My brother has a stock 2000 24v 5 sp. He says that it is down on power since he bought it. He said that when it is down on power it smokes like a SOB. Black smoke. Acts like it does not want to go. It behaves like that through all RPMs in any gear. What can we start to look at. I think turbo....but hey I know jack.

 

Air and Fuel filters to start.

Simple stuff first.


phox

 

Last weekend we thought the same. Cleaned the K&N and new fuel filter. Changed oil. Put injector cleaner in it. And no change.

 

Black smoke is the key.
If it was white smoke then I'd lean towards the lift pump or VP44.

How about the intercooler boots?

Perhaps one has come off or gotten loose, does he hear a squealing under load?

If they all are intact and the clamps are all tight then you can start thinking turbo.


phox

 

Does he have gauges? If not, he should make the investment. It will help catch potential problems and can help find the cause of this one.

If he does, is boost down?

 

Thanks guys for the suggestions. No gauges. That was the first thing I said. One strange thing. is it is interminitant. Also it seems to have a surgeing turbo. Sometimes when he is driving on his nighborhood street at 1500 RPMs the turbo winds up and despools. and does this several times in 1/4 mile strech.

 

Possible his turbo wastegate is getting stuck open intermittantly.

 

Check the turbo. Take the air plenum off and check the turbo blades for sloppiness, in and out, side to side. Then check for free spinning of turbo. Spin the blades, there should be a slight resistance but not stop immediatly.

If the blades are sloppy or they stop immediatly or feel stuck, your turbo is shot.