Is my turbo working

[civvie]

Clio 1.5d 2003 jobbie ,think it's about a 68bhp model.

Is there an easy way to check whether the turbo is working or not , there doesn't seem to be any oomph when driving.

I did take the aircleaner off to see the waste gate valve, then revved the engine but it didn't move, was it supposed to? or does it only work under load.

Any help appreciated.

Steve

[Deanxm]

Hi Steve

The wastegate will only either open when maximum boost is reached to bypass the turbine or it will close via vacuume supplied by a pump and solonoid valve actuated by the ecu to allow boost to build depending on the system installed, if you take the air inlet off of the throttle body somewhere down stream of the turbo at idle you should have a steady blow of air coming out from the turbo side, this will let you know if the turbo if free to turn but not that the wastegate side of things is working correctly, the easiest way is to try driving it with the same pipe disconnected and see what the difference is.

I take it you dont have an engine management light on or issues with smoke or anything like that?

D

[civvie]

Hi Steve
I take it you dont have an engine management light on or issues with smoke or anything like that?

D

Hi Dean, Thanks for the reply, its given me a few ideas. No, there are no management light on, there was a problem last year with a management light coming on every so often it was to do with the dreaded emissions. I kept on clearing it but a few days later it came back, finally cleared it by replacing the turbo pressure sensor (map?)

Car belongs to daughter and have been lumbered with getting it ready for the MOT, so far its four new tyres, new Track rod ends and new front suspension springs, if it passes as it is might look at the turbo when it gets a bit warmer.

Steve

[Lighty]

Best way to tell is to squash a rubber inlet hose, and then get someone to rev it, the hose should force your hand off.
The usual problem with TD engines is that the ecu cuts the fuel, so the turbo can be working, but no performance. If the turbo was faulty you would tend to get smoke or noise or both.

[michael95r]

Has Lightys tip worked? I would be interested to know.

[civvie]

Thanks for the info Lighty.

Michael, No haven't done anything about it at the mo, too bloody cold to be under bonnets. What I can say is the car passed the MOT last Friday no issues, passed the emissions on fast pass so no problems there. Car has been given back to daughter so won't be trying it until it gets a bit warmer, and I see it again !
One thing though, wife has a Micra that shares the same engine but with a slightly higher power output ( she has an intercooler) the Micra is so much nippier then the Clio, even daughter mentioned it when she borrowed it, hence the question.

Thanks all.

Steve

[speederuption]

Hi
Please check all the pipes that lead to the turbo especially the one that fits to the air filter as i had this fault
and all it was was a crushed pipe where air couldn't get to a sensor.

Gary

[civvie]

Gary, thanks for the input. Think the pipe is ok, (if its the one to the map sensor that is) had a quick poke around when I changed the air filter etc, disconnected it and blew through it to see if it was bunged up with oil etc, all clear. Will keep it in mind when daughter lets me loose on the car again.