Grab the turbo shaft and push it in and out. If it moves, then it needs a rebuild.

Some shaft play up and down is ok. As long as your seals are good.

Pull the downpipe off and check to see if there is any oil residue on the exhaust side.

My wastegate used to stick from a colapsed line. It would hit 10psi and open up after vtec crossed over(around 5800) it was a loud ass popping sound and scared the fuck outta me.

It did it a couple more times and I finially figured out what it was.

 

K, Ill check it out.

 

lol damn. Yeah i didnt really hear a pop...What i was doing was following my buddys turbo civic GSR...he was about to run a Cobra on nitrous...they hit the gas i hit the gas...and about half way thru 3rd...mine didnt really go POP...it was like the chamber was full of air and it just let it all out like a BBPPPSSHHH... lol...yeah somthing like that.

 

You are a moron!

 

def. sounds like a turbo. if it were the motor you would have no doubt. is it white smoke?

 

like said above you should do a compression test and you could do a leak down test to check if the valves are sealing properly you could chesk and make shur your injectors are workn properly and not dumping fuel or if one of them isnt opning like it should it will cause detination if it goes to lean is the car tuned ? or just a back yard setup it could have been a rich to lean condition that can make funny noises some times but you should deff check your shaft play as well if you see oil in the compressor housing its possiably and more than likely your turbo if its only in your turbine housing then it may be just commin from your motor so you have some things to check out

 

Great post, really adds to the thread

I'm with jarrod, check shaft play and look to get it rebuilt. Once you've got that out of the way you can start checking other things if the rebuild did not solve the problem.

 

Old thread. Please delete.

It was the turbo. It is replaced and running strong!