Turbo Problems

[SonicRyan]

Today I noticed a significant drop in power going down the highway. Everything was running smooth still so I continued until my exit and went to work. I went to lunch and after a bit of driving, I got the engine light to come on. I always hear the turbo spool, but today there was nothing. No boost. Took the car to the dealer after work and now I'm here. Stock car, no tune (yet), 7500 miles. Any suggestions?

 

[$ub$onic]

Do you know for sure that is it not spooling? ( like a boost gauge)

 

[BrianJ88]

When mine was stock I could hear it.. But only in like 4th gear and barely..

 

[sx sonic]

That's no good.

All you can do is wait on the dealer and see what they say.

it may or may not be a turbo issue, there are a fair amount of problems that can cause the turbo to dump boost and possibly other engine saving countermeasures (rich fueling, retarded timing, limit max throttle position, etc).

Lets say the ECM stops seeing throttle position, boost pressure, MAF signal, etc; Either because of a loose connection, failed component, or overboost/underboost condition. It will trigger Limp home mod, or some other power reduction mode.

Hopefully it's something simple causing the loss of boost and can be easily fixed. It is unlikely for a turbo to suddenly fail but time will tell.

 

[sx sonic]

Do you know for sure that is it not spooling? ( like a boost gauge)

+1

 

[SonicRyan]

To start, I've been known to have a good set of ears (I'm a musician) and I tend to hear unusual noises before others. On a more serious note (pardon the pun), I simply don't hear it working. Even if the BPV was dumping all the time, shouldn't I hear some sort of whoosh noise?

I can hear mine spool in any gear, and it's pretty pronounced, so most of you guys must have bad hearing.

 

[Maddmatts]

I had the same symptoms around the same mileage with code P0299 (underboost) set. Dealership replaced the entire turbo assembly to fix it.

 

[Chrish051873]

I had the same symptoms around the same mileage with code P0299 (underboost) set. Dealership replaced the entire turbo assembly to fix it.

i really hope i dont have this issue, but i have the same CEL code

36,500 miles and counting....

 

[severous01]

i worked for bmw. turbo cars have problems. there's no question about that. the worst i saw was the fins on the turbo came off...idk how, idk why, but they ended up in the engine. it was all covered under warranty, and gm has a 100k powertrain warranty. if you dont have any issues up to 100k you likely wont have any issues

but, no boost means one of two things. the BOV has fouled out (most likely)...because it's a POS from the factory...being weak rubber and thin plastic. or, your turbo has malfunctioned. i seriously doubt the turbo has failed, and if it has it will be a catastrophic failure and you would know it.

you can easily look for yourself, just pull the rubber boot on the throttle and peek inside...that means you have to let the engine cool and pull the boot off the outlet for the turbo. it's not hard or difficult. shouldnt take 30 min and a few minor hand tools.

 

[TurboGrayLZ]

I'm At 26k and have been able to hear my turbo spool for about 8k miles you can hear mine spool at start up,pulling out of the drive way, it doesn't matter. You can hear it spool driving away till you hear my exhaust anyways.

 

[mitdr774]

but, no boost means one of two things. the BOV has fouled out (most likely)...because it's a POS from the factory...being weak rubber and thin plastic. or, your turbo has malfunctioned. i seriously doubt the turbo has failed, and if it has it will be a catastrophic failure and you would know it.

Or other possibilities include....

Wastegate or wastegate actuator malfunction
failed IC pipe or connection
failed IC (would be a one hell of a failure such as the end tank came off)
Throttle is not being commanded open far enough to actually allow for the turbo to function correctly
ect..

 

[sx sonic]

Or other possibilities include....

Wastegate or wastegate actuator malfunction
failed IC pipe or connection
failed IC (would be a one hell of a failure such as the end tank came off)
Throttle is not being commanded open far enough to actually allow for the turbo to function correctly
ect..

I agree that no boost probably means the wastegate is wide open.

If there's a problem the ECM will dump boost.

If only the bpv went open there'd be noise and the turbo would still spool up, just without building up pressure.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hi SonicRyan

What happened with the dealer visit? Were they able to locate the source of the issue?

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[SonicRyan]

mitdr774 wins this round. Dealer found my wastegate actuator disconnected. Why was this even a problem? On a side note, the dealer visually inspected the turbo LAST. Seems odd to me.

 

[Stew]

Disconnected as in the rubber line going to the wastegate actuator, or the metal rod that goes from the diaphragm to the actual wastegate door under the exhaust heat shield was disconnected? How unusual.

Edit: Must be the metal rod, the wastegate door flopping around would not let boost build but if the rubber pressure line was disconnected that should cause to much boost.

 

[SonicRyan]

Metal linkage.

 

[Savage_383]

A similar issue happened to me last night. I was getting on the highway on my way home. Gave it about half throttle, nothing. Gave it a little more, nothing. After a few seconds of full throttle, it started spooling up and going. WTF was that?!? I said. Then the CEL popped up.

I busted out the torque app on my phone. I was getting to the bottom of this nonsense. Got the P0299 code (underboost).

I pulled up my boost gauge and floored it. boost hung around 5lb for about 6 seconds before it finally climbed up and went. I got home and parked it.

I guess I will give it a good look over lunch. May give me a reason to upgrade my BOV

 

[Opticon]

Usually there is a c-clip (jesus clip) holding the actuator rod on the wastegate flapper. If that clip comes off your linkage will eventually work it's way off and the wategate will lay open.

Maybe they forgot to install it from the factory.

 

[Chrish051873]

FYI. mine has/had same CEL 0299.

it is now at the dealer getting a new turbo installed due to a worn out pivot pin.

This did fall under the power train warranty.

Good luck
Chris

 

[Savage_383]

FYI. mine has/had same CEL 0299.

it is now at the dealer getting a new turbo installed due to a worn out pivot pin.

This did fall under the power train warranty.

Good luck
Chris

Just out of curiosity, is this said pivot pin internal or external?