71 replies to this topic

[Mangham54]

Open the bonnet, look for the silver pipe, pull that off, look under and you should see a battery. If you don't, then it is missing, problem solved.

[leevx2.2]

Yeah I have a millimetre but I couldn't find the battery when I left the interior light on a few months back I had to charge it through the cigarette lighter.

I know it’s in the front somewhere; I’ll find it tomorrow (12.5v – got it) and I’ll look for the loose intercooler hose. The VX is such a bitch to work on.

Leevx, that’s a smart looking motor – I live in Spitalfields, London

Cheers shame you are not more local I would have a look sounds def like a boost pipe Though good luck and happy rummaging in the engine bay

[Richy2165]

FAB VX – if you could help me fix it on the cheap I'd be very appreciative, I'd even sort you something out, I like this site, there's some good people here. 3 a.m. would be no problem

Edited by Richy2165, 05 February 2011 - 08:15 PM.

[garyk220]

The intercooler hose on mine came adrift from the turbo outlet a couple of times and I got very similar symptoms. I'd say the first thing to check is the hose from the turbo to intercooler. You can reach down between the turbo and passenger bulkhead to check and re-attach if necessary (although only if the engine is cold as the turbo and manifolds get very hot when running). Other possibility is the bottom connection to the intercooler (the other end of the same hose). You can just about reach this through the gap between the undertray and bottom wishbone on the drivers side, to check if it is loose. Although to re-connect it you'd need to remove the undertray or the side intake (ear) to get access to tighten up the jubilee clip.

[turbobob]

Just to add the battery is located under the washer bottle under the front bonnet

[Nev]

A sudden loss of power and difficult starting could be because of head gasket failure on a single cylinder. If you don't find a blown boost pipe, then get someone to do a compression test (most garages will do this in 45 mins for you prob cost approx £40) and this will establish if your compression is good.

Edited by Nev, 05 February 2011 - 08:35 PM.

[christhegasman]

Slide the washer bottle up n out the battery is underneath

[Dashwood]

I live in London Bridge. I'm pretty new to vx's (just bought a lardy tubby) but have rebuilt a few turbocharged cars. I'm pretty close so drop me a line and lets see if we can fix this.

[Hang-em]

My Scooby blew the intercooler hose off when blasting away from the toll booths on Dartford Bridge the day I bought it on my way home. Like you I was gutted as I thought the engine had just blown, as it lost all power.Pulled into layby thinking the worst,and it was just the pipe blown off. Popped it back on, all full power was resumed

[Anarchy]

I know very little about the Z20LET but it sounds a bit like when my head gasket blew on a Rover engine (surprisingly) pull the plugs out and see if they are wet with water.

[Richy2165]

Hi,

I had a good look/feel about but couldn’t find any loose pipes so I put it on axel stands and took the under tray off. I couldn't see any loose pipes anywhere but then I spotted what I though was a loose pipe in the passenger air scoop so I took the wheel off, the inner arch out then took the side lug off but it turned out to just be the air intake which floats in the middle of the scoop.

I kind of convinced my self yesterday that the engine was not fighting some sort of jam/friction and this feeling of 30% breaking was just down to the fact that everyone is used to power being there when you press the accelerator and there was no power because of no air flow – no metering – no engine.

I’m quite certain the engine is jammed in someway but not locked solid like a loose valve in the combustion chamber, snapped cam shaft or anything like that. Also why would be battery be flat after just two weeks. I only use the car on the odd weekend and it’s never had any problems starting after spells of say three weeks. Do engine bearings ever go?

Is there any other way of testing if the gasket has blown? I’ve looked for oil leaking out between the engine block and cylinder head but nothing, squeaky clean. I also checked one spark plug – do I need to check them all?

I’ve circled the tubes in red in the following image which I thought you meant and doubled checked them but they were OK. I also quickly checked all other tubes I could see.

[CKR]

Okay, where are you based Rich? Lets see if theres anyone local that can cast an eye over it and see whats going on. Otherwise, have you got a camera phone that could take a short video of what it sounds etc. The ticking noise when trying to start is without a doubt a flat battery - I've had it so many times as my car goes 3 or 4 weeks sometimes unused.

