1.9 Cdti Turbocharger problem

[Kenny G]

Interesting........ wife's 06 Signum 1.9cdti 150 has only done 6000 miles and was running very well until a couple of weeks ago. Then it started making a slight screeching noise from the engine area. Wifey was escorted to the Main Dealer by the AA man (!), where they took a week to replace the turbocharger.

Guess what? It's only done another 150 miles and it's gone again. As I type this, she's on her way home at a top speed of 45 mph along the motorway.

Obviously it's going in again tomorrow but I'll add to this as things develop.

[soulman]

thats a real bummer

[Gsi3.2]

Have they checked the oil feed to the turbo??.. ratherthan just chucking another one back on..sounds like it's running dry bearings?

[Kenny G]

Wifey's Signum was given a suspended tow back to the dealer's today. Not good for morale to see your gorgeous new motor going past the neighbours' places with its wheels in the air!

Dealer phoned Vauxhalls, who reckon there's a faulty batch of turbo's out there and will be replaced if they fail.

Can't say I'm convinced. I agree with the suggestion that the oil supply isn't right, or why did the first one pack up?

Still, I've been wrong before, so watch this space.

The AA man took wifey to collect a brand new Zafira courtesy car, which at least is better than the little Corsa she got the first time.

[Sundance]

it is a fairly common fault, i have done a couple of them, i personally think it is the banjo bolt that goes into the engine block on the oil feed pipe that is the problem. inside the banjo bolt is a very fine mesh restrictor, and this can block up very easily. Vauxhall say it is there to reduce the oil pressure at the turbo seals, otherwise it will pop the seals. obviosely it works too well and starves the turbo. i have also had to change the intercooler because of bits of turbo wedged in that!!

[Gazza90000]

Ask for a new car

[benny]

yeah needs a new banjo bolt and mabye some new oil pipes ..also needs a oil and filter change

[Gsi3.2]

so, why did they fit the restrictor.. as a fine mesh risks carbonisation over time due to dirty oil etc.. or is it fitted as a filter to trap those particles from entering the turbo's bearings??

I've never heard or seen a mesh reduce pressure.. in fact it can't, it can only strain the passing oil.. pressure differences need bore differences....

[Sundance]

Sorry, it should read "it looks like a fine mesh" inside a plastic insert in the banjo bolt. (the one leaving the block, not the one in the turbo). Vaux tech say the turbo was not initially designed for that engine, therefor required the mod to reduce the pressure.

[Kenny G]

Hello All,

Thanks to those who've sent suggestions.

The car's still in the dealer's. They've swapped the courtesy car from the Zafira to an Astra and there's no sign of the Signum coming out.

I printed out the info about the filter and taken it to the Service Manager, who says he's only ever heard of one other similar problem. Not sure I believe that, but that's what he says.

He also says that there's a modified turbo just come out and they're waiting for it to come for wifey's car.

Hmmmmm..... we'll see. We're off to the north of Scotland in a week or so, so it'd better not pack up again when we're up there!