drive the car til it goes horribly wrong. They pay out the first £500 of repairs less a £25 excess up to 5 claims per year. Check out the terms and conditions first though, car must be serviced by a garage IAW manufacturers spec ...blah blah blah. cover starts from £6.89 per month.

ps don't claim within first 14 days of cover!

Hi there skinnyman,

I would possibly (if i was an AA member ) take out their mechanical breakdown insurance, see here and drive the car til it goes horribly wrong. They pay out the first £500 of repairs less a £25 excess up to 5 claims per year. Check out the terms and conditions first though, car must be serviced by a garage IAW manufacturers spec ...blah blah blah. cover starts from £6.89 per month.

ps don't claim within first 14 days of cover!

Thats an excellent idea .......however I can see one tiny little flaw in it

If the resulting turbo failure allowed fragments of the compressor wheel blades to go through into the engine cylinders etc then the engine would be wrecked :'(

At a rough guess I would think that the cost of a new engine, plus labour, but minus the (AA) £500 notes would leave you somewhere in the region of 2K out of pocket

Yep, £500 from the AA wouldn't make much of a dent in the potential repair costs. That would barely replace the turbo alone let alone cover labour and anything else that could get damaged.

You could see how much one of the turbo companies (e.g. turbo technics) would charge for an exchange (you send them your old turbo), it might not be too bad.

Edited 27 April, 201016 yr by chicken_eyebrow

Yep, £500 from the AA wouldn't make much of a dent in the potential repair costs. That would barely replace the turbo alone let alone cover labour and anything else that could get damaged.

You could see how much one of the turbo companies (e.g. turbo technics) would charge for an exchange (you send them your old turbo), it might not be too bad.

I'd considered this too, but will have to look at companies up here to see what options I have. I reckon it's the bearings, it's starting to sound more pronounced on startup, especially this morning. I've no real way of checking anything before next Tuesday when it's booked in at the garage. I'm hoping the blokes at the garage will know of people who deal in turbos and replacing/reconditioning them in our area. I can't have the car out of action for long as it's the only way of getting around - especially in rural North Yorkshire. Let's hope there's a solution that doesn't cost the earth and keeps the car off the road for a short length of time. :(

Also, I'd looked at the turbo on ebay, but the bidding ends way before I'll know what I'm up against, i.e. replacement, recon unit or worse. Using what little money I have to put towards a turbo I may not need is a gamble and I'm the kind of person who never buys a lottery ticket. Keep the suggestions coming though as it all helps towards the problem being sorted.

Keep an eye out on the for sale section on here, also join up on SeatCupraNet and some of the Audi and VW forums and look on the for sale sections on those, if there is anyone breaking a car with the K03S turbo you could get it fairly cheap

a brand new one is only £530 from the dealers, i'd sooner pay that than risk that ebay one at the beginning of the post and is it me but does in mention nothing of warranty?

a brand new one is only £530 from the dealers, i'd sooner pay that than risk that ebay one at the beginning of the post and is it me but does in mention nothing of warranty?

Is that inc VAT? I agree that new makes more sense, but budget constraints may come into play. I'm not daft enough to buy a cheap copy, but dealership prices may be out of then question too. Tough decisions to be made I think.....

Here's a 2nd hand turbo, doesn't say anything about the mileage or condition though :(

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K03S-Turbo_W0QQitemZ300420171929QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item45f2700899

I emailed the seller and here's the reply,

The car mileage was 102000. The turbo was removed due to breaking the car for spares. There were no problems prior to removal. There is a slight play on the shaft.

Sounds like it would be not much better than mine really.

i got oggy one for his after his went kaput due to a dodgy remap, i do agree though it is a fair wedge to pay out

i got oggy one for his after his went kaput due to a dodgy remap, i do agree though it is a fair wedge to pay out

What were the symptoms of oggy's turbo before his gave up the ghost then?

i just brought a brand new one no probs around 500 notes all in

when mine went it sounded like a supercharger for around 5 miles and then shat itself lol

i just brought a brand new one no probs around 500 notes all in

when mine went it sounded like a supercharger for around 5 miles and then shat itself lol

Hmmm. Should I be using the car at all? It's been sounding just like that for about a month now. Where did you get yours from then?