Toyota Previa 2003. Turbo Issue

[jaz13]

I just bought a Toyota Previa 2003 a month ago, to go on a family holiday to cornwall. I had to have the turbo replaced before I left. I have driven over 700 miles and the Turbo has gone again, I have been told there are always issues with Turbo's, I don't understand why the turbo has gone again the car was driving perfect. The oil light came on, I knew I had oil, because I had an oil change and the MOT done a few days before with no issues. I put oil in the engine whilst I was driving up a hill it had no power so I parked it up for the night. In the morning I called the AA to check it out and lots of smoke was coming out of the exhaust and the AA man said it seems like the turbo. I don't know why it has gone again I had the oil feed cleared when I had the turbo replaced. so now I am on holiday and trying to find a reason why it went again. I am 500 miles away from where I had it fixed in the first place. I do not want to spend more cash but the AA said they will pay for up to £500 to fix it. I am in cornwall newquay and not sure what to do. Can anyone give me some advice please. Thank you.Jaz

[crow3030]

Hi have you checked injector seals for smoke...

Most likely a build up on carbon why change turbo?

Had you sump cleaned out and gauge in sump also a good engine flush then new filters and oil before new turbo was run also could have been oil starvation if you filled uphill seams like sump gauge wasn't cleaned hard to tell matey

[jaz13]

So maybe its not the turbo gone again. I only know the mechanic cleared the pipe oil feed to turbo if that is the right terminology and did an oil change.

The AA said it seems like the turbo. But I am on holiday all the garages around are fully booked and I am stuck I have it booked in for a garage Friday, so lets see.....thank you for your reply

[crow3030]

I had a problem before with turbo boost no faults logged but down in power so it was mechanical first thing to rule out everything was injector seals as I had huge blow by. 4th injector seal knackered got new ones I recommend not to use steal ones are copper ones either as they never seal right buy from Toyota they sell the alloy ones job done no more blow bye but still loose of power . Next was blocked cat lossened exhaust to let gases out guess what still no power scratching my head now opened up the egr top cap drove it still the same no power again thinking so bypassed the intercooler still the same down on power I had a fair idea turbo problems but struggled on testing things as turbo was no play in shaft and turbine felt solid and tight so I tryed the suction valves and still no power no engine management lights on what is going on I thought scratching a hole in my brain now pump pressure good injectors reading good compression good map sensor good in the end took turbo off should have at the start done that but needed to eliminate other things befour the dreaded bill ££££ turbo out now been nosey wanted to see if any veins broke inside guess what I found one off the allum key nuts had come loose preventing the veins to open to get boost right seams these turbos lossen the nuts inside the turbo housing holding the veins shut so no boost at all screwed them back and used high temp loc so they won't undo again cleaned turbo put back in car rebuild everything back on changed oil and filters cleaned gauge in sump and car is a rocket now bear in mind now I had no smoke from exhaust to indicate issues just down in power so this might help the other head scratchers as well

And your welcome anytime

[jaz13]

Thank you, I think it is the turbo, The guy who sold me turbo said he will send me another one no prob's but I am I newquay and they

want £400 to install the thing. it cost me half that in London then another 75 to change the oil and filter and a 100 plus to check the sump it works out over £500 and I am supplying the turbo. If they supply the turbo they want £950. Can you tell me the difference to a rebuilt turbo to a remanufactured one is there a difference. The one I bought originally was a remanufactured one and the one they want to sell me they said is rebuilt I think was the term. Toyota said £750 plus vat. I bought the car for this trip with friends I bought it for a £1000 which was a bargain and when it drives it runs so nice. so to spend all this money on it does not seem worth it. as I will be selling it once this trip is over. obviously I need to fix it to get back on the road. thank you for all your advice glad you sorted yours without having to change the turbo what luck.....:)))) take care

Jaz

[jaz13]

If my last mechanic changed the oil filter would that mean he also cleared the gauge in the sump. these new mechanics are saying its a really big job to get to the sump......thanks jaz

[crow3030]

I'm not sure remanufactured would that be esperious if it had off been me I would have took my old turbo and got it done up means everything inside seals turbine balanced a good turbo specialist knows what needs replaced, then when u get your old turbo back it's like new with a warranty on internal parts I'm not sure in England prices of reconditioning your old turbo. But esperious parts are dirt tbh they either never fit right are need adapted if you have your old genuine one look for a specialist get it done up .. as for sump cleaning a good mechanic will do that some say no as they want a car in and out as quick as possible when I service a car I take pleasure and time look after the customer really it's what you pay for a service if he removed your oil feed pipe sounds like injectors so maybe cleaned sump and pipes not sure though

[jaz13]

When I bought the car the turbo had already gone. the guy I bought it from must of put some stuff in the engine t stop it smoking

I bought it in Kent, by the time I reached London it was smoking badly and then diagnosed the turbo. When the mechanic took out the turbo he said it looked brand new, but it was not the original turbo. So I had to exchange it, I did my research and found a guy on eBay with very good reviews and met him and exchanged turbo's. he said he remanufactures them has a workshop in Poland. He charged me £260, but like I said he had amazing reviews. where I am now they want to charge me £700 for a remanufactured one plus VAT, only it only has 12,000 miles guarantee. Toyota also charge £700 plus VAT. But I really don't want to spend all this money on the car. The polish guy said he will replace it, if it goes after that I am sure he will give me my money back, but ia m sure it will be fine. I will also ask him about the original one I gave him, if he still has it maybe i will just find someone to fix it like you said, but it all takes time and i am on holiday and need the car to continue my holiday.

