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turbo failure signs; a turbo in a car

4 Turbo Failure Signs to Watch Out For

A turbocharger or turbo is a crucial component of your engine that needs to work efficiently to help your car run smoothly. It helps your car to accelerate quicker and get to top speeds more efficiently. 

The turbo does this by pushing more air into the engine, which speeds up combustion and raises the car’s performance. However, if your turbo begins to fail your vehicle won’t work at its complete potential.

If you continue to ignore problems with your turbo, it’ll eventually stop working and you’ll need to get a replacement. This could lead to unnecessary expenses that you’d rather avoid.

That’s why it’s important to learn about the symptoms of turbo failure and avoid potential problems in the future. To help you out, we’ve made a list of turbo failure signs you need to watch out for to avoid any additional issues.

If you notice multiple turbo signs on this list, you should visit In Town Automotive immediately to get your car fixed.

Let’s get started! 

1. Excessive Smoke Coming From Your Exhaust

If your turbo has broken seals or cracks, then the oil from the car will enter the exhaust. This creates a very distinct bluish-grey smoke coming out from your vehicle. 

This problem becomes even more prominent when you drive at high speeds, requiring greater use of your turbo. If you see excessive or distinct smoke coming from your exhaust, you need to visit our Northampton garage immediately. 

Whilst more exhaust smoke may not indicate a faulty turbo, it’s a sure fire sign you need to get your car checked out. We’ll identify the problem and provide an effective fix for your car. This ensures you don’t have to deal with toxic gases or a blown turbo. 

2. Check Engine Light

signs of turbo failure: Car Indicators and Meter

If you see the check engine light glowing on the dashboard, it could be a sign of a bad turbo. However, this isn’t the only reason behind a lit check engine light

The check engine light could indicate a problem with your sensor or a smaller issue like a loose petrol cap. Regardless, if you see this light on your dashboard, you should book an appointment for a vehicle diagnostic immediately. 

At In Town Automotive, we use a diagnostic checker that conducts a detailed scan of your vehicle to identify the problem. After that, we’ll share the results of the check with you to decide the next step for auto repair. 

3. Loss of Performance and Slow Acceleration

The turbocharger purely functions to make your car reach top speeds faster. If you own the car for a while, you should have a good idea of its performance and capabilities. 

As a result, if it feels like the vehicle is taking longer to speed up, it may be a symptom of a blown turbo. If that’s the case, the performance of your car will continue to decrease and will begin to cause issues for you. 

To avoid this situation, you should visit us at In Town Automotive and get your turbo checked. If you manage to notice this early, we can conduct repairs and get your car back to normal again. 

4. A Noisy Turbo

signs of turbo failure; a worn out turbo

When you use the turbo boost, a failed turbocharger can make a loud noise, which sounds out of the ordinary. It’ll keep getting louder as the problem slowly grows. 

If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it may be because there’s something wrong with the turbo. Be careful if you check the turbo yourself, as any mistake could lead to more problems that can prove costly. 

Instead, book an appointment for a turbo check with In Town Automotive on our website. By bringing your car to our award-winning garage, our technicians will take a look at the turbo and provide you with solutions.

Book an Appointment with In Town Automotive for a Turbo Check Today!

Now that you’re aware of turbo failure signs, you can look for them on your car. 

Our award-winning garage in Northampton features experienced technicians who specialise in automotive repairs like brakes, exhausts, turbochargers and much more. We also carry out auto replacements with our premium spare parts. 

Visit our website to learn more about the services we offer or call us at 01604 666 700 to book an appointment today! 

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