Turbo Problem

[DoDgE_ThiS_]

My friends 90 tsi is having a problem with the turbo. You can tell its still boosting because his boost guage is still reading 9psi and you can hear the turbo, but you dont feel any power. The guy who last had the car said he thinks its the muffler and the catback because its all rusted to hell. But could that actually be the cause of now power from a turbo?

 

[GSX4LIFE]

Check for leaks. This is the #1 problem with low boost, no power circumstances.

 

[Enigma_Man]

It sounds a lot like there's a big leak in the intake somewhere. I'm assuming that you are using the stock boost gauge? It's not really accurate.

If there is a big enough leak, the turbo will draw a lot of air through the MAF, but it'll all just go out of the car (and the stock boost gauge will read boost even though it's not)

Tell your friend to go to this page and build the intake leak tester.

It's good to visually inspect the intake hoses, but you probably won't find a leak (they like to hide on the bottom of hoses, or on the intercooler, and only leak when there's pressure inside) so definitely use the intake leak tester.

When you do the intake leak test, you'll want to make friends with someone who has an air compressor, cause a tire pump or a foot pump won't be enough to cut it. I had a huge hole in my intercooler, and I couldn't tell when I used a footpump.

Try that first. (BTW, it's not the exhaust, that won't hurt anything)
-Jesse

 

[DoDgE_ThiS_]

Thanks, I forgot to mention that the low boost only happends every now and then. could that still be a leak?