Bad Turbo???
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Bad Turbo???
Been chasing a low power problem for a while now. Pulled air intake boot and spun turbo wheel. seemed alittle tight when I turned it. but when I put side pressure and went to spin it. it would not really spin at all! Does this mean my turbo is bad? 
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
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From: Florida
First, I'm not a tech, but this needed a bump.
Are you getting boost? Was there play in the turbo (side to side wiggle)?
There are a lot of other possibilities on the power front - injector, FICM, I don't know the rest.
Are you getting boost? Was there play in the turbo (side to side wiggle)?
There are a lot of other possibilities on the power front - injector, FICM, I don't know the rest.
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Thanks for the response guys. I do not have a boost gauge so dont really know what the boost is. But the turbine wheel seems to have a lot of side to side play but do not touch down on the housing, just becomes almost impossible to spin when side preasure is applied you try to spin at the same time. like I said my truck is way down on power an the I cant hardy hear the turbo spool or whistle like it did before. it almost sounds like the air is being really forced threw the turbo and sounds alittle high pitched, sqeally and choppy. That the best I can describe it. Fresh fuel filters motor craft and not getting any codes from a Diablo predator. One more thing the impeller wheel blades where a bit discolored sort of blackish.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
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From: Florida
Well your turbo is sounding more suspicious. If it is black on the intake side, maybe there is a hole somewhere or bad filter letting in dirt - I have a used turbo in a box in the garage - intake side is silver and shiny - it should not even be dusty. If is black on the outlet side, then it is likely a turbo seal. But this turbo isn't sounding like it can be rebuilt.
May be powermax time!! It could other things too though....
May be powermax time!! It could other things too though....
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
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From: N. Fort Worth, tx
get a dial indacator and check axel and radial measurements and post up the readings. also have you cleaned the turbo.
its common for a turbo to have a little binding when pushed to one side. they float on a brass bushing.
its common for a turbo to have a little binding when pushed to one side. they float on a brass bushing.
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Thanks again guys for your responses! Any and all opinions are a lot of help. Cheezit I just tried to pull the turbo today to attempt to clean it. Wtf how in the hell do you get the three SEIZED bolts out of the dam thing??? Shot them with Pb blaster and still wouldnt come out. Im really scared they are going to break on me and them what do I do?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: N. Fort Worth, tx
I use an impacty on the drivers side. a long wrench on the passanger side and for 03/04 turbos I use a 17mm striped bolt extractor. early build turbos are harder to do. they take me 30 min or so to get those out.
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I use a 10 mm half inch drive shallow socket to get on the back one on the drivers side.I thought it would break but didn't.if you try it make sure you use a six point.don't attemp with a twelve point,or I fear you will have a rounded off bolt on your hands.
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Your right steelhead2! I was using a 10mm 12 point and I could see that I was about to round one off then I stopped. I will pick up a 6 point tomorrow and give it a try again.
Posting Guru
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As the long as the impellar wheels didn't contact the housing it should be fine to tear down and clean.if it needs bearings its simple to do yourself.check out the write up bencwrench did in the tech folder on turbo cleaning and rebuilding.I rebuilt mine for 125 bucks.got the bearings from g- popshop.com.
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A little update! finally got my turbo off. Boy what a difference having the right Info/Tools and for the job. Thanks guys! Any it was pretty dirty and seemed to be a little stuck. cleaned and applied anti-seize and assembled. seems to spool a little better but still doesn't have the power it should. the truck has 130,000 miles, run 5w-40, motor craft filters, oil and fuel. new batteries and altn. truck starts up very fast no stumbling and doesn't smoke at all! even when it was running good and with a tune in it i never got any king of smoke. Is that normal? I guess im going to take it to the dealer and have the injectors tested.
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