turbo dead :(:(:(

[fastersaabs]

Had no real turbo pressure for the last month. Just got the car back from a main dealer and they said the turbo is screwed. The guy I spoke to (who wasn't one of the mechanics) said the cover on the wategate within the turbo had come off (down the exhaust presumably, as the turbine blades were still in one piece) and there was no way of fixing it therefore only solution is a new turbo. Spoke to the mechanic this morning (very nice bloke) to confirm this. Question is, could a turbo specialist fix it? I tried to find out what turbo I have as well but he wasn?t 100% sure. Sevenman thinks I have a T25 turbo, can anyone confirm this? Car is a 92' J CDS FPT. Also does anyone know a good turbo specialist in the midlands (I?m in worcester) ? Any help provided will be much appreciated.

[fastersaabs]

Oh and a good picture from inside a turbo here:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:b...&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[Eric van Spelde]

Sevenman is right - all 2.3 9K's except manual Aero versions (which got the TD04HL15T) have T25's.

I think a TD04HL15T with the smaller (5cm2) turbine housing as found on 9-3 Aero and 9-5 Aero models would be a direct fit using the 9000 Aero oil ( & coolant?) lines, and that would be a nice upgrade.

[ylee coyote]

I have just replaced my turbo..a to4 jobbie
We bought the turbo as a service replacement from two stroke to turbo it was around 410 squid
they source them from turbo-active according to the label on the turbo..maybe going direct would be cheaper???
btw when they took my old u/s turbo off the exhaust turbine had completely gone...

[Paul D]

Fastersaabs,
I must say I have a bit of a jaundiced view of main dealers abilities to fix turbos, ever since one quoted me in excess of £1,000 to replace one which had a stuck wastegate. Especially as I got it cleaned and sorted for £50 via a local garage.

I also found that most Turbo specialists won't quote to do a fix until they had the part looked at and usually off the car - by which time you might as well pay them to do the job anyway.

I presume that if the cover on the wastegate has come off, another could be replaced - but for the cost you might be better of getting a replacement/reconditioned unit fitted. Check with the Turbo specialists, and do a websearch on Yahoo etc., if nowone can recommend a local specialist for you.

Should just say reconned Turbos' need to be ballanced to speeds around 100,000 rpm - and only specialist Turbo outlets have the kit to do this.

[fastersaabs]

Thanks for the info everyone. At the moment I have a price of £150 for a second hand turbo with 6 months warranty plus recon units priced around £470. Turbo Dynamics gave me a price of £150 + vat as a minimum repair cost (not including removal and fitting). So I think I may go for the second hand job just to get me buzzing around again , at the very least for 6 months. Once current turbo is off then it would be a lot easier to get it repaired should I need to in the future.

[9000CS23T]

Out of curiousity, where did you get the quote of £150 for a second hand turbo?

Neil

[BlueMintAero97]

I have recently suffered the same with my 9000 Aero. Saab main dealer quoted me the thick end of £2500 for a new turbo. Grumbling at this, i headed off to a local saab independent specialist who had it on the ramps for all of 3 minutes before quoting £11.76 +VAT to cure the problem, which he did with tremendous results. The saab dealer said that the waste gate on the turbo had stuck solid, and recommended replacing the turbo due to wear that might have damaged the turbo itself. The car has only done 49,000 miles, so didnt like what i was hearing!
What actually had happened was the high pressure hose had come apart from the turbo unit, and the clip holding it in place was nowhere to be found, so he replaced the hose and attached the new clip, from stock and Bob, as they say, it your Father's Brother! (seems a common fault - wonder y saab didn't mention it?!)took it along the bypass that night for a trial, and 0-60 in just over 6 seconds, Job done I thought!!!

Neill

[1989agoodvintage]

We are hearing a lot about dealer mechanics being a bit to part-swap happy these days. Basically they get too familiar with warranty repairs where the customer demands that new parts be fitted rather then accept a minor repair, even if a minor repair is all that is required.

Thing is, for those of us with Saabs that are over 10 years old and have a limited budget, this approach ain't acceptable. In which case your normally better off going to a reputable independent garage.

[billj]

Welcome to Saabscene, BlueMintAero97!

[CarlyKeith]

Had a look at Turbo Active's web. Interesting feature on how a turbo works.

http://www.turboactive.com/home/frameset.htm

[fastersaabs]

Out of curiousity, where did you get the quote of £150 for a second hand turbo?[/b]

The place was called SAAB Centre £125 + VAT with a 6 month warrenty, not bad I thought.

[sevenman]

How much did it cost for the Saab Dealer to tell you the Wastegate had dissapeared?

[fastersaabs]

Far Far to much!