Technical Pop goes the weasel.

[Bfmucker]

Whilst driving my 2009 Abarth 500 the other day, the turbo stopped working. I drove onto a roundabout, as I put my foot down to pull off the roundabout, the was a 'puf' and instant loss of pressure, then a small regain (feeling similar to that of when you pass a lorry on the motorway and the wind hits you from the side). No smoke, no other noises, but the turbo just doesn't turbo any more. The boost guage inside no longer registers any pressure. Car still drives fine, just with no turbo at all. Does anyone know what the problem is? Could it be an easy fix? Or do I need to replace the turbo? When I plugged in my code reader, it read;
P0240

Turbocharger / Supercharger Boost Sensor B Circuit Range Performance

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Whilst driving my 2009 Abarth 500 the other day, the turbo stopped working. I drove onto a roundabout, as I put my foot down to pull off the roundabout, the was a 'puf' and instant loss of pressure, then a small regain (feeling similar to that of when you pass a lorry on the motorway and the wind hits you from the side). No smoke, no other noises, but the turbo just doesn't turbo any more. The boost guage inside no longer registers any pressure. Car still drives fine, just with no turbo at all. Does anyone know what the problem is? Could it be an easy fix? Or do I need to replace the turbo? When I plugged in my code reader, it read;
P0240

Turbocharger / Supercharger Boost Sensor B Circuit Range Performance

It could be, Wild idea I’m just going to throw it out there….

The turbo…

Excuse my sarcasm I couldn’t resist.

Open the bonnet, locate the turbo, take the pipe off the intake side of the turbo and check to see if you can turn it, also take a look for any damage. You can check the end float while you’re there

If here is the possibility the bypass valve is stuck open, so you’ll need to really need to take a look at the turbo and see what’s going on.

 

[Bfmucker]

Thanks, I'm a complete newbie when I comes to engines. I've looked a diagrams and stared at the engine but can't identify where the turbo is.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Open the bonnet, take a picture, post it up and we can point it out for you.

In these cars from memory it sits on the front of the engine on the top of the exhaust manifold so it is easy to access, and again if memory serves, it’s the large pipe going into the right hand side of the turbo you’ll want to pop off.

 

[Bfmucker]

It could do with a clean but here it is. I'm thinking it's down the right hand side.....

 

[PuntoHowTo]

It could do with a clean but here it is. I'm thinking it's down the right hand side.....

Turbo is under here

Arrow is pointing to the waste gate actuator which if stuck or it’s become detached could be letting all the boost out.

The pipe you’ll want to remove is on the left hand side not the right as per my previous post.

You could also have just blown and pipe off or it’s split and not holding pressure, well worth taking a look to see if there is anything obvious

 

[Bfmucker]

Thank you. I've inspected the pipe. It isn't split nor has it come away from the waste gate actuator. What I am I looking for if I take the pipe off? Does the waste gate actuator come apart. Again, thanks for your help.

 

[icheatatscrabble]

Sorry to see this. Looks like any profit you see from selling on that Abarth Engine cover you got from ebay might get swallowed up in repairs..
Although you could try the fitting that pipe you've got to replace the missing one? Might kick it back in?
But i think AndyRKett may be right....

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Thank you. I've inspected the pipe. It isn't split nor has it come away from the waste gate actuator. What I am I looking for if I take the pipe off? Does the waste gate actuator come apart. Again, thanks for your help.

you need to get the metal covers off to see whats going on there, get the engine cover off too. Then you can see what's going on.

A quick look on youtube shows a few videos looking at the actuator so rather than try to explain it I will try and find one of those and you can see how it goes together

 

[Bfmucker]

you need to get the metal covers off to see whats going on there, get the engine cover off too. Then you can see what's going on.

A quick look on youtube shows a few videos looking at the actuator so rather than try to explain it I will try and find one of those and you can see how it goes together

Thanks @AndyRKett I've got the missing pipe now so will attach that to see if the extra bit of pressure (if any, as my pressure producing turbo isn't working) kicks it in again. Then will start taking it apart. Thank again for your help.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I think I have confused myself and probably you in the process, I have just looked at your other thread and really that missing pipe shouldn't affect the turbo, it is the PCV pipe that takes oil vapor containing air from the engine and puts it into the intake to stop oil vapor getting into the air.

Where the turbo actuator is in my picture above.

you will find under it and slightly to the right is the turbo unit itself.
on the left of the turbo is a big 50mm ish pipe going in, which will be connected to the air filter, this is the air intake side of the turbo, if you take that pipe off you can access the impellor on the turbo and will be able to see if it spins which it should so very easily, and if there is any movement up and down which would imply the bearings have worn out. it should also not move in and out, there is a certain amount of "end float" that is to say movement in the turbo impellor but it should be minimal. .

There will be another large pipe probably coming out somewhere under the turbo which carries the pressurized air to the intake of the engine. this is the pipe you will need to look at.

The actuator should normally be closed and only open if there is too much pressure on the presurised side of the turbo.

so if you take the metal covers and plates off and find the valve on the turbo to be open then it might just be the actuator has failed or needs adjusting.

given the sudden nature of the fault developing either a pipe had blown off, or split or the actuator has stuck open. thats where my money is.

If the turbo had seized suddenly you might get a similar issue where you no longer make any boost.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Also check the intercooler is not holed. Same effect as split pipes