[davemate]

dont try and bump start it is the advice i remember being give. aparently it can do bad things to the stack. ticking is a flat battery for sure.

[Steve B]

No your looking in the wrong place. You need to check turbo outlet > Intercooler > throttle body.



The above diagram shold help explain.

Basically you have Air filter > turbo compressor > intercooler > throttle body > inlet manifold > Combustion chamber > Exhaust manifold > exhaust side of turbo > exhaust.

My bet is a pipe has blown off at one of 4 places, turbo to intercooler pipe turbo end, turbo to intercooler intercooler end, inter cooler to throttle body intercooler end or intercooler to throttle body - throttle body end.

[Winstar]

No your looking in the wrong place. You need to check turbo outlet > Intercooler > throttle body.

Basically you have Air filter > turbo compressor > intercooler > throttle body > inlet manifold > Combustion chamber > Exhaust manifold > exhaust side of turbo > exhaust.

My bet is a pipe has blown off at one of 4 places, turbo to intercooler pipe turbo end, turbo to intercooler intercooler end, inter cooler to throttle body intercooler end or intercooler to throttle body - throttle body end.

you need to take the drivers side rear wheel and the wheel arch liner off. there you will see the intercooler it's most likely one of the pipes that goes to it along the front of the engine or from it to the back of the engine.

[Richy2165]

Thanks for the info, feel stupid, I've been looking at the wrong side of the engine. Just been looking for a layout diagram without success. I'm going to take the wheel and arch liner off now - would be nice starting Monday knowing the cars OK. I'll let you's know how it goes, cheers, Richard

Edited by Richy2165, 06 February 2011 - 08:35 PM.

[Richy2165]

Unfortunately I can't record any sound clips as my secondary problem may now be a flat battery and I was planning on ringing breakdown after I fix the main problem since I don't have a charger + I can't park the car outside my front door for charging – crazy to buy this car considering where I live.

I've just had the driver side rear wheel and wheel arch off but the air filter > turbo compressor tube was fastened both ends securely.

I'm 80% certain I've checked all that I can get at without stripping major parts out.

Steve on your diagram am I correct in assume all piping will be of that heavy 3 ½". I'm going to identify all the parts and try to get at anything I've missed. Am I correct in assuming the compressed air will be at a higher pressure than the exhausted out as I'll start with the highest pressure?

Sorry about this and thanks for all help

Edited by Richy2165, 06 February 2011 - 09:52 PM.

[Steve B]

Unfortunately I can't record any sound clips as my secondary problem may now be a flat battery and I was planning on ringing breakdown after I fix the main problem since I don't have a charger + I can't park the car outside my front door for charging – crazy to buy this car considering where I live.

I've just had the driver side rear wheel and wheel arch off but the air filter > turbo compressor tube was fastened both ends securely.

I'm 80% certain I've checked all that I can get at without stripping major parts out.

Steve on your diagram am I correct in assume all piping will be of that heavy 3 ½". I'm going to identify all the parts and try to get at anything I've missed. Am I correct in assuming the compressed air will be at a higher pressure than the exhausted out as I'll start with the highest pressure?

Sorry about this and thanks for all help

The air filter to turbo doesn't matter. Pipes you are interested in are after the turbo and before engine. They will all be big diameter tubes. I don't have a turbo VX so can't say for sure what size. I speak from plenty of experience with other turbo cars I've suffered exactly the same symptoms as you have had with an MR2 Turbo.

On the picture I posted the blue pipes are what you need to find

Edited by Steve B, 06 February 2011 - 10:28 PM.

[2.2_na]

I can't park the car outside my front door for charging – crazy to buy this car considering where I live.

The solution to that is to keep your battery on trickle charge, using a solar charger - which plugs into the cigarette lighter.

No external wires needed.

[cheeky_chops]

when i blew the pipe off the bottom of my turbo the car would start and idle but would just stall if i tried to move it. Just replaced my battery, 2004 car