My turbo works when it wants to

[noob-e]

Am I alone? I have a stock 97 GSX with about 65,000 niles on it. I recently started to notice that sometimes it feels like my turbo isn't working. For example, if I shift into 3rd gear very early (in 3rd gear and doing 2,000 rpm) and then try to floor it, the stock boost/turbo gauge seems to be reading normal, but it feels like the turbo is not spinning aty all. This mainly only happens when I try to accellerate from a low rpm.


If I notice this happening, I will completely let off the gas for a second and then give it more gas. When I re-apply the gas pedal, the boost kicks right in. Does that make sense? In other words, it seems like the turbo is blowing to atmosphere, instead of into my intake manifold...

 

[Drifter00]

Check for boost leaks yet?

 

[2-0turbo]

Sounds like the dreaded turbo-lag. I have not driven a 2G, so I don't know how they behave. A stock 1G should see (thinking back a long time to stock here) full boost around 2800 RPM, maybe 3000--I really can't remember. My 1G with ported 14B and full 3" exhaust gets 14PSI by 2400. Again, this depends on the gear you are in.

There is a minimum amount of energy that has to be present to spin the turbo up. You are basically just seeing the limitations of a turbo charger. If you can't find any boost leaks, I'd say your behavior is normal.

 

[cfisher]

thats not turbo lag. sounds like you have a leak. my BOV was leaking and i was having the same problem, but not off and on. do a boost leak test.

 

[cfisher]

nevermind my last post. if your stating the turbo will not spool at 2K it won't. on a stock 14b you should spool right around 3K. now if your stating your not getting any power even when the turbo is spooling then you probably have a nasty leak.