Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Solved my boost problem!

[jwilliams3]

With my setup 100hp (ATS) injectors, Drag/Custom Comp, PDR hx40, and ats Manifold.

For about the last 6 months I have noticed a drop in boost pressure that has kept getting worse.

Originally I was hitting 39-38 psi with my PDR 40/16.

Lately I checked my turbo (when I installed my O ringed head).

It was in excellent shape and spun like it was still new and had no play.

Also mid throttle boost was long to come up and somewhat sluggish.

I also checked my boost gauge line, it was fine.

I check all my intercooler boots, all looked good, plus I went ahead and tightened them up a bit.



So I figure what the hell, I install a restrictive wastegate elbow that I had laying around.

I did, and the results are great!!

The mid throttle responsiveness is back, I can easily hit 24 psi now with my Edge box OFF.

Before I was lucky to hit 20 psi.



On a WOT throttle run over 100mph I was able to hit 40psi and maintain it, before it was 31psi.

On a run in WOT with OD cancelled I hit 43psi, this turbo really sings now!!



I know over 40 is dangerous, so this weekend if I dyno I might just have to put the open elbow back on.



So is the wastegate actuator worn out??



--Justin

 

[TomGolden]

Justin, by wastegate elbow, do you mean the actual wastegate itself, or one of the small, brass "boost" elbows that often come with an Edge EZ or Comp box?



I have a similar setup to what you describe. Last summer, I started having a rather severe problem that I at first thought was a fueling issue. Only under hard or maximum acceleration, right at 20 PSI, everything just cut out. After swapping out my Comp, MAP sensor and trying other things, a buddy suggested my adjustable boost elbow might be bad. We just plugged off the rubber line going to the boost elbow, and viola! No more problems. He got hold of a non-adjustable boost elbow and ever since I have been back to again.



I don't have my head or block O-ringed yet... but I can hit 45 PSI when I race the truck. Daily driving, almost never over 20 PSI.



Tom

 

[jwilliams3]

Tom,

I am referring to the Brass elbow that Edge supplies with their fueling boxes.



--Justin

 

[TomGolden]

wow... you are the only other person I remember hearing of that had one of those fail like mine did. Kind of weird, huh? A $5, simple little thing like that can go out, when we have such incredibly complex things like turbos, fueling boxes, transmissions,... . Obviously those things also fail, but you expect them to on ocassion.



Glad you got it fixed

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I just found the exact same thing you described a few weeks back. The actuator looked like it was working good hooked to a regulator. Couldn't find anything wrong, so thought I'd throw the elbow in for the heck of it and the lag is gone and max. boost is back up. I think mine has been getting weak over the last 6 months.



Dan