Turbo Health

Dave_Cupra88

Active Member
Jan 30, 2012
198
0
Hi,

Is there any way to check the health of my turbo? Could Seat do this during the service?

The reason I ask is because I stumbled upon something a while ago that mentioned the secondary waterpump LCRs have - something I didn't know about before. After reading a bit I realised mine isn't working and I don't know if it has ever worked since I've owned the car (April 2012). I had a look with a mate and the connector seemed a bit dodgy, so I bought a new one from Seat and fitted that, after which the pump worked for a few days and then stopped again. I'm going to take a look at this next - http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=129762

I just worried the turbo may have been damaged in the time the pump hasn't been working. I never go over 3000rpm until the car is warmed up and always drive the last mile or two off turbo and allow to cool for 30 seconds or so. Taking this into account, is the lack of a working secondary pump likely to have caused excess wear/strain/damage?

I was planning on buying a Cobra turbo back, Badger 5 TIP, new DV and stage 1 map from Bill as well, but don't want to spend the money if the turbo is on the way out.

Car has done 72,000.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers,

Dave.
 
Dec 5, 2012
806
0
Harlow
The secondary water pump is designed so it kicks in once the engine is switched off to allow the turbo to cool down. I suppose VAG group thought a lot of people don't bother letting there cars cool down before switching off so installed this to help prolong the life of the turbo. My secondary waterpump works but I still let the car cool down before switching off especially if I've been giving it a bootful lol.

As long as you do this it wouldn't matter whether or not the secondary waterpump was working or not
 

Cupra Ross

Breaks things............
May 15, 2005
1,380
1
Edinburgh, Scotland
Take the turbo intake pipe off with a COLD engine, ie first thing in the morning after sitting overnight cold. Put your finger onto the turbine shaft and see how much side to side and back and forth play there is. There should be a little side to side play because you have no oil pressure, but no back and forth play.

To be honest, the K04 is a massively reliable turbo, much better than the standard fit Garretts on other marques and just as reliable as the Mitsubishi turbos on Volvo, top model Saabs etc. The only turbo in the VAG range that trumps it for reliability in my opinion is the K03S. The Garretts on the diesels are rubbish with the exception of the early wastegated models on the AGR 1.9 TDi.
 

Dave_Cupra88

Active Member
Jan 30, 2012
198
0
Thanks for the replies.

I'll see if I can get the intake pipe off. Is it easy to put back on afterwards?
 

Cupra Ross

Breaks things............
May 15, 2005
1,380
1
Edinburgh, Scotland
Thanks for the replies.

I'll see if I can get the intake pipe off. Is it easy to put back on afterwards?

It's easy from underneath but can be a bit fiddly from above. If your turbo isn't too noisy and you don't have any smoke from the exhaust, I would take this to mean that the turbo is in good health. Checking the play in the turbine isn't really necessary.
 

Dave_Cupra88

Active Member
Jan 30, 2012
198
0
I've never noticed any smoke and not sure what a noisy turbo would sound like?

The only sound I can usually hear is induction and the DV.
 
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