I love my RR, I treat it well, it has done amazing things for me during our time together. Things such as get me home from Aberdeen for Christmas during biblical snow, things like take 3 dogs and 3 passengers on great days out. You get the idea.

So when it was time for a major service and 4 Pirelli scorpions I was happy to reward the car. Then the front air struts failed, and then replaced, fair enough they work hard. Then the turbo issue started and now I'm about to explode!

The dreaded VNT screeeachhhhh up until 2k rpm, ok at 130,000 on the clock maybe the turbo has seen better days I though. I replaced the turbo. The bearing was found to be worn so I was glad to be fitting a new unit. I did note that the actuator arm seemed free enough on the old unit but I continued to fit the new turbo.

Guess what? The screech was worse, at this point I'll point out that as a hobby I dabble a little bit with motorsport prep and landrover 90/110 etc refurbishment (I have a corker I'm going to share in a few weeks) so my technical abilities should allow me to safely and competently fit a turbo.

I ran diagnostics, checked vacuum lines with a gauge, boost control unit and solenoid(function and cool), as a precaution I even replaced all vacuum lines. Still there was a turbo vnt related screech. With vacuum line removed or forced off with software I/O (so vnt not moving as myth) noise goes away. I argued my point with the supplier who agreed to send another turbo out... Which arrived today... A few hours later installation was completed and the punch line is..... The squeal is STILL there!

So that erases all my so called "competency and skill" the car has not lost performance, it's just noisy.

Finally the only other thing I can think of is I currently have the EGR valve deleted with a removal kit. Boost hoses are fine, intake fine, vacuum fine, manifold fine, solenoid and boost control fine, car performance fine, actuator does not stick, car does not smoke, breather replaced... I could go on. It's bonkers.

Also 2012 conversion was completed at the weekend, cars having a full respray on Thursday so I'd hoped to have dirty mechanical work completed by then. Last thing I want with fresh paint is to be putting my car on my ramp and ripping the damn engine to pieces!

I hate my car! ££££'s spent on it and it's acting like a spoilt brat.


Rant over, it's safe to come out now

Hi SteveyD - FFs were born to frustrate us but hang in there.

Sounds like you've covered just about everything with your investigation. My ten-penneth worth would be that I once replaced a Defender turbo which had a FUBARd bearing and the dreaded squeal only to discover the squeal was caused by a broken inlet manifold stud!!! The metal gasket can fair whistle when boost comes in.

It's not easy but try running it with the hose from the turbo disconnected (pointing somewhere safe!!). You'll get loads of black smoke without the boost but if it doesn't squeal you'll know it isn't the turbo.

Good luck,
RRR

They certainly do! I should put a grinder straight through this ones heart!

the turbo bolts directly to the manifold so I'll have to unbolt it to fully prove the manifold, visually it looks fine. Again I'll try with outlet removed although that's a bit of a false test it's worth a go.

Hi, Sorry - what I meant was the hose from the turbo to the intercooler.If it is a leak somewhere up stream which only occurs during boost then this should prove it. Just bear in mind that your turbo will be blowing plenty of air around the place and your tail pipes will blow black!!!!!

Good luck and best wishes.

RRR

Ah good point, I have had the hose disconnected just before it enters the intercooler and all was fine, great turbo noise was also produced I will re visit this area though and I will also re fit the EGR valve as a precaution. I'm a lot calmer today

Steve

Good luck!

You sound like the man to bottom this issue - your resolution may end up valuable to us all

Let us know how you get on

Cracked exhaust manifold i bet

Sorry should have also added possible head to exhaust manifold gasket failure

hi,i have got the same problem as you and mine is driving me mad as well ,changed my turbo ,no different,i have a blanking kit on mine and on monday was going to put the old egr back on ,i just ran it on tick over and squirted some soapy water around the joints to the egr valve and the joint with the stainless clip was bubbleing so i thought i had found the prob resealed it but still there maybe not as bad maybe me just being hopeful.

Interesting, I'm away now for 2 weeks and the car is in for paint. If you wouldn't mind refitting your EGR and posting the results that would be a big help.

Interestingly today whilst driving I kept revving the engine over and over whilst coasting, the boost seemed to surge and the car almost lost track of itself as far as the rev counter display. I'm thinking of re-visiting the sensor on the exhaust outlet manifold (right at the back of the engine) as well as the boost control solenoid, these two determine the gas flow/rev range and adjust the turbos VNT to suit via the vacuum system.

It's nice to know there is someone else in the same position

Back to the EGR leak, I have seen recommendations to use exhaust putty to create a better seal.

Bloody nightmare hey!

changed back to egr today took it for a spin no different noise still there under boost,fed up now again ,back to the drawing board.

I feared that would be the case, logically there is no reason why EGR removal would cause VNT issues, if anything it should help the turbo to run cleaner as there is no 2nd cycle gasses being pushed through it.

I know your feelings and I'm glad to be away from the car for a few weeks for that reason.

How are your vac lines looking? You will have to take the intake off to get a good view of them all.

My money now is on either

1) manifold pressure sensor found at the very back of the car
2) boost solenoid not actuating in line with engine rpm (controlled by the above)
3) VNT ring stuck - could be
4) not enough vacuum for other reasons, perhaps demand or deterioration
5) a broken stud/gasket around the manifold
6) turbo fault?

i have replaced the inlet manifold senser ,new turbo 3 weeks ago,changed the vacuum senserso dont know at the moment

Even the new turbo could be faulty... It happens but obviously highly unlikely. drive the car, at about 30-40 mph hit the throttle pedal on off on off on off on off throughout the rev range, that made my vnt squeal vanish until the following day, hence my thoughts on re-visiting vacuum and pressure sensors.