Possible Turbo issue....?

[PhonyEVO_1]

Ok fella's... Here is my problem/situation. I have a 2003.5 MSP, and lately it has been acting odd, specifically the turbo, at least I believe it's the turbo. The only mod's I have is upgraded intercooler piping and a BOV. Lately, the turbo spools up but is erratic in the sense that it will not "grab" and actually make the car go faster, I just hear it spooling fast as faak and then it sometimes will grab, almost like a jerking sensation, on & off. Then one of two things happen; after the jerking sensation or consistent pressure on the throttle; boom... I start to move or I release and here my BOV scream and the car just did nothing in regards to going faster. I'm trying to take notice and see if this only occurs perhaps when the intercooler kicks on but I think it's very sporadic. Is there some kind of Turbo maintenance I may have overlooked? Is my turbo dying on me or burning out? Please help... I would really like to sell this car in the near future but feel uncomfortable selling it with it running like this.

 

[jjm86m]

Are you referring to your intercooler fan? There isn't anything in the intercooler that will kick on per se.

*disclaimer* (I'm not a turbo expert)

That being said, it sounds like there is a something blocking airflow in the intercooler. If your fan is spinning, you're not moving, and you hear a huge release of pressure, it sounds like there is an something blocking airflow and pressure is building on the compressor side. Check for oil on the entrance,hot side, of the intercooler.

A partial blockage would explain why you would get a jerky feeling as some of the air is making it back to the intake manifold but most of it isn't.

any other opinions out there?

 

[PhonyEVO_1]

jjm86m - Thanks for the reply. I'm no turbo expert either. I appreciate your insight and what you said sounds logically possible in regards to there being some partial blockage... and I really hope it is something along these lines and an easy fix.

Any other opinions or possible diagnostics out there?

 

[f1yen]

I have noticed the same thing with my 03 MSP, I am having some other problems also tho. I just bought this car though, so hopefully this post will be resolved

 

[PhonyEVO_1]

f1yen... So is your turbo feeling like it's "bogging" down when it spools up too? I need to find a turbo competent mechanic and get my car looked at. I definitely don't want to go to a Mazda dealership tho. Although if anyone on this forum has insight on this issue, it would be greatly appreciated...

I'm hoping it's some kind of "partial blockage" as jjm86m noted... but for some reason I feel like there something wrong with the turbo itself, maybe it's me being pessimistic. Although I've never mistreated the turbo, the car has had a timer on it since pretty much day one and I've used synthetic oil thats been changed every 3000-3500 miles.

Is there any other maintenance to the turbo/intercooler that I may have overlooked that would cause this lack of or unstable performance?

 

[f1yen]

From my current understanding, (going to try to remedy tonight) it sounds as if you have boost leak, in which your engine is spooling up the turbo (work ouput) but not seeing the gain on the front side.
The MAF see's more air, and assigns more fuel, (linked with the already rich MSP) "boggs" down the engine.

This is what I think
Mine is running 10-11 in hg, and ~5-6psi
I know people tell me the vac. should be much lower, so i probably have a boost/vac leak.

What are your boost/vac readings?

 

[jjm86m]

Lately, the turbo spools up but is erratic in the sense that it will not "grab" and actually make the car go faster, I just hear it spooling fast as faak and then it sometimes will grab, almost like a jerking sensation, on & off.

Are you bogging or are is it not grabbing. I would consider those two to be separate issues where bogging feels like it is actually slowing down (excess of fuel) and turbo not kicking in, you'll keep accelerating but just without a turbo.

At any rate, is there any weird noises coming from the turbo itself? My compressor fan warped and started scrapping the housing and kept spinning after the turbo timer shut the car off so the forum was able to tell that it was the bearings that were shot.

like f1yen said, do you have your pressure readings on the car?

 

[BigA619]

Hey man i am having the kind of feeling in my car as well.. I hear my wastegate spooling up like it is supposed to but my turbo will not grab and if it does grab it feels like its not grabbing all the way. How you described how your car is acting.. mine is the same way. have you fixed the problem or found out exactly what it was? also my car performs better when its not warmed up.. is it the same for you?

 

[BigA619]

jjm86mAre you bogging or are is it not grabbing. I would consider those two to be separate issues where bogging feels like it is actually slowing down (excess of fuel) and turbo not kicking in, you'll keep accelerating but just without a turbo-- Mine is bogging down, so is it just excess of fuel? i mean whats the problem? how can i make it better?

