What do I need to know in order to know what it is, and if it works ?

 

u should give it to me.
jk

just go to howthingswork.com to find out. they have awesome animation to help u

 

pictures would help alot but also look for all the identifying markings or whatnot you can find.

post up some more details

 

it should say what it is around the housing

 

one way to see if its good when out of the vehical is to spin it and see if it spins freely, there should also be very minimal shaft play but some (unless its a ball bearing turbo... doubt it cause it was free then there shouldn't be any) check that by moving the wheel up and down.

Danny

 

Post multiple pics, if you don't have camera, post whatever is written on it, like for example, if it says IHI on it, it probably came from a subaru, if it says nissan/toyota, Garrett, a/r .XX, whatever.