2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Driving Without Turbo working

KELINFL

MEMBER
2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
29,500 MILES

I own a 2.4L Turbo 2004 PT Cruiser. When we purchased it the TURBO was not working and we drove 300 miles home with no TURBO. Could this possibly damage any other components by driving it without TURBO? Because, now we have a burned out ignition coil, spark plugs need to be replaced and (so I am told) ALL of the fluids are extremely dirty. There is only 29,000 miles on the vehicle.

3 Replies

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

It really depends on what's wrong with the turbo. If is just a wastgate stuck open, it should be OK. If the shaft has siezed, then the turbo is junk and the cartridge must be replaced.

Usually when shaft siezes, the oil seal has failed and it would blow clouds of blue smoke out the exhaust.

Remove the intake to turbo (engine off) and see if compressor blade spins freely, if not it is siezed.

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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 8:42 AM

KELINFL

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The turbo had to be replaced after driving 300 miles with it not working. Now, one month later the ignition coil is burned out, spark plugs fouled, and all fluids are extremely dirty. Car has less than 30K miles on it. I was wondering if this failure could be due to driving it without the turbo working or if this is a separate incident.

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Saturday, September 12th, 2009 AT 8:51 AM

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

I think it is because of driving the car without the turbo working.

Turbo cars are programmed to run rich under boost conditions, larger injectors, higher fuel pressure, remapped ignition.

There is a direct relationship between boost and fuel delivery and ignition timing.

The engine was running rich, fouling plugs causing the plugs, coil to fail.

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Sunday, September 13th, 2009 AT 8:26 AM