MBC Problems, Can Anyone Help?

[v-mac]

I just bought a manual boost control off of ebay. I've gotten it but i ran into a problem, im not sure how the thing works. My friend who owns an srt-4 said he has no idea how the thing works because its almost like it would have to work backwards from the way it says it should. I will post pictures up in a minute but basically what i have is this. My question is how would this work, the piece that looks like a T-Split has one side that will not allow air to flow through, im not sure if i even need it but my buddy and i hooked it up both ways and have not seen any increase in boost no matter if the boost is turned all the way up or down, so obviously something is going wrong. Also the controller has no spring in it its just a screw type thing but it does still work because you can blow in it with it closed and it wont push air and when you turn up the boost it lets out air. The arrows on the sides say they are supposed to be pointing twoard the wastegate actuator but im not sure how that works because theirs no way atleast from what i see that it possibly can .Please help i'm bummed about this i really want to get this working so i can boost up the GST!

I have added pictures to show how it is currently installed, basically i believe the thre pronged t-split thing is connected to the vaccum line and the boost controller has tubing running fro one of its holes to the wastegate, if anyone can help please feel free to give any advice you feel would be beneficial!

 

[oVaBoost]

Its weird how it doesnt have a spring..... i know of most mbc have them but maybe some dont. Did you hook it up where one hose goes to the wastegate actuator to the mbc and another hose to the nipple thats on the side of the turbo??

 

[Stainbox12]

The reason why it doesn´t have a spring its because its a bleeder type MBC. The ones with a spring are called ball and spring type. First of all try the MBC all alone, hook up one end to the wastegate, and the other end to the nipple in the lower intercooler pipe. Test it, adjust it, try to increase boost, by just 1/4 of a turn, or 1/2 a turn, see if boost changes, if it doesn´t then hook it up backwards, and test again, either one side or the other would work, there´s no damage risk here, its just a matter of testing. Now, to mount it inside, use this guide:

TURBOSMART: INSTRUCTIONS & DOWNLOADS

Scroll down to the bottom and click on ¨In cabin¨. It´s a small PDF document, download it and follow it (follow the first set of images, on page 1 of the document). The piece that has 3 ends, the arrow points to the direction of the wastegate, the one on the other side, goes to the nipple on your lower intercooler pipe, the nipple on the middle, goes to the lower nipple of the MBC, and the other, nipple of the MBC, should be vented to the engine, i guess with a vaccum hose, since your MBC would be mounted inside. Now, just to let you know, this ¨IN CABIN¨ boost controllers are known to cause spikes. Best of luck.

 

[v-mac]

thats the way it is hooked up right now , and the first time we tried it we had just the boost controller itself like that and we would turn it up and down every which way o try to see some difference but couldnt, something obviously is happening because im running aroud 12psi now but when i change the handle in either direction it never changes...im not sure whats going on

 

[v-mac]

and to reply to the previos poster, its hooked to the wastegate but im not sure what nipple you are reffering to

 

[KelTsi90]

The reason why it doesn´t have a spring its because its a bleeder type MBC. The ones with a spring are called ball and spring type. First of all try the MBC all alone, hook up one end to the wastegate, and the other end to the nipple in the lower intercooler pipe. Test it, adjust it, try to increase boost, by just 1/4 of a turn, or 1/2 a turn, see if boost changes, if it doesn´t then hook it up backwards, and test again, either one side or the other would work, there´s no damage risk here, its just a matter of testing. Now, to mount it inside, use this guide:

TURBOSMART: INSTRUCTIONS & DOWNLOADS

Scroll down to the bottom and click on ¨In cabin¨. It´s a small PDF document, download it and follow it (follow the first set of images, on page 1 of the document). The piece that has 3 ends, the arrow points to the direction of the wastegate, the one on the other side, goes to the nipple on your lower intercooler pipe, the nipple on the middle, goes to the lower nipple of the MBC, and the other, nipple of the MBC, should be vented to the engine, i guess with a vaccum hose, since your MBC would be mounted inside. Now, just to let you know, this ¨IN CABIN¨ boost controllers are known to cause spikes. Best of luck.

That is correct, I got mine like this and it is working perfectly. I left the upper nipple without connecting it.

 

[Boostjunki84]

I would e-mail the seller about the problem and if possible, send it back. Then go get yourself a quality MBC from one of the Vendors or Boostcontroller.com. Questions to ask yourself: Why does the controller have an extra nipple if it is not going to be used? Why didn't the company/seller give proper directions? Too much hassle from such a simple part.

 

[v-mac]

i am thinking of getting an XS boost controller, but before i decide to id like to know what did you connect on the MBC you bought like this one? and which valve was left open? sicne you said you left the nipple on the top alone, note im in a 95 gst idk if it would be the same

 

[MrBoxx]

I really hate this boost controller. I really do. I don't even have one, and I hate it, solely for the fact that every month, somebody buys it off eBay for $10 and complains that it doesn't work. It's a horrible design that just made something completely simple into something that's too complicated for its own good.

