not sure what to even search for, boost leak?

[dsmhurley]

i've got a 97 gsx AUTOMATIC... 146,000 miles on it... the problem i'm having is one i'm not even sure of how to search for on the forums... here's the problem... i'll be driving down the road... doesn't matter what gear or how fast... if apply more throttle the turbo will start spooling and start accelerating and then it will just quit... the turbo will still be spooling but it feels like someone pushes in the clutch... yes i know its automatic... i'm just giving you an idea what it feels like... it just quits accelerating and at times will even slow down... yet the turbo is still spooling and i'm still applying more throttle... it doesn't happen all the time either... i can't get it to reaccur on command... it just does it... when it happens i let off the throttle all the way and then apply pressure again... sometimes it will do it again sometimes it doesn't... its hard to explain without you actually being in the car... also.. if i'm at a red light or dead stop... and mash the pedal... the car doesn't do anything... it just slowly accelerates and then takes off once the turbo is fully spooled... and even then sometimes it gives me that some problem of not going anywhere.... i do have a small exhaust leak... not sure exactly where... probably where the downpipe connects with the cat... not sure exactly... also i have not tested for boost leaks... it just seems strange that if one of those things are the reason... why does it not happen all the time.... the tranny was rebuilt about 30,000 miles ago... i had it inspected and they said everything was fine with the tranny... i've changed all the spark plugs/wires also... another problem i found is that the rear dif. is leaking... not sure if that would do anything either... give me some ideas and i'll try to explain the problem in more detail...

 

[gurmanator]

start with a boost leak test,I would venture to say that is the problem...my car did the samething.

 

[dsmhurley]

ok i'll do that... it just seems odd that if that is indeed the problem... what is the reason for it not doing it all the time... could it be a failing part possibly?

 

[dsmhurley]

ok so i did a boost leak test... fixed all the leaks i could find except for the bov... not sure if its supposed to leak out pressure or not, doubt it, but it leaks very slowly... otherwize fixing the leaks didn't help any... i also got a boost gauge (autometer)... on full boost it reads a solid 11psi... which im pretty sure is the stock boost on my car... also i checked the turbo for shaft play... nothing wrong what so ever... shouldn't considering it only has like 20,000 miles on it... maybe im just asking for too much out of this automatic all wheel drive car... i took it to the track and could only get a time of 16.1... does anyone know what this car should run stock??? keep in mind its automatic

 

[dsmhurley]

i also did a compression test and got the results of 180, 180, 170, 180... i think those values are fine, correct me if i'm wrong...

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Your tranny my be fine, but your torque converter maybe shot. Take the car to a different trans shop and have them look it over. Also check all axles, especially the rear ones, since you said it was leaking, just give them a good tug, they shouldn't be able to come out the rear diff unless you broke one.

 

[dsmhurley]

my rear wheel bearing went bad so when i replaced that i did tug on the axles and they didn't come out... also when i was looking at the paper work for the tranny it says the torque converter was rebuilt as well... but i'll try and do what you said and have another shop take a look at it...

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Just to make sure I understand this, when the problem occurs, the engine keeps revving but the car stops accelerating or slows down. Is this correct?

 

[dsmhurley]

that is correct... it even happens in first gear... like if i go to drag someone... it will rev and the turbo will be boosting... but its not like catching the gear or something... like you can feel it catch and take off when its working right... but when it doesn't it just feels like the clutch is pushed in (if it were standard) maybe its slipping gears or something, if automatics can even do that... when its working correctly you can feel yourself getting pushed into the seat... but when its not working properly, i feel myself getting ready to be pushed into the seat but it never happens... its really hard to explain... if only you could just ride with me

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Well, I'm not driving out to Ohio. I can tell you this though. Your problem is 100% NOT engine related. They f*cked something up with the drivetrain.

It's either your TCU, Tranny, TQ, T-case, rear diff, or Axles.

 

[dsmhurley]

ok well i guess thats good to hear and bad to hear... i would still like to do an engine rebuild and new timing belt... just don't know how... but yeah i'll get someone to look at my tranny... the rear dif is leaking... pretty bad... so that could be part of the problem... plus i may just be asking for too much out of this car... i wish someone else knew what a automatic 2g gsx normally would run at the track... im really starting to get sick of this car... things fall apart left and right... but i'll try and stick with it... being my first "tuner" car, i may have chose a car which requires way more knowledge than what i've got at the moment... kinda sucks having spent my whole life on computers instead of cars (hence the reason i'm a computer technician instead of a mechanic)

 

[dsmhurley]

ok i took it to another place and they said everything seems to be fine... so i guess i'm just expecting more out of an automatic... so my next question would be... what would you suggest being my next upgrade for an automatic gsx... i've searched on it... and i find different answers everytime... some say do the turbo upgrade and other upgrades relating to it... and others say to do upgrades to the tranny... what would you suggest... as of right now i'm kind of wanting to do the turbo upgrades... get like a 16g/20g and new fmic/piping... dunno though.. any suggestions

 

[dsmhurley]

haven't fixed the rear dif. leak yet... that's first on the list... but after that i'm open for suggestions

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Yea, take your car to Buschur for a REAL diagonistic. Automatics don't deccelerated at WOT, no matter what any shop says and hire a lawyer. You are getting screwed. I paid $1300 to get the tranny rebuilt on my old Laser, two days later the Torque Converter shattered. They failed to inspect and/or replace it. After threats of lawsuits, they replaced it with no labor costs, and I provided a new torque converter to make sure he wasn't going to jack up the price to compensate losses from the free labor, I agreed that the old one was going bad, but I'm not paying twice to have the tranny removed and installed cause they forgot to check it.

 

[dsmhurley]

ok i've been up to buschers once before... his shop is like 40 minutes from my house... and they didn't seem like they even wanted to mess with my car... from what i saw, they ahd like 10 evo's lined up to be worked on... then they said if its anything with the engine they won't even touch it... because its a 7 bolt... he seems pricey too... said it would cost me $7000+ to have them put a 6 bolt in... but i dunno... maybe i'll make another trip there and see if they'll take a look at it

 

[laserspeeddemon]

They are pricey, but thats because they are expierenced. Tell them that you were recommended by a online costumer of thiers. They shouldn't turn away buisness for any reason. Call them first. You next option is to go to Mitsubishi.

 

[dsmhurley]

ok i'll give it a try... i'd prefer to avoid mitsubishi... i took it to the medina mitsubishi... and yeah they wanted to charge me $280 to change the o2 sensors... i can't imagine what the price would be for the tranny... i heard they just got a gst in the other day... i was gonna see what they would give my for my gsx and not tell them about the tranny thing