I imported a 1990 jimny about 3 yrs ago. In that span I replaced the engine, turbo, fuel filter, and all the hoses. I kept everything stock. I've put maybe 10k miles on the new engine and my turbo has blown out. This is the 2nd turbo I've bought. The 1st one fell apart in the 1st week.

I've taken my car to a mechanic and they said it looks like the turbo destroyed itself from the inside, just like the one my car came with. I dont think I got my turbos from Yokohama motors yet, so I'm going to try there.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening?I feel like it cant just be part failure if its happening this many times. It's a simple turbo, it gets cooled only by oil.

Does anyone know of any turbos that are compatible with this car?

I have the same car a ja11 1990. I have raced turbos for a log time and these little turbos are ran hard in our trucks. So rule number #1 even on a normal drive you must let turbo cool for a minim of 30 seconds before shut down due to heat. 1-3 min if ran hard, or install a turbo timer. With proper care and feeding to the turbo a good quality turbo will out last an engine. I have never had a turbo go bad on me even after a few good road races. I'm not say it can't happen but after two bad turbos i think some thing else is the problem. I have only had mine for 3 months but i could swear there is a 1/4 inch water line that goes to the turbo to help cool it. A over looked item on turbo cars is the oil line that feeds the turbo. After many miles the line can become restricted with debris  or sludge. I have cross referenced the tune up parts with normal cars state side to help with normal maintenance. like cap rotor, air filter, oil filter, ect.  This way i can walk into napa and ask for a cap and rotor for a 1990 geo metro and walk out the door for 20$ and not 100$ online for Jimny. To answer your question about a different turbo sorry to say but I think it will be a custom made manifold and then pick any turbo you want.  If you are not looking to hot rod it Japanese made stuff is plenty good if bone stock. So look into the proper care and feeding of that stock turbo i think you might find your issue.

Thanks for the tip on the geo metro, I'll double check the water and oil lines. I found on Ebay a RHB31 VZ21 (off the Rhino Atv) that advertises to be compatible with the ja11. I'm in the middle of installing it. I'll let you know how it turns out for your future reference.

Update: the VZ21 installed fairly effortlessly. Tho it didnt line up with the downpipe elbow, so I had to custom make it. They sell the flanges separately online for real cheap.
 I believe I found the core problem with my car, it looks like the previous owner put a restrictor on the oil feed line. Discovered it when I noticed my car smoking alot.
After installing the vz21 I was notified about the vz9 that's also advertised to fit my car... it looks the exact same at the vz21. Maybe when the vz21 blows I'll give the vz9 a try.

I imported a 1990 jimny about 3 yrs ago. In that span I replaced the engine, turbo, fuel filter, and all the hoses. I kept everything stock. I've put maybe 10k miles on the new engine and my turbo has blown out. This is the 2nd turbo I've bought. The 1st one fell apart in the 1st week.

I've taken my car to a mechanic and they said it looks like the turbo destroyed itself from the inside, just like the one my car came with. I dont think I got my turbos from Yokohama motors yet, so I'm going to try there.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening?I feel like it cant just be part failure if its happening this many times. It's a simple turbo, it gets cooled only by oil.

Does anyone know of any turbos that are compatible with this car?


_--------- First, these turbos are both water and oil cooled, so make sure you have the water hooked up!!!!  I have a 1991 that had a bad turbo, but, the original owner had disconnected the diverter valve
which may have lead to back pressure in the intake system and the failure. My turbo was leaking oil and water into the exhaust and into the intake from the journal bearing, also, the cast part of the turbo was cracked...

Check to see that water is flowing though the turbo, maybe run the car with the tubes hooked loosen one to see if the water is flowing.
do the same with the oil drain, un - plug the drian from the turbo and run to see if you are pumping oil through the turbo.

IF both work, check to see if your diverter valve opens when you let off the throttle.
there is a vacuumne tube connecting the manifold to the diverter valve, make sure this is connected.
Run the car, and look at the outlet for the diverter valve (disconnect from airbox) and see if it is closed under throttle and that it opens when you let off the gas.
You can do this by yourself with one hand on the throttle and your eye on the diverter valve outlet.

IF all of these are good......;?