2003 2.8 JTD Turbo (1 Viewer)

[Figaro]

I`ve posted before about lack of power particularly up inclines, I`m never in too much of a hurry and accept it`s a heavy vehicle so put up with it.
But it does bug me rather to think something not working as it should so after doing some reading on here and Fiat Forum I`m wondering if the wastegate is stuck open ? thereby bypassing the turbo if I read it correctly.
Can anyone tell me if it`s possible to check myself if it is stuck and if it`s a retrievable situation ?
I downloaded this photo (cant remember from where, maybe on here) which is the same as mine and shows the wastegate by the red arrow
TIA

 

[wizzer59]

Does it do a loud cheeerupppp after every gearchange? if not then its speaker has gone

On serious note, it should be possible to see it moving if you pull that cable by the yellow arrow, but only with the engine running

Mine is 2002 and I had it remapped cos I was changing down on small motorway inclines, made it much better

 

[wizzer59]

Is yours left or right hand drive, I did hear somewhere that right hand drives have a slightly smaller turbo so don't quite have the same ooomf, but I could be totally wrong

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[Figaro]

Not sure follow first paragraph, are you on the vino ?
The cable by the green arrow I think is the gear change linkage.

 

[Figaro]

It's right hand drive

 

[PP Bear]

2.8JTD struggled on power uphill.

I had to free up and lube the turbo boost actuator/wastegate (as some call them) lever, on the variable vane turbo and now I dont get the red management light come on while going uphill and pulls much better

Used a 12inch AJ on the bracket at the end of the shaft you have highlighted with the red arrow. Popped the van on its levelling ramps, slid underneath and had someone run the engine while I gave the lever a gentle wobble and felt it free up in a second and now works perfect. The vanes can get stuck for whatever reason. That was over 2 years ago and been good as gold since

Pictures for reference if they help

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[PP Bear]

And you could give the gear linkage a good spraying with WD40 while your under there too

 

[injebreck99]

As far as I know, most wastegates are vacuum operated, so cannot be checked without a vacuum pump.

 

[ufitsy]

Is yours left or right hand drive, I did hear somewhere that right hand drives have a slightly smaller turbo so don't quite have the same ooomf, but I could be totally wrong

The 2.8 did come in 2 flavours 127 & 146 hp, the 146 was only available on the lhd. There was only a small increase in torque but the main difference was that max torque is available from 1500 rpm. It was called the maxi or jtd power engine

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

Variable vane turbos although look similar to a fixed vane unit do not have a wastegate.
I have never had a wastegate stick open but they can stick shut causing overboost which would cause the engine management light coming on.
Variable vane actuators on the other hand are much more likely to stick but usually in the low speed high output position.
Either type can be very simply tested using a vacuum like a Mighty Vac handheld pump.
The 2.8 engine while big capacity is a very lazy engine and unless making the best available torque is a poor hill climber.

 

[gus-lopez]

What @PP Bear said. Small shifter on the arm on turbo end & try moving it side to side. It should be spring loaded & return back. Put some releasing oil on it as well If the arm to waste gate lever is moving around 90º then it will be functioning.

 

[Boringfrog]

@Figaro what's it like on the level? I've had my 2004 2.8jtd remapped but it won't hold 70mph up long motorway climbs (it will hold 80mph). I think it's because of the 5th gear ratio. Try using 4th and revving it a bit more.

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[denisejoe]

You should be able to pull the rod which goes into the wastegate to make sure it isn't stuck. Can be quite hard but should move.

Joe

 

[Figaro]

Either type can be very simply tested using a vacuum like a Mighty Vac handheld pump.

Thanks for input. Is that a job for the garage, would it be something they`re used to doing if I asked ?

 

[Figaro]

Variable vane turbos although look similar to a fixed vane unit do not have a wastegate.
I have never had a wastegate stick open but they can stick shut causing overboost which would cause the engine management light coming on.
Variable vane actuators on the other hand are much more likely to stick but usually in the low speed high output position.
Either type can be very simply tested using a vacuum like a Mighty Vac handheld pump.
The 2.8 engine while big capacity is a very lazy engine and unless making the best available torque is a poor hill climber.

Thanks for input
I don`t know which type of turbo but I thought the red arrow in photo was pointing at the wastegate ?
I never had a dash light come on
Is the Mighty Vac something my garage would be familiar with doing ?

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[jockaneezer]

The red arrow is pointing at the rod which operates the wastegate, the left hand end of this rod goes into the small "can" type object which works off engine vacuum, the right hand end goes to the turbo wastegate. Vacuum is delivered by the small black rubber pipe just visible underneath the green arrow, these sometimes split or perish and would give these symptoms you describe.

 

[Figaro]

what's it like on the level? I've had my 2004 2.8jtd remapped but it won't hold 70mph up long motorway climbs (it will hold 80mph). I think it's because of the 5th gear ratio. Try using 4th and revving it a bit more.

I never had it to 80 mph. I think I`d need to be going downhill with a tail wind !

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Thanks for input
I don`t know which type of turbo but I thought the red arrow in photo was pointing at the wastegate ?
I never had a dash light come on
Is the Mighty Vac something my garage would be familiar with doing ?

They should be familiar with vacuum testing and it is a 2 minute test once connected. Of course it is possible that the actuator is fine but the control modulator is faulty (all assuming that you are actually down on power).
Not a recommendation to try unless you know what you are doing but disconnecting the pipe and then driving it to test will confirm but this can be risky if too much right foot is used and is likely to put on the engine management light.
Forgot to say that your photo does appear to be a fixed vane turbo so it is a wastegate

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[Figaro]

Vacuum is delivered by the small black rubber pipe just visible underneath the green arrow, these sometimes split or perish and would give these symptoms you describe.

Thanks for input, I`ll certainly check that rubber pipe when the weather gets a bit better.
If thats ok I`ll probably just leave it for now.
It`s going in the garage for a wheel bearing in the new year so I might get them to look at it.
Thanks Again

 

[HandyAndy]

Is there an update to this since it’s well gone new year