Started my buddys TII and after about 5 minutes the turbo turned red hot. What could cause this???

 

Maybe the initial ignition timing is incorrect.

 

red hot exhaust means running lean, so it could be a few things......dunno
good luck with that!!!

could it be a plugged cat?

 

a plugged cat was the first thing I thought of...that'd be the first thing I checked as well.

 

Cat or timing first, running lean, not likely if it is still stock, unless the fuel pump is failing.

 

If no work was recently done to the engine, its probably the cats. Only reason I said timing was because when I first put my haltech on and started the car, the timing was way out in the program and the bulb in my timing light was out. The engine was a N/A and just idling for a few minutes caused the pipe and presilencer to glow (rather fiercely).

 

well the car is straight piped. so i guess well check out the timing.

 

My last FC would heat the DP and turbine housing red hot when you drove the pants off it (at near stock power level) but it ran RICH RICH RICH! Fatter than ophra used to be.

 

Not true. Red hot exhausts 99% of the time mean stupid rich.

So likely a failing injector, injectors too big, bad plugs, or retarded timing.

Fairly common problem if you search for "red hot turbo" or variations on that theme.

 

When my timing was severly advanced it made the turbo red hot after a very short drive around the block.

 

^^^^^ Word! It happened to me two months ago. My timing was stupid off, creating my car to be terribly rich, resulting in a glowing red hot turbo!!

 

Red hot, means really rich. Injectors could be fuked or timming off.

Edit* didnt notice aarons reply.