Hello Everyone,



I’m on the fence about buying a used 2007 CX-7 with 118k for 4k. The car is appears to be in great condition, service records are ok, I will be taking it for a test drive this Saturday.



Recently I read about another CX-7, same year with less mileage that was being sold dirt cheap because the turbo seized up. After looking up the turbo I found a boatload of posts and website with complaints about a faulty turbo.



This is where my hesitation comes from, I’m afraid that after buying it the inevitable will happen and the turbo will crap out. How likely is that? How much is a repair like that now a days? All the information I find is years old.



Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

What's the going price for a similar CX-7 in your market?

If this is a bargain, can you afford to replace the turbo down the track?

Make sure you can start the car up from dead cold to check for timing chain & timing actuator noises/faults.

 

Faulty turbos 9/10 come from long intervals in oil changing. Not running flushes when getting oil changes etc. Theirs a lot of tiny little lines and screens etc. That get clogged with crap. Then overheat due to blockage. Take care of the engine and the turbo will be just fine. I've rebuilt over a dozen turbos. All the same thing. Blockage.... Crud. Gunky oil. Keep it clean and it'll last forever.

Best in my opinion. Trans fluid. Add 300ml and let it run in the crankcase for 5 minutes before draining. Or half a bottle of Seafoam liquid in the crankcase. And drive with it in there for about 100miles/150km. Just dissolves crap and gunk everywhere inside. Drains out with oil change. Don't drive with trans fluid. Drive with seafoam. I was also an engine builder for 6 years. Used it all the time. Great stuff. There's others but those 2 I recommend the most. 100 percent safe. Used in shops for decades.

 

I have not had an issue with the turbo yet. However, I bought a 07 in 2013 with 112,000 on the clock, immediately had to change the VVT, so I also changed the Chain, tensioner, guides, etc. Fast forward to Aug 2018, the chain broke. Once I got it open up, it looks like the VVT (Upgraded) popped a pin that jammed between the camshaft sprocket and chain, the rest is history. I was so pissed when I saw it, I haven't been back out to take the rest of it apart.