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Warning Turbo Cracking !!!!

46193 Views 53 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  Blasirl
Just want to get this out there.I am seeing a lot of Turbos cracked at the waste gate flapper valve internal to the Turbo.A good way to see this is unbolt the Cat and look up into the Turbo.You will see a crack running right up the side of the flapper waste gate valve Turbo casting.Tuned or untuned does not make a differance.I am also seeing large amounts of pivott pin wear on the arm pin that controls that valve.I would be willing to bet most of them over 50K are cracked.I just did the Turbo on my with 49K on it.I believe GMs PCM recall reprograming of the PCM was also to stop the PCM from setting a PO201 for Pivott pin wear also.I can see that in the updated program for emissions
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Why isn't the Sonic seeing these problems?
I am sure they are.We sell a lot more Cruze than Sonic.Same engine same Turbo.Garrett unit made in Bulgaria. We have done 5 this month including mine.Also note there was no problem showing with my car engine check light.I new darn well it would be cracked and sure enough it was.And Thank you GM for my free Turbo just before my power train Warranty ran out. Cracked is cracked and there is no way out of it for them.There certainly not going to tell me thats a normal condition. I only posted this so fellow board members know and can inspect there's while there on warranty
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Note the check light will go on with PO236 and PO237 when the crack widens. I would estimate in some cases just under 100K or just over it.It will throw a PO201 if the Pivott pin wear gets large enough. But with there Recall updated program it takes a lot more play !!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me guys i know when there up to something !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Note the check light will go on with PO236 and PO237 when the crack widens. I would estimate in some cases just under 100K or just over it.It will throw a PO201 if the Pivott pin wear gets large enough. But with there Recall updated program it takes a lot more play !!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me guys i know when there up to something !!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 2011 ltz has about 46,500, no difference in performance, no engine light, so I believe in in the clear as of now. To your understanding, what can cause the turbo to crack, or pivot pin to wear?

11 Cruze LTZ 1.4T
04 Ranger XLT 4.0 4x4
Just want to get this out there.I am seeing a lot of Turbos cracked at the waste gate flapper valve internal to the Turbo.A good way to see this is unbolt the Cat and look up into the Turbo.You will see a crack running right up the side of the flapper waste gate valve Turbo casting.Tuned or untuned does not make a differance.I am also seeing large amounts of pivott pin wear on the arm pin that controls that valve.I would be willing to bet most of them over 50K are cracked.I just did the Turbo on my with 49K on it.I believe GMs PCM recall reprograming of the PCM was also to stop the PCM from setting a PO201 for Pivott pin wear also.I can see that in the updated program for emissions
Would you suspect the same issue with the 2.0L TD ??:huh: Did you notice any suspicious symptoms associated with the cracking and pin wear?
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I am sure they are.We sell a lot more Cruze than Sonic.Same engine same Turbo.Garrett unit made in Bulgaria. We have done 5 this month including mine.Also note there was no problem showing with my car engine check light.I new darn well it would be cracked and sure enough it was.And Thank you GM for my free Turbo just before my power train Warranty ran out. Cracked is cracked and there is no way out of it for them.There certainly not going to tell me thats a normal condition. I only posted this so fellow board members know and can inspect there's while there on warranty
I run the Sonic forum, and we haven't seen any outbreak of cracked turbos.
Not saying there hasn't been a turbo failure here or there, but not in the sheer volume (even percentage scaled to number of vehicles) you're describing here.
I run the Sonic forum, and we haven't seen any outbreak of cracked turbos.
It's not usually an issue. Probably 90% crack there (you'll see the same with other turbos), BUT most aren't cracked enough to not be able to build the amount of boost requested by the ECU.

The pivot pin is probably what wears out and ultimately requires replacement. The 1.4T is constantly fluttering on/off boost as it tries to fight off knock.
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It's not usually an issue. Probably 90% crack there (you'll see the same with other turbos), BUT most aren't cracked enough to not be able to build the amount of boost requested by the ECU.

The pivot pin is probably what wears out and ultimately requires replacement. The 1.4T is constantly fluttering on/off boost as it tries to fight off knock.
Yes, we've had a couple pivot pins, but I mean a couple, not 5 in a month. Why is the Cruze breaking turbos at a much higher rate per vehicle than Sonics?
Heavier car? It takes more energy to move a Cruze and the extra power is coming from the Turbo.
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A good way to see this is unbolt the Cat and look up into the Turbo.
Is there another way to see this without taking things apart? Perhaps with a cheap boresope?
What happens if it goes to complete failure? Drivability problem, or internal engine damage?
What happens if it goes to complete failure? Drivability problem, or internal engine damage?
Underboost code and a really slow Cruze.
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I recall a certain some 1 expressing how great the tubo's are manufactured in this day and age ..I guess he was and is wrong about that tid bit of info ...
How much work is it to take that baby appart and take a peak at it? I'm at 68k and would love to make sure I get everything covered by power train touched up before it runs out.
MY girls turbo took a dump at 36k miles. And she had the updated feed line. P0201 was popping up.
Almost all internal wastegate turbos crack there. It is the weakest point in the casting at one of the hottest parts of the turbo. Mistubishi, Garett, etc. Very common for the Kxx turbos.

Typically, it will NOT cause underboost codes or really any ill effect until the crack grows so much that the turbo can't build sustain demanded boost anymore (and these things have a crap ton of overhead - unless you're tuned).

A turbo failure is usually due to bearing play (oiling problems, stupid cartridge bearings), or on a Cruze - the pivot pin wears out because the whole stupid thing is cast as one piece.
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Just a guess, but my guess is there are 10 Cruzes on the road for every one Sonic.
Just a guess, but my guess is there are 10 Cruzes on the road for every one Sonic.
More like 50 to 1 .
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