Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Very low boost?

[mhuggler]

I have a 94' 5 speed, bone stock. I bought a gauge package from city diesel of boost and pyro. I didn't have time to hook up the pyro yet but I hooked up the boost gauge. I T'd it into the wastegate actuator line which came off a line coming out of the intake, seems like it was the only place... . ? Anyway, my boost tops out at 8 PSI and I thought that was quite low even for a bone stock truck. I need to hook up my pyro yet to see if it's running hot since the boost is so low, maybe my wastegate actuator is stuck open? It doesn't seem to get that 8 PSI until over 2200 RPM either, this also leads me to believe that the wastegate is open. On the highway it barely moves the gauge, maybe 1 PSI on flat terrain at 70 MPH. I'm averaging 20 MPG 50/50 city/highway. The only other possibility I see is that I hooked up the gauge in a bad spot, can someone answer this for me please? Thanks in advance, anything you want to tell me to look for just let me know!

 

[bmoeller]

I think the spot that you got the boost from should be fine.



Your problem could be several of things. As you mentioned, it could the wastegate being stuck open. If you are low on power, it could so be that the diaphram in the AFC housing is shot, or the AFC isn't getting enough boost.



Is your throttle linkage moving freely? Is the rod on the shutdown solenoid coming all the way up?



Do you have a clean fuel filter, or a clean strainer under the fuel heater?



Bookmark this site. Lots of good info. http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/maint/2nd_Gen-12v.htm

 

[mhuggler]

I just picked up this truck a week ago. The power seems to be fine, I wasn't even expecting it to have as much power as it does for only a 175 pump.

Throttle moves freely.

The fuel filter was my next thing to be replaced, just changed the oil and adjusted the valves.

 

[McLaughlin]

If power and acceleration are fine, then I would verify the performance of the new gauge first. You may have a bad gauge from the factory, a leak in the boost line between the gauge and the T or possibly a pinched line. All other things being equal you be able to hook up the gauge almost directly to the intake manifold and see what it shows there.

 

[PKemp]

check the fittings you did with the "T". A very common problem is a ferul crimping the line causing a poor or leaking connection. Be careful tightening the fittings. It dosen't take much to over-tighten one. connecting directly to the intake manifold is abetter idea.

 

[WDixon27]

when i first installed my gauge i was getting about 5# max and i got that up to 16# max by fixing leaks around the wastegate and afc hoses, swapping out the crap 160 injectors (in my 215 hp truck?!) got it to 26# max, i then disconnected the wastergate but it didn't go any higher but did get up to boost faster and lower egt a little, a small leak in a bad spot can really hurt like the one i had by the afc

 

[mhuggler]

Well, the boost gauge was right. Turns out this 94' has a WH1C, I took off the intake tube and saw 8 blades so I was like huh? Wiped off the ID tag, sure enough WH1C. The shaft has side to side and in and out play very badly, this turbo is in rough shape. So I figure if the rest is that bad the wastgate is on it's way out too. I unplugged the line going to the gate and now I get 20 PSI max boost in 5th gear, before it only managed 9 PSI. Now it runs 6-10 PSI on the highway at 70 MPH instead of 2-5 PSI.

The nice thing is my brother upgraded his HX35 in his 02' so I'm gonna buy that from him for now. Anybody want a dead WH1C for $50? LOL