I have a Fabia MK1 VRS with 110K on the clock and think the Turbo may have just gone. No problems until yesterday when attempting to accelerate I noticed a brief odd metallic noise and a lack of power. The car has since had very little acceleration as if the turbo is not providing boost. No smoke is visible and there is no engine warning light but vagcom  showed  17964 - Charge Pressure Control: Negative Deviation.

This morning I started the car from cold and now the metalic noise is more permanent  and quite loud as engine revs rise which is why I suspect the turbo.

I have a couple of questions that hopefully someone more knowledgeable can answer:

1.       Is it ok to drive like this?

2.       I cant change this myself so I’ll get some quotes but is it essential to clean the EGR and manifold same time? Is there anything else I need to allow for?

3.      What is a reasonable price for a turbo replacement?

 

Cheers

 

1. NO!

2. Not really.

3. No idea.

How mechanically minded are you? I've suggested it to a few other members recently but removing the turbo pipe will give you access to the compressor and with a camera phone you can slide it up and take a picture to see the condition.

If you don't think you can manage that I'd maybe suggest not to drive it until someone can look at it. Worse case (this is what I done) wait until it's very late, pop the top boost hose off (so possible turbo fragments can't enter the engine) and drive slowly to your nearest garage and leave it there and have someone follow you. It will smoke like a coal train lol.

Edit - the intercooler and pipe work will need cleaning and might as well do the egr valve and manifold as good practice as no doubt they will be caked in oil and soot.

Edited 2 March, 201610 yr by stevobeavo

Before assuming that the turbo has blown, have a good look at the HP air pipes from turbo to intercooler to manifold. On a standard car they run from behind the engine out the right-hand side, along to the front of the engine bay, down to the intercooler (in RHF corner between wheel and fog light grille) and back. One of the joints there may have popped, or a hose may have split, and this could save you a grand or so!

Sounds like the turbo internals are shot with no boost and and the noise you describe. Maybe something else as mentioned above, hose come off/split. Wouldn't drive it if I was you as it could be firing shrapnel into the engine. 

 

Was there no other symptoms prior to the breakdown? Strange sounds from the turbo, whining etc? Some give warning and others don't. 

Thanks for all your replies

No, I had no warning or any symptoms prior to this other than a very slight initial hesitancy on gentle acceleration after holding the revs at around 2k. This has been evident for a month or so. Other than that no other fault or issue.

Im sure its not a vacuum or air leak as the noise is very definitely a rotational mechanical noise in the vincinity of the turbo.

I would normally have a look myself but I have a medical problem that prevents this at the moment so I’ll have to take it to a garage. Should I be asking them to check and clean the manifold and assosiated pipework as part of the job?

Is this a premature failure given the oil has been changed every 8K from new or just bad luck?

Par for the course at 110k frankly.

Same happened to mine last year, went to pull off from traffic lights changed to 2nd gear no power loads of smoke, got it checked out and luckily for me the bearing had slightly dropped very little damage internally, my mechanic managed to get a remanfuctured one from eBay for me £300, they did send an asz turbo first which delayed by a couple of days due to bank holidays as I've got the blt engine. Turbo went at 151k now newer one on 155k could have upgraded but decided not too.

Pm'd