Very noisy turbo

[rompom]

I've got a V-reg 2.4lt diesel transit (ex ambulance so the turbo will have seen some action) which I recently bought. The engine makes a screeching noise about 2k revs whilst driving and about 2,800 revs in neutral. I've just been told in needs a new turbo and quoted £1,200. A couple of questions:
Can a turbo be repaired?
Does the price sound fair?
Can a turbo simply be removed, and the van be run as a non-turbo?

Any help would be greatly appreciated - at £1,200 to repair I'll have no choice but to sell it!

[jay]

V reg more than likely to be a 2.5td..Old bulletproof Di engine..
Yes it can be run with out turbo but it will be very slow compared to how it is now..have you checked fan belt is tight??even replace the belt as a screech is likely to be a belt more than turbo(turbo will smoke and whistle loudly if its knackered)
99% bet its fan belt will cost much less than a turbo and you could fit this yourself if you have a few tools..Think the belt is about £15 to £25 been a while since i bought a Di belt..

[jay]

opp also remembered you could post up the reg number or enter it into ETIS and it will pull up if its a 2.5 or 2.4.. 2.4 is OHC duratorque and 2.5 is overhead valve Di