Where about are you in the UK? you sound more like a mechanic i could use. A real mechanic. The car was taken to a garage yesterday to be worked on today this guy also has very good reviews, he wants to charge £400 plus Vat to fit the turbo, and do the oil change it will come up to around £500 mark as he charges to diagnose it as well. i will talk to him to see if he cleans the gauze in the sump. If he is a good mechanic like you said i am sure he will. for that price. thanks for your time and info. it has really helped me understand a lot more. Have a good day...cheers

[jaz13]

The one i bought fitted like a glove it never needed any adapting. The car had one lady owner before me and you can tell they really looked after the car. i am going to see if i can get the original one back.

[jaz13]

It is the Turbo, the mechanic said it was starved of oil, so there seems to be major problems with the inside of the engine. so I told him I had just done a 400 mile drive and the car run very well, I then said have your checked the sump gauze maybe its blocked,

he soon changed his attitude and said he will check this, he asked me if the last mechanic had changed the filter I said I was not sure. So a new turbo is on its way and hopefully should get the car back on Tuesday. could it be anything else if the oil is not getting through to the turbo?

Thank you

JAZ

[jaz13]

What does esperious mean???

[crow3030]

spurious sorry spelt wrong a copy of a genuine part not been a true Garrett turbo.

Ask him to a do a compression test

Ie.... From the heater plugs.

YOU can remove small pipe from rocker cover going to breather it has a small clip pull pipe off if u see smoke coming from it it's injector seals....

He shouldn't have blew a airline down oil pipes bad **** that also a car should be run for ages when these oil pipes are removed to allow oil to feed back up hardly engine done mate..this mechanic dude sounds to me he ain't got a clue.he needs to restart again.

1.. engine flush

2.. drain engine oil

3.. remove old oil filter

4.. clean oil pick up in sump

5.. New diesel filter ...Has he checked for diesel filter primmer head leaks never pump them to many times they mess up.

6..start rebuilding from 1 to 6

7..New turbo if u need that ????

Still no boost after this it's time checking other things removal like loosening up egr to release gasses

Lossening exhaust. Again release gases

Bypass intercooler to ilimate blocked intercooler it's hard work time consuming.

Just a thought has he a mighty vac to test actuator on turbo See if it's operating ok maybe stuck.

Check all vacuum pipes for leaks off air

Check breather pipe on the air filter the rubber hose for splits .

I'm not sure on oil pump never had issues maybe someone here can help on that..

Hope this helps a bit something has caused this fault if turbo has oil starvation been honest you no who ?

Good luck keep in touch

[crow3030]

Was there smoke from old turbo when it went.

Did he try suction valves on pump if not get a set of a good driving car Toyota avensis swap em round see might have to prime it a bit after you remove your has he a diagnostic machine to check pump pressure and injector pressure if not worth the £30 to Toyota to see values now they won't no a answer to give you if you have no faults but they can do I've readings and tell u pump pressure and injector ask them for a print out if they say it's bad... I will tell u ;-)

[crow3030]

Forget all them daft answers just do 1--7 let engine idle to get oil up to turbo . If car was running well befour hand

CAN SOMEONE CONFIRM IF OIL PRESSURE SWITCH ARE OIL PUMP GIVES PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS FELLA PAYS 400 AGAIN FOR A NEW TURBO

[crow3030]

O I'm dying with a hangover weekends seeing double :-/

[jaz13]

All that info and you got hangover.....I wish you were my mechanic.....a job well done no half way business.....yes the last turbo was giving

a lot of smoke just like this one and the mechanic said the same thing turbo starved of oil.i will tell him the 1-7 and ask him to confirm if the oil pressure switch (what was that part again) if oil pressure switch oil pump gives problems......

thank you.......some of these mechanics really take advantage of women you would think they would take care of our cars they come from a woman lol....thanks matey much appreciated for your support and your time....Jaz

[crow3030]

Yea was hoping someone could confirm if oil pumps give problems

Both oil pump and switch are different parts I'm sure new turbo will cure problem for u

Let me no

[jaz13]

ok thanks mate......hope you feeling better

[jaz13]

Hi mate

So the mechanic has got back to me and said the strainer in the sump is completely blocked and needs a new one. Also he has to buy a gasket to fit the turbo because it did not come with one. just giving you an update.....

[crow3030]

New turbo cure your problem ? Hope so :-)

[jaz13]

Yes thank you....All done I did hear a lot of positive reviews about the mechanic I used in the end. So the car is running beautiful

now I want to sell it and go to Asia for the winter..........thanks for all you support....take care