Replacing a turbo on a 1.9 TDI (100bhp - 02-plate)

[NotMyName]

My brother reckons his turbo has gone. So does the local mechanic.

He was on the motorway & smoke came out the rear end in spectacular fashion at the weekend. My sister said when they took it to the garage, my brother was at the garage & you could still see the smoke around our way which is about 1 - 2 miles away. I saw it at the garage & the rear end is BLACK & has dumped more oil-residue out the back end.

The mechanic is winding down his days & doesn't want to touch the job but says he's almost certain it's the turbo that's packed in & says my brother will be looking at £700-£800 or so & has recommended a different garage to take it to.

Does this figure sound about right?

Is it much of a job? Does it need programming in with VAGCOM afterwards? As if not, then my brother may chance going ahead with it, so long as it's not an arse of a job (i.e. entire engine strip down).

[EsSeX dAn]

its a case of old off new on. thing is, where the manifold is part of thr turbo this also has to come off. its quite a fiddly lil job so itll be quite labour intesive. as for prices, you could either put a brand new unit in, find a used one which is always a gamble or get a recon one put in

[NotMyName]

Elsewhere it was recommended to send the busted turbo off to some place like turbo technics (don't know if they're a decent company or not).

I've emailed for a quote on the job.

Thing is, are recon units WORTH IT? My only experience of recon units are recon starter motors in fork lift trucks at work & they are a total waste of time as they don't last long at all!!! I know there are variables (such as if once fitted he constantly rags the crap out of it, it wont last as long as if he treats it with care, but i mean 'generally speaking').

[EsSeX dAn]

turbo technics are a good well known company. wether you get a reconditioned one or your unit refurbed itll be the same sort of thing happening, jus means itll be either yours getting refurbed or another unit being refurbed. best to get a thread going to do with turbo rebuilders

[NotMyName]

The question is more whether getting it refurbed (by anyone) is worth it - as in are they likely to last. For the question i'm basically pitting a refurbed one vs a brand spanker.

As i say, my only experience of refurbed units are starter motors in fork lifts & these weren't lasting 5 minutes. Work then started buying brand spanker starter motors & they lasted some time.

So he wouldn't want to be buying a refurbed turbo (from anyone) if it's only likely to last 5 mins vs a new one.

[NotMyName]

My brother is questioning whether it is the turbo or this little rascal:



Whatever that is is caked in oil. He says the signs still seem to point towards turbo that's gone, but he's questioning this due to it being caked.

Your view?

[Steve_PD]

Thats the EGR valve, was the pipe like that or did he take it off? When the turbo goes it will pump oil all round the intake system so all the pipes and intercooler will be caked in oil.

I put a recon on mine last year. All parts cost £600 and then £300 in labour. Done about 25k on it now and its been fine (touch wood )

[NotMyName]

Nah, the pipe wasn't like that - he'd taken it off for that photo.

His boss is on at him about it now, which is not going down well. Boss has said to check whether EGR valve is stuck open. He's also told him to take some pipes off connected to the turbo (exhaust was one of them & i can't remember the name of the other). I don't know what he's then supposed to do. Start it i think? Boss was going on about the air filter & some sort of pre-filter.

All of it went over my head.

Basically boss was saying he needs to determine whether it IS the turbo or not as he (brother) doesn't want to be paying for a turbo if it's something else.

I notice you say £600 for "ALL" parts. I thought it was just a turbo required? What else was in that £600 recon price? If a new intake system as you mention, couldn't he just have the current intake system cleaned & re-used?

[Steve_PD]

Oil supply and return pipes, new air filter, oil and oil filter.

Dont know what his boos is on about. Take the pipe off to the intercooler and see how much oil is in there.