-
Master
3,056 Answers
- Posted on Aug 28, 2011
Re: How do you know the turbo is bad in a 1988 t-bird
Hello there and welcome to fixya
Turbocharger problems are some of the
most difficult to troubleshoot. The main purpose of the turbocharger is
to provide more air to the engine. The more air going into the engine
the more fuel that can be burned, which results in an increase in
horsepower. There are four main parts of the turbocharger: the
wastegate, center rotating assembly, turbine housing and the compressor
housing. By understanding how the turbocharger functions, it is possible
to uncover the causes of problems.
Difficulty:Moderate
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the air filter element
as this is a main cause of blue exhaust smoke. This blue smoke occurs
when there is not enough air going into the engine. Check all ducts and
pipes for obstruction or leaks.
-
2
Clean the turbocharger. Dirt
that has caked onto the compressor wheel or the diffuser vanes can cause
all types of problems. If the turbocharger is very dirty or the center
housing contains sludge then you should also check the filters. Dirt
coming in to the turbocharger is most likely due to broken filters.
-
3
Check with the engine manual to
ensure that the camshaft or pump is working at the correct timing.
Adjustments may need to be made as the turbocharger can change over
time. If the turbocharger is out of sync,
then this will result in a noticeable decrease in engine power. An
additional cause of decreased power is a gas leak in the exhaust
manifold or the turbine outlet duct. The less gas the less power that is
produced.
-
4
Check the turbine blade and
compressor for any damage such as indentations or notches. This type of
damage will cause screeching noises, whining noises, rattling and
scraping sounds. You will need to replace the turbocharger as well as
locate the source of the damage to prevent further damage. There is a
chance that the noises are due to other eternal components and not the
turbocharger, but a visual inspection is easy to check before moving
onto other components.
-
5
Inspect the actuator if the
entire turbocharger is frequently overboosting or underboosting. Make
sure that the actuator is not loose and if so tighten it to the
specified torque values. If there is visible damage to the actuator and air leak or if the actuator spring has broken a new actuator is needed.
You make a good question about how to know if the turbo is bad in your T-bird. I've got the same question except about my car. It makes a weird noise whenever I try to use it. We should probably both find someone to take a look at our turbos and repair them if they need to be. http://ctiturbo.com/rebuilds
×