Turbo Spools...but No Pull

[JJPratt216]

I have a 90 tsi fwd. I recently put a new 16g turbo on. I have an aftermarket boost gauge and boost controller. I drove it when I was done with the install, as soon as I started boosting the car starts to choke and wants to die. I slow down and start to rev it to keep it from dying, then it comes back to normal after about a minute. I take it back home slow, pull off the mbc, check everything, take it for a spin again. It hits 8-9psi...no choking...but no pull either. I can here it spool up everytime, the BOV go's off when I let off, it holds a steady 8-9 psi without spike, but no pull what-so-ever. Feels like I'm driving the car without the turbo. I figure maybe boost leak. So I RTV'ed the new j-pipe gasket and the bov to see if it'll make any difference...and it didn't. So just thinking of different ideas besides a boost leak I decided to get new spark plugs and a compression tester just incase. The old plugs weren't that bad and my compression test was great. I'm thinking it might be fuel related now, but I'm getting frustrated. PLEASE someone help me get boost again!

 

[frankozz]

You should test for boost leaks.

 

[Eclipsethis90]

Sounds like a boost leak or not enough boost. 8-9 psi is pretty low considering the stock boost on a 14g will get 12-14psi stock. I did not find anything in your profile as mods that you have made to the TSi other than your 16g. If you have a datalogger you will probably find you are running a little on the rich side. Update your profile so we can more accurately guide you in the correct direction.

 

[JJPratt216]

Its just weird because when I was running the 14b turbo just before it, it was pulling strong. Then I slap this turbo on and somehow I'm getting boost leaks? Even though the only thing I touched that might make it leak was the j-pipe. Even with a boost leak I should feel some sort of pull, but I don't. I guess the only way to find out is to do a test.

 

[hondaslayer1]

Check ## turbo gaskets I had the same thing happen to me when I swapped my turbo to a 16g and it would boost a little but was like I had a non turbo.

 

[JJPratt216]

which gasket? I'm pretty sure there's no leak with the manifold-turbo gasket, and for the j-pipe I RTV'd the crap out of it.

 

[juanpac0]

Did you mess with your cam angle sensor at all?

 

[daver36]

Any thoughts on maybe something clogging the exhaust? Happens to a buddies' civic. A baffle in the cat turned sideways and choked the exhaust, the car sounded fine, you could hear vtec hit clearly but no get up and go.

 

[ilco187]

Any thoughts on maybe something clogging the exhaust? Happens to a buddies' civic. A baffle in the cat turned sideways and choked the exhaust, the car sounded fine, you could hear vtec hit clearly but no get up and go.

vTeC? this aint no honda.

sound like you are not pushing enough, i am pushing 12 and let me tell ya it feels like i have no turbo either, but crank that shit to 19-22 its another story.

also if you are venting the bov to open air that could make for stalling.

 

[BigBeans]

Are you using anything for tuning?

Could the car be going lean in boost and pulling timing to prevent detonation?

What did the old plugs look like?

 

[frankozz]

Test for leaks bro...

 

[GooeyGus]

Sounds like timing is being pulled. Check your knock sensor, see if the back feels gooey or cracked at all. You may also be experiencing slight knock, which is causing your ECU to pull timing.

My knock sensor is currently bad, and the car is a total pig when timing gets pulled. 15psi feels like what 2-3psi should feel like.

 

[Dert]

Before even posting on here you should have done a boost leak test, even though when you had a 14b on it seemed as though there was no leak, their might have been one. The 16g flows more than the 14b, do a boost leak test then if there are no leaks report back

 

[JJPratt216]

Well problem solved. Actually 2 problems. Did a boost leak test and it WAS NOT a boost leak. Found out the fins on the turbo tried to eat away the rubber sleeve in my intake so they are nicely bent, and my main problem was a destroyed knock sensor. I replaced the knock sensor with a brand new one and even though the turbo is bad it still pulls hard.