shaking turbo 85 300td
 

my turbo shakes/rattles loud at idle, if i give it just a little gas it will stop, i let off and it starts again. Its just the turbo mechanism, and its not the heat sheild or anything else loose making the noise. you can see it, car will be idling normally ( like for a couple seconds after I have powered thorough the rattling before it starts again) and the turbo unit is moving witht the same sway motion with the rest of the motor, then the turbo will start to visibly shake at a much higher frequency then the rest of the motor and it makes a brrrrrrrrrrrr noise. I thought i might just bump the idle up a little so it didnt happen any more but a MB mechanic i talked to said that i should not cause it would mess up how the thing shifts gears and i would mess up the transmission. Did a lot of searching, could not find anyone else with a shaky turbo. Any ideas ?

Are you sure the turbo shakes? If so sounds like an impeller blade is broken and/or missing. Broken air cleaner brackets make a huge racket, and it is mounted over the turbo...

Yeah, those things are bolted on the engine pretty tight. Try rrgrassi's suggestions. Can you stop the noise by leaning the air cleaner housing one way or another?

on this 85 the air cleaner is not over the turbo it is a taller smaller in circumference guy in front of the turbo, that said its not the air cleaner housing. the turbo, visibly is shaking faster than the rest of the motor and it is loud. I have tried putting the butt end of a broomstick on it, it just deadens it a little and vibrates the hell out of the stick. all bolts look tight. if impeller blades are broke, would a junk yard swap be easier than renewing the broken one, what is compatability like on the turbo units ?

Thanks
John

If you grip the turbo (cold engine of course) and try to wiggle it can you feel any play? On the 85 cali engine the turbo is mounted to the Oxidation Catalyst , but it should also have some supports to the engine block. If those are missing it could make the turbo vibrate. I'll look at my car later and see where and how the braces are mounted.

check out a video of my shaking turbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGvadio8JDo

what do you think ?

It appears to me that the entire manifold is shaking, not just the turbo.

Agreed.

The manifolds are not secured to the head.

I would not replace the turbo..........likely nothing wrong with it.

Ditto.

Holy crap, how would a manifold with that much play between the head not sound like a freight train, or at least a Mack truck? I'm surprised you're getting full turbo boost. That is definitely the whole manifold shaking. Maybe some studs broke off? Has anyone done in head work on it recently? Possibly forgot to torque the head bolts?

The FSM does not give any torque specs on the manifold to head.

but they do give a tourqing order. Fix that fast, if your intake is leaking then you could start sucking in dirt and dust your engine, also you would loose precious psi with a gap like that.

doesnt seem loose when its cold and I shake on it, but i will pull off the turbo and check the bolts on the intake manifold, doesnt seem like i can get to them with the turbo on there. thanks for the help