Metallic noise from turbo. help!
 

Hello,
I have a 1996 Miata running 6 pounds boost. recently, my turbo acquired a high pitched metallic noise. what is it?

oil pressure is good, temp is good, checked the wastegate shaft and it's not rattling. It still goes into boost just fine, and other than this new noise it runs like a charm. I hear the noise the most at idle.

HELP!

just for more clarification- it sounds like someone crumpling up tin foil, or scrapping a metal plate with a very thin piece of metal. and it's most obvious after revving the engine, as it slows back down. Can't really hear it when in boost, because it does not increase in volume with the engine.

Step 1: Make an intro thread here Meet and Greet - Miata Turbo Forum - Turbo Kitten is watching you test compression.

Tell us about your car, yourself, whatever. We like to get to know new folks and see how much abuse they can take. Be sure to include a list of mods and what your plans are for the car. For the love of FSM, post some decent pics while you are there, we all love pics.

Step 2: Come back here and give us some details about the car. You basically walked in here and said "It hurts when I pee, why is that?" We can't help you unless you tell us where you've been sticking your wiener. Maybe take a video and stick it on youtube and we can diagnose the sound. Of your turbo, not your electro-gonorrhea.

Step 3: ???

Step 4: Profit

Welcome to MT, hopefully we can help :brain:

Sorry about that, I did what you suggested. all the details about my car are in my meet and greet thread.

I believe my problem might be the wastegate- but if I cannot fix it, i will record some sound and post it. Thanks for the suggestions

Have you checked for shaft play? It's unlikely that the problem is your wastegate.

happened to me once, was a boost leak between turbo and manifold.

Found it. Turns out it was the waste gate. I had an exhaust leak between the two half of the turbo a few days ago, In the process of fixing that issue, I accidentally shortened the distance between the actuator and the waste gate- so it was never completely closing. the waste gate "pad" (I don't know what it's called) was vibrating and hitting the housing, causing the noise. when I reached in with my hand and pushed the waste gate closed, the noise stopped. tomorrow I'll adjust the shaft length and let you know how things go.

Runs like a charm! sounds perfect now! It was the waste gate. a lesson learned!