Well as most of you know, my move to Las Cruces NM has not been without it's headaches ..... ...... Well after a year to get my car running again from the accident and fighting with insurance it's finally come down to this.

The Good:

The car is 100% fixed inside and out and going to get registered in NM so that it will finally be back on the road.

The Bad:

While the car was in limbo I started getting white smoke out of my tailpipe and from under the hood but I could not figure out what it was. I tried seafoaming the gas tank thinking it was condensation buildup for sitting for so long but that was not the problem so I took it into a shop to get looked at to figure out the problem.

& The Ugly:

This part of the news was a double edged sword as it could have been worse ........ My seals on the turbo went bad so I called ATP in Hayward CA and they said that my turbo qualified for the Garret ball bearing replacement program. Basically I get a new gt28r turbo minus the housing for $420 plus shipping. The turbo is in the process of being removed and the turn around is one week. Just thought I would post up as I have not posted anything new in regards to the car in a while but she will be back on the road in full operating order soon followed by a new photo shoot of the completed project.

Here is what leaked out onto the shop floor when the car was started. The car still has good boost and it still feels good so hopefully it is just the seal but I will basically be getting a new turbo when all is said and done.








Here are some updated pictures of the removed turbo. It's boxed up now and going to ATP first thing in the morning, let me know what you think, but there is actually zero shaft play.

 

finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now you can take a road trip to NY and visit some AFers on the way lol. i hope that 1 week is literally 1 week. i'll be waiting to see you're post when it's on the road. take it to the track too

 

i have been paying attention to your posts since i joined the form and i can honestly say yours is my favorite audi i have ever seen/heard of. get that thing running smooth as butter! i would hate for such a machine to not be operable

 

There's a NEW Mexico?!?!?! You might also want to dump the oil out of your FMIC, I'm guessing there's gonna be some in there too.

 

While the turbo is being replaced the car is also getting a timing belt job done as well, along with an oil and spark plug change. I did figure there would be oil in the FMIC but thanks for the heads up ........

 

That's really good to hear Fred!
Take couple pictures once you get everything together.

I remember you said you were from Cali? You should take a drive back here!

 

I'm actually planning a trip to Northern California in mid July of this year ....... ........ and I will be driving the audi

 

Updated pics - input??

 

I called ATP today as they received the turbo on Monday. I guess people don't usually send in the entire turbo as they told me they were going to run a complete test on the entire turbo and not just the center section since i had sent the complete turbo in. If it qualifies for the replacement program they said I may get a new housing as well which would basically mean an entirely new turbo .......

Or if it does not then I will have to pay for the entire thing myself .........

I'll know by Friday either way .............. ???