Collected my new Fabia vRS yesterday, driving down the motorway doing a steady 60-70 mph then suddendly bang (not particularly loud) car jolts back, loses all power and starts smoking. When I test drove it there was no sign of any turbo trouble, everything felt and sounded pretty much normal.

Drove it to work this morning, engine light on, still no power and smoking quite heavily. As I'm driving the car will gain a bit of boost, then hold back then jump foward again etc etc.

Has the turbo blown? and am I safe driving it in the state its in? Nowhere is open today or tomorrow to get it looked at and I need to get to work/uni next week so will i be alright driving it in the state its in?

Any help would be much appreciated.

What colour smoke?

Black

It has been known for the intake pipe to blow off the intercooler, situated behind the bumper just in front of the right front wheel, that would give the symptoms of a subtle bang and loss of power you describe. If you can then that would be the first thing I would look for.

Ian

Just a blown boost pipe probably then

Do I need to remove anything to see if any pipes have blown off? what are the symptoms of a completely blown turbo?

Sorry about your bad luck after just buying the car. Just look under the bonnet and follow the intercooler pipes around, it is usually obviuos if one has come off or if one is badly split. The standard i/c is under the offside wheelarch with larger 2" pipes connected to it . If youv'e been driving around like this and no other noises then the turbo seems to be OK (Pray) . Popped hoses make the sound of a blown exhaust manifold and lots of black smoke. Blown turbo then there is lots of white smoke and bits of metal rattling in the engine.

Edited 16 October, 201015 yr by Soot1e

how much black smoke is normal? I've owned my vrs a week now and never driven a diesel donno what normal is.

it's not bad usually but when I floor it 2.5 - 4.5k rpm big plume of smoke shoots out looks fairly dark

Do I need to remove anything to see if any pipes have blown off? what are the symptoms of a completely blown turbo?

I had to take the undertray off - Torq tools needed. The design of this element is weak - my 2004vRS blew off at 21,000 miles and the dealer refused to do anything about it after the AA put it back together - it then blew again the next day. I put a long hose-clip around it to ensure the OEM clip didn't push out and let the pipe joint break.

For those querying the amount of smoke - it was ENORMOUS - in fact I'd say the car was undrivable and I'm surprised you've carried on as if nothing's happened - didn't you think it might damage something continuing to drive?

DRJ mines ain't that bad just not used to seeing smoke in my rear window

When my boost hose went, it actually popped back in first time and held good for a few days after. This may have happened to you. The jerky action is a sure sign of a boost leak IME, while the car decides whether you need to go into limp mode...

Yep boost hose has come off, will pop it back on and secure with a hose clip. Will the engine light go off once everythings back in place?

Thanks for the advice

Relief! The light should go out on it's own, yes.