 

[jjm86m]

My turbo's compressor fan is knocking on the housing. It was boosting ok when I took it out but I didn't want the fan to blow up and send a piece of metal into my engine block.

I haven't had that exact problem with my turbo being jerky so I was speculating on causes.

Have you identified the turbo as the problem? MSP's have a history of "bogging" down or hesitating that is documented here on the forums.
See first entry

 

[BigA619]

I just got back from mazda and now my car runs perfect. All they had to do is flash my ecu, it costs 100$ well worth it if you ask me. Thank you jjm86m for all the help. Much appreciated!!!

 

[hornsfan10609]

I'm honestly very surprised that was the problem.

 

[BigA619]

Your telling me bro i was thinking very bad things lol.. im stoked now though just beat a mustang gt from 40 mph roll... my s*** would have bogged down before the ecu flash..

 

[PhonyEVO_1]

I just got back from mazda and now my car runs perfect. All they had to do is flash my ecu, it costs 100$ well worth it if you ask me. Thank you jjm86m for all the help. Much appreciated!!!

Thanks for the tip BigA619... I'm taking in my MSP this Thursday. I spoke with a service tech this past weekend, he noted that based on what I described sounds like I needed an ecu flash which would cost $100. He also mentioned they just flashed one a couple weeks ago and that person was having similar issues. I'm really hoping this works. Will keep you all posted if this simple ecu flash fixes my issue.

Thanks again for everyones insight. I really appreciate it.

 

[jjm86m]

Phony, it issue sounds more like turbo than ecu. Can u have them look at ur trrbo when they flash the ecu

 

[PhonyEVO_1]

Phony, it issue sounds more like turbo than ecu. Can u have them look at ur trrbo when they flash the ecu

jjm86m, I will ask them to look at the turbo. Although per your post above, my MSP seems to be doing what is described in that link as "hesitation". Seems like BigA619 was experiencing the same. My turbo makes no weird noises that I'm aware of or none of the "knocking" as you mentioned above. I truly hope when I take my MSP in to the dealership early tomorrow morning it's a quick ECU flash fix! If it's a turbo issue, I'll be super bitter as I'm looking to sell this car in the near future and purchase a lexus IS, so I need it in good running condition.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Your telling me bro i was thinking very bad things lol.. im stoked now though just beat a mustang gt from 40 mph roll... my s*** would have bogged down before the ecu flash..

Im surprised the flash did anything. My car was flashed back in 03 and it had the worst hesitation with the stock smic. Even now it has AFRs in the 9s from 3/4 to WOT, so much for advanced timing. I cant wait until I can afford an SSFTC. I could only dream of my MSP outrunning my Mustang, it would take about 10k in mods minimum.

 

[thecrash91]

Im surprised the flash did anything. My car was flashed back in 03 and it had the worst hesitation with the stock smic. Even now it has AFRs in the 9s from 3/4 to WOT, so much for advanced timing. I cant wait until I can afford an SSFTC. I could only dream of my MSP outrunning my Mustang, it would take about 10k in mods minimum.

not if youre only going for 1 run, lol all youd have to do is toss the biggest ******* turbo on there possible and drop the biggest injectors possible, and disable fuelcut and there ya go, although zoom zoom boom would probably take place before you finnished the quarter mile... hahahah

 

[f1yen]

I am suprised that was the problem, do you recall at what throttle positions it does it in? mine happens only when I am about 1/4 throttle, then the turbo spools up, up up, (car actually does not accelerate mutch in this time) then whammy cya, or i push in the clutch and let it bypass.
But 1/2 throttle will yeild normal fast acceleration...
same as full...

 

[PhonyEVO_1]

Phony, it issue sounds more like turbo than ecu. Can u have them look at ur trrbo when they flash the ecu

Unfortunately... it seems you maybe correct. A simple ECU flash is not what my car needs according to Mazda's initial yet unsure diagnoses. Unfortunately the Mazda dealership here sucks, along with their equipment, as they are unable to diagnose my vehicle appropriately as it keeps giving them inconsistent readings due to my "mods" - - - All I have is an aftermarket intake, and aluminum intercooler piping with an HKS BOV. I'm taking the car to my regular mechanic to check the vaccum lines and all other hoses, as well as take new pressure readings as Mazda's initial diagnoses is that they believe my wastegate is not working properly and that I may need a new one but are also not sure this will fix my problem... that place is full of tards!

SUPER BITTER! This MSP is giving me a headache.... really don't feel like dumping mad $$