well here is a bad update, i think... car was running the same as last week up until about 1pm today. it used to jump right into boost at about 2800 rpm or so. i got fuel and when i left i noticed the car was driving stock like and not going into boost at all. I then wanted to find out what was going on so i went full throttle to see if the turbo was working and i found that i was still seeing boost but instead of 10 psi i was seeing 2 psi at most. I got worried and went home to reset the pcm by unhookinh my battery. left it unhhoked for like 30 minutes and when i started the car up the CEL was gone. I then shut the car off and when i started it back up the CEL was back on even after not driving it before when it was off, so the pcm is definately seeing a problem even at idle. Car still isnt seeing more than 2 psi of boost. What i want to know is if this is definately a mechanical problem? or is it the pcm making the car not be able to see boost somehow? or it could go either way. I'd love to know that its just the PCM messing around since that will be fixed next week, but if its mechanical i could be screwed. What do you all think?

 

Prob a line fell off for the boost pressure reducing it to wastegate springs levels

 

i looked briefly under the hood since i thought it might be a boost leak but didnt notice anything right in my face, where do you think i should be looking exactly, close to the BOV?

 

Anywhere in the pressure circuit. Check all the connections to see if something is loose. Especially check the "hat" on the throttle body. Take a good look at the intake manifold to see if you blew it up (could be a small crack).

One way to check for vacuum leaks (which is what this is off-boost) is to use starting fluid. Don't use very much, but with the engine running at idle you can squirt it at various places and if the revs increase because it is leaking into the intake through a leak, you've found your spot.

If you can dump the code for the CEL it would help. If it's a lean code, it supports the possibility of a leak.

 

well, ill let the shop check it out when i go cuz i cant see anything and now it boosts more than the 2 psi so its odd.

 

welcome to Garret turbo systems...Just kidding...it is probably something little loose coupler or piping loose...etc no worries minor setback

 

Just sounds like a simple air pressure leak in either the charge piping or the waste gate controller.

 

I would guess leak in charge piping as well, or an exhaust leak before the turbo (you would hear that) or maybe your cat is burning down. Wastegate leak tho, wouldn't that build a whole lotta boost?

Also, I'm still trying to get a hold of a uego for cheap. All the ones I installed in local cars are fairly permanent now, but I might be able to grab one at cost from someone who owes me a favor.

 

I know what you're saying. It depends on where the leak is at (which side of the actuator). I wasn't trying to be too specific.

 

Well I dont hear anything out of place but the car is seeing more boost now so whatever it is , is incosistant. Shouldnt harm anything if i drive it like this till i take it back to the shop right?

 

You should be trying to keep it out of boost anyway. Going into boost right now is very bad.

 

thats what i mean, id rather have it this way since the car is easier to drive out of boost until i get retuned

 

well the tech thinks its a stuck open wastegate or the bov is stuck open, i couldnt find any loose piping. taking it back asap...

 

well the problem with the boost is a stuck open wastegate which is actually good right now since the turbo tune hasnt been working out yet. (hoping to get the problem solved over the next few weeks). im going to go back to a stock tune and then use hp tuners instead and just tune for the bigger injectors in it (42 pound) . im hoping Witt can still help me out with this.

 

This is a sound approach. Did you find the specific waste gate problem so you can slove it once you are ready to tune?

 

I sent ya a PM back, I'll be off work all weekend to help with Dan's turbo swap, I'll give ya a call when I get home.

 

yeah the specific problem is some kind of clip that is on the wastegate fell off, so when its time to tune we are gonna put a better clip on there. and thanks Al, just let me know when, for now i gotta figure out when and how i can go pick my car up.

 

Probably the clip that holds the actuator rod on the waste gate lever. Without something holding the waste gate closed, it would get blown open by exhaust pressure and basically vent itself. Since my Alpine kit has a Garrett, I know what that looks like.

 

any update on your car im interested to hear how she fairs

 

still no progress yet, its looking more and more like im gonna have to add a piggyback to the equation as well as tuning the stock pcm at the same time.

 

Did that dude ever reflash ur pcm back to stock so we can play with it? From what i heard about the dude sounds like my dog knows more about tuning ecotecs.

Dan

Dont feel bad...my turbo is down too...damned alternator

 

no, Al said he could play with it and change it back to stock but I havent been able to get together with Al. As soon as I can then Ill have Al take a look at it.

 

I have to agree.

 

i thought the solstice's pcm was identical to ours but it looks like its the same model pcm but with a different software program so what applies to the solstices pcm doesnt really carry over to our pcm. although even the hahn solstice's after stage 2 have to use something called a boost fueler from hahn so they dont get off too easy either.

 

It can be done within the stock PCM's parameters. If you can get a hold of a wideband I'd have it taken care of inside of a day, if I can ever get a day off of work again.