Previa Diesel Turbocharger Bearing Failure

[rixys01]

I wanted to post this tale; someone might find it useful.

Six weeks ago the oil pressure warning light came up on my Previa diesel (2004, 130,000 miles). Stopped and checked but could find no problems. Booked it into Basingstoke Toyota dealership the following day. On the way home it started to make worrying noises. Called out Green Flag who could find no problems either. Took it direct to the dealer.

Verdict: - Oil strainer clogged, bearings in turbocharger failing. They replaced the strainer and suggested that fixing the turbocharger would be prohibitively expensive (as it is such an old vehicle!).

I phoned around and spoke by good fortune to Russell Birch at Toyotec in Redhill. When I told him the story he immediately asked if the dealership had told me why the oil strainer was clogged. Seems this is a known issue with turbocharged diesel engines caused by a leaking injector seal. Redhill is a bit of a trek but he promised to get the turbocharger reconditioned in a week and check out the injectors for what seemed a very reasonable price in view of the work involved.

Having now had the vehicle back for several weeks I am delighted with the outcome. Toyotec completed the work in a week as promised, getting the turbocharger off, sent away, reconditioned and replaced. They found as predicted a leak in one of the injector seals and replaced all the injectors with lots of before and after photos in case I doubted them. They also retrieved some fragments of compressor blade from the intercooler which might otherwise have found their way into the engine, the bits carefully saved to show me along with the old turbine rotor.

I'm very happy to recommend them and I'll go back if I have anything else major that needs doing. I'm just sorry they are not a bit closer.

[vincentfishing]

hi, dont suppose you have the final cost of this work as this is one of the more frequent problems happening with these engines, and the bottom line is cost ,thanks !