notsmartcars said:

If you only go up to a maximum speed of say 75ish and light throttle the pressure in the system will not become high enough to cause the rod to move hence over a period of time it becomes seized ..

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I'm sure you're right about this. That absolutely describes my wife's driving style. I think a monthly thrash together with some lubrication just before should keep the problem at bay.

Thanks for your input.

Colin

This is uncannily like what happened to my Panda MJ in as much as when it gets to about 3,000 revs in 3rd or 4th it's just like taking my foot off the gas. When I took it into a garage (independant specialist who I have a lot of time for) the fault showed up as a Turbo pressure sensor which was duly replaced.

The same thing happened again but seems to reset itself overnight. It's also felt a little hesitant at about 60 going up a slight hill. It subsequently threw up a couple of other faults, the ECU and/or the Turbo.

The problem is that one (or both) will have to be taken off to be investigated. I spoke to one of the fitters at work who thought, without being able to put it on a diagnostic device that it was the ECU. I've found somewhere in London who will inspect it for £70 including postage and for another £360 will fix it. Or, for around £400 I can get a refurbished one from FIAT. Those figures are both subject to costs for removal and re-fitting. I tend to think the ECU might be at fault as some of the readouts, such as fuel consumption have been petty inconsistent of late.

Its all been said before if a code reader says its the turbo boost sensor shutting the engine power down instead of your garage thinking its telling the truth lets check the actuator they think lets charge the customer for a new sensor :bang:

My man is looking into this problem as we speak.....well, not exactly as we speak because it's currently 2:07 in the morning so if he's got any sense he'll be in bed, but he will be very shortly.

I've been having this problem in the last month with my 57 plate MJ. It's done 43,000 miles and for the last 6 months has been used to do my daily commute of 30 miles mostly through county lanes and the full range of speed limits.

I took it a Fiat dealer and they report that the turbo has seized and needs replacing - approximately 800 pounds.

Love my MJ and don't think there is anything on the market that I would want to or could afford to replace it with so I guess I'll by paying up.

From reading these forums it seems like I'm going to have to take it on longer motorway journeys from time to time.

Did you read the replies to this topic? I genuinely doubt your turbo is seized. It'll be the actuator for the wastegate and will free off with the appropriate effort.

Hi,

I can assure your Turbo As Gone.

I have pure Experience of this From when i first Bought my car from the Garage in Blackpool. When it was tested on the diagnostics machine it came up with air filters But when it went down to fiat garage it was then told from there it was the acutall turbo which had gone.

So I pity ya cos its about £300 to replace.

Turbo's don't usually go for no reason.
Biggest problem with them these days is oil starvation, typically through the use of incorrect grades being used or sludge gumming up the oil line to it.

This would probably ruin the turbo completely and you'd know it, (it wouldn't just trip into limp every time you floored it, but splatter it's oil into the air intake to burn away like a burning tyre factory!)

A decent reconditioner may attempt it's refurb, though many aren't offering the same warranties these days as the same turbos come back to them still filled with the wrong oil, knackered again!!

The activation of the turbo is another problem, soot and heat can restrict the wastegate or vane (VGT) activation, leading to the ecu protecting the engine from overboost with limp mode.
The wastegate opening or the vane pitch altering limits the speed of the fan, thus reducing the air intake pressure, regulating boost.
(this problem tends to resets when the ignition is turn off and on again, that is until it detects the overboost again the next time you clog it!)

There are different ways to active the wastegate or vanes.
Vacuum (like the panda) and electronic motors.

The vacuum system is a little more robust, where the electronic motor systems can get damaged, trying to active a seized arm can burn out the controller wiring.

This issue can be fixed fairly easily with a strip and clean, often manually forcing the arm can clear it (and a regular Italian tune up keep it that way), and surprisingly you can even repair the electronic activators (though not a worry on the MJ Panda as they are vacuum operated)
http://www.talkford.com/topic/162803-limp-mode-and-p2263-error/

What you tend to find is the dealers technicians won't repair units like this, but fit new parts and inform you the turbo is goosed, when it really isn't.
The dealers are used to this practice now (and some of there customers), what with their labour rates and parts replaced under warranty, it's not always viable for them to repair.

So the upshot is,
if your turbo is properly goosed, you'd know it and so would everyone within five miles of you and your Chevron Nigeria.

If your car is out of warranty and when the turbo spools up and it goes into limp, the dealer isn't your best option, but perhaps a turbo or diesel specialist.