While I strongly recommend getting a Hallman, JoeP, or TurboXS MBC, HERE are the instructions for how to install this Turbosmart knock-off MBC the CORRECT way. Please remember to NEVER tap the BOV line for ANYTHING, especially bleeder style MBCs.

Edit: In case you were thinking of getting an XS Power MBC, I would pass on that. XS Power is notorious for having parts fail, with their FMIC kits being the only exception. TurboXS, on the other hand, makes some quality parts, and a damn good boost controller.

 

[KelTsi90]

I'll take some pics tomorrow of how I got it installed.

 

[v-mac]

alright well what about the t-fitting on nipple wont let air flow thru it? does it release at a certain psi or does it need to be replaced

 

[MrBoxx]

That tee fitting is a gate; I believe it only lets air go in one direction. One end goes from the turbo compressor housing, one nipple goes to the main body of the MBC, the other releases to the wastegate. It's set up very similarly to the stock BCS setup, with a hose to recirculate the bled air back into the intake tract. Smart, but overly complicated.

I much prefer my TurboXS MBC setup: One MBC, two hoses. Air flows in one direction. That's it.

 

[Boostjunki84]

I much prefer my TurboXS MBC setup: One MBC, two hoses. Air flows in one direction. That's it.

+1. Same as my Joe P.

 

[v-mac]

so the side that restricts the airflow to one way should be running twoards the nipple of the Turbo itself?

 

[MrBoxx]

If you look at kenamond's MS Paint drawing in the article I linked to in post #9, it shows EXACTLY how to install your MBC the correct way. The arrow on the tee block indicates the direction of flow, so the side the arrow comes from is the side that the boost source will come from. The tee part will go to the wastegate actuator. The end that the arrow points to will go to the MBC main body.

 

[v-mac]

alright, well i saw their was something in the line going to the turbo didnt know what that was so i was kinda if'y, but i really appreciate everyone helpin me...im on another dsm forum as well and i didnt get any help thier this is by far the best, thanks!

 

[Burtismaximus]

Yes please go buy something better and if you are looking for really nice go with the hallman pro in cabin mbc. It even came with two different springs incase i wanted to up the boost level past 5 pounds over stock. The spring in it only lets you adjust up to 5 pounds over stock so 19 in a 1g give or take. But you can tune in half pound incriments. The other spring and ball it comes with lets you go far past 5 pounds. How much i dont know but I love mine with the normal spring.

 

[v-mac]

i went back and hooked it up like the diagram says...i have pictures posted to see, only thing im not sure on is that the last outlet on the boost controller said to be sent to a intake nipple, well i was told that the vaccum line right below would work so i hooked the vaccum that was originally hooked to the nipple on the turbo to the bottom nipple on the MBC but still no changes...what am i doing wrong still?

 

[240sxpooter]

I would e-mail the seller about the problem and if possible, send it back. Then go get yourself a quality MBC from one of the Vendors or Boostcontroller.com. Why does the controller have an extra nipple if it is not going to be used? Why didn't the company/seller give proper directions? Too much hassle from such a simple part.

Its a very crucial part of a turbo car so buy a good one and save yourself a big headache later.

 

[MrBoxx]

It appears you've got the Tee block running backwards. The arrow should be pointing TOWARDS the main body of the MBC. Then the black hose that comes from the main body of the MBC should lead back to the intake pipe, with no other tees or open ends in that line.

 

[v-mac]

ok so i will switch the T around im guessing this has to do with the restricto in it, but i will still have one open end on the black vaccum hoseline T, but i will just plug it with something to keep from leaking

 

[MrBoxx]

It would be better to simply replace that whole line with the tee in it with a new vacuum line. It's available at any auto parts store. Might cost a buck or two.

 

[v-mac]

just switched the T around and still not seeing any difference, i top at 12psi but mostly hit 11-10psi stock i was running 10psi so ik something not right, ill be looking for those pictures of the guy who had one instaleld already tom!

 

[wishnfor4g63T]

I Might be able to help.

You don't have to use the T block unless your going to run the MBC in the cabin. To me that was just to much of a mess in vacume lines but hey it's whatever you wanna do. Since your using the T block and the MBC under the hood just eliminate the T block. Hook it up as short as route as possible and then start tinkering from there.

The allen that sits at the stop of the MBC will definitly have to be loosened and tightened Every Time You Mess With IT!!! Heres the problem - Where it's a screw type every time you goto boost the pressure unscrews the MBC so therefore you go back to stock boost. So basically you want to screw the MBC all the way down to where practically no air comes through. Then adjust backward to the right amount of boost you "want/need" to run. Like i said after each time you make a twist you wanna tighten the allen down so you don't loose your "place."

This MBC is a flippin pita for all the hassle of jumping outta the car and messing with it. If any guidance goto Lowes or Home Depot and read a write up on ball and spring MBC's and make one. Trust me, Alot simpler and easier to handle. You will feel like a boost god once you've got it made! Good luck on the car!

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

should've went with the NXS ball/spring MBC.. $15 shipped

i made the thread below to make sure no one got that very same mbc if they were looking for something cheap that works.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...bc-boost-controller-review.html?highlight=nxs