2001 B5 A4 1.8TQ 93K

Ok so to my understanding when a turbo begins to go it'll start sounding like a dentists drill. Right now my boost is fine, but whenever the car is completely cold, it starts and pumps up much louder than it used to...sounds fairly rough. While driving, it's a bit louder than it used to be, and when it kicks in it's almost like a whistle, or a dentists drill.

The sounds aren't terrible, and I guess only a trained ear will notice the difference. I've got a sixth sense for new sounds in my car....

1) Is the turbo going to eventually (slowly) die on me?
2) If so, any ideas on how long I've got?

I'll be selling the car soon, and I'd rather not drop a bunch of money on it....that's money for a chip in my new '04 Ultrasport!


LampyB.

 

If it sounds more mechanical than just sucking air then it's probably a sign that the turbo's going bad. Unfortunitally there's no way to tell how fast it will go out. If you want to replace the turbo cheap, just get a gpopshop.com rebuilt k03 or a k04 if you want.

 

Itll whistle louder when you take off after a cold start, naturally. Mine has always been that way. Once oil/coolant has had a chance to circulate through it, it should quiet down.Its important to stay off the boost on a cold start. Not so much so if youre not chipped though. If you are the type to drive aggressively right after a cold start a lot, then Id bet your turbo is dying. Thats about the worst thing you can do. If you are very worried, take the turbo inlet hose off and try to wiggle the axle. It shouldnt have hardly any play in it at all.

 

nah, i never run the card hard until its fully warm. i don't have a chip either. bought the car at 79k though, so who knows how the woman drove it before me. if i were to unplug the inlet hose and the axle did have a bit of wiggle in it...what does that mean is wrong with the turbo?

man i've gotta get rid of this car before sh*t goes down...i've already spent $900 on the t-belt job, and now the cam position sensor's bad and it's going to be around $600 or so to replace. If the turbo goes, i'm screwed!

i've babied the car for about 12k since purchasing it, replaced 02 sensors, vacuum lines, coolant temp. sensor, etc...and there's just way too much maintenance still needed...

Just want to dump it and get a manual 6spd! Headed to Texas June 1st to get an '04 Ultrasport w/30k!


LampyB.