I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Topic: I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car. (Read 1204 times) previous topic - next topic

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

August 27, 2007, 09:30:34 AM

Ever since last summer I have been chasing a smoking problem on my car (it smokes at idle).

I tried putting a stagger gap oil seal in my T3, I tried another center section, I shortened the oil drain line (it was kinda long), and it still smoked like a freight train at idle when it was cold. I finally figured it was just my T3 that was doing it.

So, yesterday I spent about 7 hours pulling my T3 and installing this nice 57 trim Turbonetics hybrid that I got awhile back, thinking that SURELY, that would cure it. Boy was I wrong! Drove it to work today and it was still smoking every time I stopped. Not as bad as the T3, but it was still there.

To top all that, about 2 months ago the car developed this high pitch squealing/whining sound every time I get on boost. I originally thought it was a boost leak, but I pressure tested the IC pipes and they all checked out. Then I thought maybe it was noise coming from the manifold to turbo gasket (it was loose and making noise anyway) , so I replaced it yesterday.

And, of course, it's still making the noise. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't twice as loud as the turbo normally is, making it overly obnoxious. I'm starting to wonder if I blew one of the intake gaskets or something. Whatever it is, I can't find it, and it's g me off.

I'm currently on the market for a new vehicle, as my old winter beater Tempo is pretty well dead and I can't drive the Bird in the winter anyway. Looks like I'll probably just be looking to get said vehicle sooner rather than later, and the Bird will go into hibernation for an undetermined amount of time. I'm just sick of chasing stupid little problems and continually dealing with other stupid little problems (like IC pipes blowing out of their couplers)

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #1 – August 27, 2007, 09:59:21 AM

as far as the smoke goes, your turbo isn't the only thing that could cause it. there are several things. bad valve seas, bad valve guides, blown head gasket... among several others. don't give up just yet, you've still got several places to look.
for the noise that it's making, does it sound like air or metal on metal sound? this one's going to be hard to diagnose over the computer. lol.

if you do sell it, put the t3 back on and sell me the hybrid.

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #2 – August 27, 2007, 11:54:32 AM

Sounds like valve stem seals to me.

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #3 – August 27, 2007, 12:34:28 PM

I've just about gotten to the point where you're at now. With my mileage rapidly approaching the 240k mark, I have the following problems to deal with:

1)Turbo is making a clicking/ticking noise which sounds like a small ball bearing being thrown around in a can...it can be heard through my exhuast.

2)Not boosting the 10psi it should be...is about 6-6.5psi.

3)Heater Core needs replacing

4)Needs Ball joints...or at least grease

5)A/C chirps when turned on...trying to diagnose now

6)Driver's side door way out of whack...Already did Pins and Bushings...twice...now I need new hinges and an alignment.

7)Car ALWAYS pings a low speed acceleration...despite a good EGR and using Premium Gas...and Seafoam

8)There is a clunk in the right front when I have the car in "Auto Ride" mode...possibly ball joint

9)There is a Trans fluid leak coming from places unknown, and it ends up on the Cat...leaving a nice smoke trail!

10)I need a V8

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #4 – August 28, 2007, 09:33:28 AM

I don't really think it is valve stem seals, because back when I had the original engine in the car the valve stem seals were going bad and it smoked very differently from how it does now. Of course, I could be completely wrong, and the machine shop that did my head pretty well fubared all the tops of the valve guides where the seals sit on so they very well could be leaking.

The other thing that confounds me is that for as bad as it smokes sometimes, I can NEVER find evidence of oil anywhere. Not on the spark plugs, not in the ports, not in the turbine housing, nothing.

As far as the sound goes, it's definitely not a metal on metal sound. It made it with the T3 and makes it with the hybrid, and what really makes it hard to figure out are two things-
#1, it makes the noise whether I'm at .5 psi boost or 15 psi (it's just louder at 15 psi). I pressurized my IC pipes (from the turbo inlet to the throttle body) with an air compressor and could not replicate the noise.

#2 Sometimes, it just goes away completely. Last night I was driving around and I got on it several times and it was not making the noise at all. But today, it is, again.

This car runs great and I enjoy driving it, but these little problems have just been bugging the out of me.

As far as selling you the hybrid... :flip: It's a Turbonetics single ball bearing unit that I got for $460. No way I'm selling it :)

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #5 – August 28, 2007, 09:48:43 AM

For the smoking are you positive that the oil return line is a downward angle to the block. If there is any sort of flat spot the oil won't drain back like it should and then it will kinda pool inside the turbo.

For the high pitched noise. Make sure the metal wire is inside the VAM hose. If it is sucking closed that might cause that sound. Also with the motor running spray so carb cleaner around all the pipe and gasket areas if the idle raises then look at that spot for a leak.

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #6 – August 28, 2007, 10:56:52 AM

Sounds like you might have something in the compressor housing. Like a zippy tie end. Ask me how I know...

:hick:

I think I've finally reached the point where I'm sick of my car.

Reply #7 – August 28, 2007, 11:34:22 AM

I just fixed the oil return line, as I said...it was kinda long, I actually cut 3 or 4 inches out of it and it's "just right" now, and it's plenty big (-12 AN). It goes straight to the pan.

Don't have the VAM hose anymore, I have an intake made of 3.5" aluminum pipe in front of the turbo. VAM is blow through.

As far as having something in the turbo housing...it must really be stuck in there and gotten transferred from one turbo to the next if thats the case

I thought about the carb cleaner trick but that stuff eats paint and I don't want it taking all the paint off engine parts it comes in contact with (plus I bet it's not too good for rubber couplers, which I have several of). Is there anything less corrosive you can use?