Blown Turbo On The Way To Whistler.

[AzrielStrife]

So, my misadventure today went like this.We were kicking some ass up the big hill before cedar village and then out of no where it felt like i hit boost cut and my car went into limp mode. After fighting with the computer trying to reset limp mode, I realized that it wasn't in limp mode, no error codes from my obd2 scanner. "okay" I thought, "it has to be hardware then."So i looked at my waste gate acutator, thought it might be stuck open, it's been known to happen. nope, it was fine. So, I cringed, what does that leave? Turbo isn't spooling, the computer isn't pulling fuel and the gate is forcing exhaust past the impeller.I pulled off the intake pipe and tried to turn the turbo with my fingers, not a chance, it was wedged solid. To my surprise, when i tried to turn the turbo, i was able to turn the retainer nut on the compressor wheel with my oily fingers. The nut had backed off, allowing the shaft to have some end play, enough to make contact with the housings. "well shit, my turbo is blown". I swore some, then I swore some more, then I contemplated burning my car down right there, or just beating the piss out of it.)Gin said there wasn't anything i could do, so we put it back together, I had a big mac, and i felt less grumpy. I knew right away a turbo was going to be 400+ unless i could find a center cartridge kicking around for cheap. But, that was an issue to consider when i get home i guess.the little bastard got me to burnaby with no boost, a stuck impeller slowing down the exhaust and a stuck compressor slowing down intake. the volumetric efficiency when from around 150% to around 60% dropping my to around 16bhp. top speed of 90 on the flat, belching smoke. It used 2 litres from whistler to burnaby.. I topped it up in burnaby and made my way home. Tough little car.Check your compressor and impeller nuts to make sure they are secure people!

[bilgladstone]

Yikes! So what would cause this? Prolonged high EGT cooks (cokes) the oil in the turbo's fine lube and cooling channels, or.......? I haven't heard of this before. :scratch:Bil

[MikeT]

Wow, that's the first I've heard of this! 2 L for 120 km? Really?

[stickman007]

I have the impeller core lying around from when I cracked the cast housing....let me know if you're interested.When my turbo failed, it still pumped fuel in causing crazy amount of black smoke...Izzy

[AzrielStrife]

Yikes! So what would cause this? Prolonged high EGT cooks (cokes) the oil in the turbo's fine lube and cooling channels, or.......? I haven't heard of this before. :scratch:Bil

I don't know what caused it, there was no warning, i was just climbing a steep hill, pedal about half way down, maintaining 80km/h on the hill when my power was gone. The turbo nut came loose, so i have a suspicion that whoever assembled this turbo at the factory didn't tighten the nut enough.

Wow, that's the first I've heard of this! 2 L for 120 km? Really?

yeah, came back down with a siezed turbo, after the turbo ate itself it's likely the shaft was bent enough that the seal no longer held back oil.

I have the impeller core lying around from when I cracked the cast housing....let me know if you're interested.When my turbo failed, it still pumped fuel in causing crazy amount of black smoke...Izzy

I'm interested in a center cartridge for sure if you have one. I am in need of a turbo, and can't afford a new one for 900+ dollars.yes it pukes smoke like crazy now, it hasn't thrown a code or anything. it just fuels for the boost it thinks it should have.

[tolsen]

My turbo blew when accelerating up a steep hill. Turbine wheel broke due to fatigue crack and came to a sudden halt. Compressor wheel und nut could then unscrew due to the rapid deceleration. This kind of damage usually will result in damage to bearing housing which is not available as a spare part.

Edited June 24, 2013 by tolsen

[AzrielStrife]

Hopefully i can source a spare turbo soon.. I have no way to get to work now.

[Coast Steve]

Wow, that's some really bad luck and I always dreaded something like that happening to our smart if out on a long trip. Oh yea, please keep the language clean on this site.it's not "foul" by any means, but is just in that grey area.Thanks, Steve

[AzrielStrife]

sorry about that.. I was just quoting to keep the story real, haha.

[Coast Steve]

So, did you get the car sorted out yet?

[AzrielStrife]

So, did you get the car sorted out yet?

heading to Swap The Turbo RighT Now.

