R33 Going Bonkers

[R338OY]

Hey guys - over the last couple days i've noticed my R33:

1. Losing boost pressure

2. Making a ticking noise near the resonator

3. Making a clonking noise from the drivetrain rear

With 1. - Been getting worse, turbo barely spooling, boost gauge not even hitting the '0' by 3500rpm. Usually hits 0.5 bar by that point. Running 10psi with a turbotech boost controller, stock turbo. Engine runs fine though, but i hear a 'tick' sound as soon as i press the throttle from around the left side of engine, near fuel rail and revving doesn't produce much boost. Took off and cleaned my side mount intercooler a week ago, had no probs after that though, pressure was fine.

With 2. - Thought might be from couple of little rust holes making noise, but resonator also has a rusted opening around the rear where the 3-inch pipe is supposed to be welded to it. Not sure what its coming from.

With 3. - Drove home the other day at 30km/h due to loud clonking noise from wheels/diff, not sure what is was. Haven't been doing burnouts, but took it for a run around some windy roads couple days ago. Had a look underneath the back and can't see anything snapped or loose. Suspension fine, coilovers ok, wishbones, hicas etc all fine to my eye. When i drove it home it was all together, nothing felt loose or weak, just making lots of noise.

Any advice or suggestions?

[seeyagtr]

Not Sure...

It does sound like you have spat your exhust wheel of your turbo....

It would explain all three items...

How much boost have you been running?

[Guilt-Toy]

sounds like the turbo is buggard. and it may have stuffed your cat as well

[tridentt150v]

^^^^^

I'm with them, but it could be a fuel pump and wheel bearing????

[QWK32]

have you tried taking the boost controller out, or winding it up abit? i know that some of the manual controllers if they are not opened enough or are faulty they can restrict boost.

could be the rust bits from the rusty holes your talking about rattling around in there.

is the clonking noise only while you turning, even just a little bit?

[R338OY]

  Guilt-Toy said:

sounds like the turbo is buggard. and it may have stuffed your cat as well

I thought my turbo could be stuffed. I've never run more than 11psi and always cool it down after driving. I give it hard every now and then but the problem came out of nowhere.

Maybe my cat/resonator have been stuffed too

I can take out the controller and see if it helps. It's been working fine though, so i don't see how it could have gone bad suddenly. I'll test it though.

Any tests i can do to check if my turbo's blown without taking it off? I've revved it and it doesn't make much spooling or wastegate noise. Sounds like an NA

Driving couple days ago my car went hard though i noticed it was losing pressure below 4000rpm and wasn't responsive down low. Now it's worse. Is that a sign of anything?

[R338OY]

Could my wastegate have a problem?

Should i undo my exhaust and see if the turbo spools better?

[QWK32]

its best to put the car on load (drive up the road) to test the turbo. revving it from neutral wont do much. you could just unbolt the dump pipe and look at the rear of the turbo if you think the turbo is blown. or you could unbolt the cat, take it out and see if any bits of turbine wheel are in it or if any fall out of the front pipe.

wastegate, maybe, could be somehow jammed open. i haven't heard of this before so i doubt it. see if you can move the actuator arm with your hand. there will be a bit of resistance but you should be able to move it.

start with the easy things first. take the controller out, if it still wont boost then start looking a pulling the exhaust apart to check if the turbo is ok.

[R338OY]

Sweet, i'll take off the boost controller first. Taking it to a mechanic to fix the clonking cause it's not exhaust related i'm certain. Only happens when it's driving.

If i get it back, clonking gone, but turbo still not spooling, the exhaust is coming off.

Hopefully my 33 isn't screwed