GTA turbo work in progress

In the summer driving through Dalby Forest - fantastic!


..a few weeks ago after alternator failure and yet more electrical problems. View from the passenger seat!

Decided to take the car off the road and seeing as the alternator needs swapping, decided to try and sort out all the other problems that were bugging me since buying the car. Principally a hissing from the inlet manifold, water dripping from turbo at startup, various electrical connectors issues, most worryingly some smoking on idle after a decent drive.. and of course general shoddy looking engine bay

more soon...

Engine is now stripped down. Slightly worried by how many components, bolts, clips etc are actually on it. Have tried to bag up and label as much as possible. Have to say removing the turbo was a huge pain in the ass!



Am now glad of deciding to get the turbo reconditioned. With this very worrying discovery! Water pipe behind turbo is blocked solid.


Over the years seems that a large amount of leaves, stones, grime, nuts bolts and god knows what else is buried in the V of the engine.

Some damage to compressor blades.


Parts have been blasted and are looking pretty shiny


So now it is cleaning, cleaning. In the next few days am hoping to set the tappets (did I mention one bank taps like mad ) and get the rocker covers back on, and also building up the inlet manifold. Have about 3 weeks leave left before I have to go back on some dirty great oil tanker

Looking good
Don't worry too much about the blocked water circuit to the turbo .Most of the ones I've dismantled are blocked solid .Turbo will be fine without it .

slightly relieved

Seeing as the turbo has a Turbo Technics plate on it with serial numbers etc, I was thinking the easiest option was to send it back to them. I have the receipt from the service history which says there was 'setting up of superchip' at the same time as the turbo was last refurbished (1999)... given I know absolutely nothing about superchips this is a bit concerning? Might the boost pressure have been changed or some such? Or is the0 'chip' purely just electronic..?

[BIG_MVS]

You have the delighted Alpine owner "look" down to a tee there Paul. We have all been there mate



The refurb work is looking good, well done keep at it!

Not sure the superchips ecu did anything to be honest (only to remove the boost cut out), is there any sign of a bleed valve?

Most likely it is just a fudge to the signal from the pressure sensor to allow more boost before overboost cut .
Alters the voltage from the sensor so the ECU thinks it's receiving less than it actually is .OK up to a point but without alterations to the fueling/timing then a couple of psi is all you can use without risk .

All turbos will leak water on start up.
Nothing to worry about.
It had me worried the first time i saw it too.
Its just condensation.

But refurb is looking good.

Dave

Smoking on idle,
oh thats sounds familiar.
I had this on a previouse engine,
I think the problem stemed from valve stem guides.
To check you need to see if it chucks out smoke on over run.

Dave

Another tip,
Don't use the cardboard rocker cover gaskets they are naff.
Use a silicone based gasket far less likely to leak.

[simontaylor]

I have a water cooled turbo on my car, and no water pipes to feed it.
It's been fine for the last 3 or so years, still pulling strong.

[Alpineandy]

..a few weeks ago after alternator failure

I'm not very knowledgable about GTAs (to be honest, not very knowledgable about much.... Quiet please gentlemen!) But pretty certain that the alternator isn't in the front.
Hope this tip assists!

ha ha yes I found it eventually. Also had to tell the AA man 'the engine's in the boot' - and when he was determined to fix my speedo for the trip home I pretty much had my head in my hands

Thanks for all the comments here, sounds like some of the problems aren't too bad then. I've got some silicone for the gaskets, need to track down the part numbers for the central water pipe o-rings and the 6 inlet o-rings. Today been using a pressure washer to flush the last residue out of the inlet manifold before reassembling. Having a look at the tappets tomorrow.

Silicone for the gaskets?? The oil pick up and pump will love that!!
(not!) If you are not replacing the old gaskets
then at least use the correct Renault mastic.

Silicone for the gaskets?? The oil pick up and pump will love that!!
(not!) If you are not replacing the old gaskets
then at least use the correct Renault mastic.

maybe dave means polyeurothane