Turncoat

It sounds like my right side turbo is beginning to sing. It only sounds under heavy boost and is quite pronounced. Is this typical of a turbo gone bad? Or should I be looking for a boost leak somewhere... perhaps intercooler?

NASA racer

there is a "teakettle" sound which appears to be wastegate related which is a problem that is rarely fixed but doesn't NECESSARILY mean turbo problems (though it gets extremely annoying).

The turbo lady on my car was a nasty dentist drill sound that people said "OH MY GOD!" and wasn't subtle.

Turncoat

I've had the "teakettle" sound since I've owned the car (12,000 miles). That sound seems more related to throttle position, about 1/4 throttle to 1/2 throttle. However the new sound is present under what seems to be full boost. I haven't had a chance to log any data yet. Was the dentist drill sound present at all times or only under boost?

I just negotiated with my wife for a trip to Cambodia in November (sans wife). As much as I really want K04s, I was trying to avoid any exorbitant expeditures for the rest of the year.

NASA racer

okay, in my case the tea kettle sound started at 1200 miles and through various trips to the hopeless dealer (Rusnak sucks) it got worse and worse and then they dropped the car off and it was making the horrible dentist drill.

Now note, the FIRST turbo "failure" was not aparent on the VAG, the car made full boost and other than the horrible dentist drill sound which the dealer "couldn't hear" (Rusnak sucks) but my wife came running out to see what was wrong...the car still ran "normally":
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/4061/turbo_mark.jpg">

Now the SECOND time...the car badly lost boost and started throwing charge pressure deviation codes and I THINK ultimately it turned out to be a hose...the dealer said they couldn't find a hose that was leaking but without taking it apart, some of the hoses were not accessible. After I lemoned the car, I got a service sheet showing that AoA replaced the instrument console (?????) and changed an intercooler hose and sold the car at auction so aparently they didn't think the 2nd turbos had actually failed. I doubt the turbo was particularly healthy if it had been running with as screwed up as the VAG was indicating.

But I ASSURE you that the dentist drill sound was not subtle (like the tea kettle can be). I had Frank, Cheng, Jyoteen and BlownS4 in my car and drove it 10 feet and they were "HOLY S**T" because it was NASTY.

There are many ways to have a turbo problem...IMHO if you really hear it suddenly sounding odd, check for DTCs (might be a hose) and if the VAG doesn't show anything, trust your ears...it IS possible for a turbo to get fatally damaged but STILL work. Obviously on my turbo, with the blades that badly mangled (did Rusnak drop something in while inspecting it?) the impeller would have eventually disintegrated from being so far out of balance (or the shaft).

Digger Killer

sorry - JUST had to, couldnt resist.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/4061/turbo_lady_copy.jpg">

NASA racer

see? I don't have to anymore because so many folks post her for me hehehehe