I wonder if you can help boys. I have a 2004 WRX and the turbo has suddenly become noisy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but where as it used to 'whisper and whistle', there is now slight metallic noise when it spools up. It was fine earlier today, but I have just nipped to the shop and noticed the change.

The car is modded as below:

Ninja sports cat downpipe.
Decat up-pipe from a Classic ( with no heat shield )
Decat front pipe.
Vortex back box.
Uprated fuel pump.
Cooler NJK plugs.
STI intercooler.
Green panel filter.
Andy C remap for above.


I don't drive the car hard at all and always warm up / warm down. Could this noise be anything to worry about ( sorry I know this is a stupid question !! )?

If the turbo is goosed does anybody know which turbo I have and whether it is a DIY swap ? I would class myself as a DIY mechanic and so far have done all of the work on the car myself.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated !

Wilky.

 

Hi i wouldnt drive the car if your pretty handy you can see the impellers on the turbo check them out so they dont do any damage.

 

We can't tell you whether this is a serious problem or not, given what we have to go on right now. What you're reporting could be as innocuous as a loose uppipe/downpipe heatshield, to a knackered pre-turbo catalyst, or damaged turbo (the former is likely to cause the latter anyway). You clearly need to know what's up in order to determine the appropriate remediation.

Noises are next to impossible to diagnose over the internet. If in doubt take it to someone who knows the cars and get it identified, at least then you can work out what next steps to take. If you haven't already done so, have a nose under the bonnet while blipping the throttle and see if you can locate the source of the noise - if of course it's evident when the car is at a standstill.

Your car will be equipped with a TD04L turbo. You can replace it with another off any WRX from model year 2001 to 2007 and any competent DIY mechanic should be able to change one. You will find some hints on how to do it elsewhere here, so a click of the search would be worthwhile, if push comes to shove.

 

Cheers Splitpin - appreciated.

 

Pop off the turbo hose and check for 'pooling' of oil rather than the normal semi-transparent thin film residue.

Also, grasp the impeller shaft's 'nose' nut and try to move it back and forth (in/out - not side to side). Does it move in and out, no matter how small?

If it's positive to either question, esp. the last, then could be turbo...