[AzrielStrife]

So the swap went well, all done in just under 2 hours.when i pulled the compressor housing from the intercooler pipe, i was shocked.. 3 good "glugs" of oil spilled out of the intercooler, i'd estimate a solid 250ml of oil was in there.with the new turbo in, the car goes into limp mode after a few seconds of wot. but when it isn't in limp mode, she sure does go!Does anyone know how to adjust the waste gate acutator? tomorrow i'm going to try and adjust it, and replace my waste gate hose.

[AzrielStrife]

Well, i replaced the hose, and tried adjusting the acutator. but the car doesn't seem to want to come out of limp mode. I reset the computer twice (+ terminal off for 10 minutes) but no change, it won't boost.I'm really worried that this new turbo isn't any good. lol.

[AzrielStrife]

Found the problem.the turbo was stuck solid. it would not turn in the right direction, however, when i put a screwdriver on the compressor nut and turned it backwards, it turned easily.Turns out a piece of the old turbine wheel was in the hot side housing and it kept the turbo from spooling up. I pulled out the turbo and checked the housing and new turbine wheel, no damage! I'm lucky!took the chunk of the old turbine out and all is well.

[smart142]

Good work!

[joeclimber]

So the swap went well, all done in just under 2 hours.when i pulled the compressor housing from the intercooler pipe, i was shocked.. 3 good "glugs" of oil spilled out of the intercooler, i'd estimate a solid 250ml of oil was in there.with the new turbo in, the car goes into limp mode after a few seconds of wot. but when it isn't in limp mode, she sure does go!Does anyone know how to adjust the waste gate acutator? tomorrow i'm going to try and adjust it, and replace my waste gate hose.

Where did you buy your turbo? Mine is starting to leak oil

[AzrielStrife]

I bought a CHRA cartridge from ebay. it was around 330 bucks or so, it did not include the exhaust manifold, waste gate acutator or the compressor housing. it was for a 1999, but it works perfectly with my 2006, identical. hope this helps.

[tolsen]

Some bad turbo work practices is this thread. Never attempt removing turbo or any part of turbo except waste gate actuator when in situ. One has to exercise great care when separating turbo from turbine housing (part of exhaust manifold on the 450 Cdi) or there will be irreversible damage to rotating parts.

[AzrielStrife]

I wasn't worried about damaging the stock turbo since it was already blown. the new turbo fit nicely into plaec with no issues, and it's been running great for months!

[dmoonen]

Do you have photos of the old one? Tempted to see the damage

[smartzuuk]

when i pulled the compressor housing from the intercooler pipe, i was shocked.. 3 good "glugs" of oil spilled out of the intercooler, i'd estimate a solid 250ml of oil was in there.

That is pretty normal.... oil does end up going through the intercooler. Check the site for a myriad of topics and possible solutions.

[AzrielStrife]

Side

Do you have photos of the old one? Tempted to see the damage

The Damage Wasnt That Apparent Surprisingly. One Blade Was Twisted On The Hot Side. And Some Minor Damage On Some Other Blade On There. Other Than That, It Was Ok, Still Spins Free

[LooseLugNuts]

I bought a CHRA cartridge from ebay. it was around 330 bucks or so, it did not include the exhaust manifold, waste gate acutator or the compressor housing. it was for a 1999, but it works perfectly with my 2006, identical. hope this helps.

old thread i know but i just wanted to say those cartridges are available now for under $100 US plus roughly $30 for shipping (if you're willing to take a slight risk using aliexpress instead of ebay)

[tolsen]

I bought a CHRA cartridge from ebay. it was around 330 bucks or so, it did not include the exhaust manifold, waste gate acutator or the compressor housing. it was for a 1999, but it works perfectly with my 2006, identical. hope this helps.

old thread i know but i just wanted to say those cartridges are available now for under $100 US plus roughly $30 for shipping (if you're willing to take a slight risk using aliexpress instead of ebay)

I bought one Chinese turbo recently for about GBP 100. Looks like the real thing. Will fit it soon and see for how long it runs.

[LooseLugNuts]

this is the one i purchased but yesterday it was listed at 15% sale (82 GBP including shipping) http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Turbo-Core-Cartridge-Chra-KP31-54319880002-for-MCC-Smart-cdi-0-8-CDI/1676804447.html

current price (including shipping) converts to just slightly less than 93 GBP

seller seems legit as i have already been notified of shipment and tracking number is actively showing confirmation of leaving china for my destination

Edited January 4, 2015 by LooseLugNuts