Boost Leak? Messed up turbo? Tranny? Please help guys!

[redbaron1988]

Okay guys... I just put a different motor in my 1997 Eclipse GST F/W A/T due to thrown rod. Anyway, the car idles fine but when I accelerate, the stock turbo guage goes sky high but the greddy guage reads normal. The car has no power and the more you step on the gas, the worse it gets. The only way I can drive it is to put it in low gear, slowly accelerate without boosting, shift up to 2nd, accelerate slow again, and so on until over drive. It runs perfect at steady speed, but then bogs really bad on hills as it tries to spool up. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be wrong?

 

[knochgoon24]

Do a boost leak test. Your stock gauge may be going sky high because it's based on what the ECU sees. The ECU is seeing all the air that your engine is using and all the air that is leaking. When you step on the gas, you're also getting all the extra fuel for that leaked air.

When you hit hills, more load is put on the engine, so you start to "attempt" to build boost, but since you probably have a leak, you aren't getting that boost, and the car bogs on all that extra fuel.

 

[bling5tatus]

Does your wastegate flapper have free range of motion? Is the WGA actuating it properly? Have you boost leak tested the car?

What have you already tried to do to diagnose or fix this issue, more info is needed.

 

[redbaron1988]

Alright... thanks for replying guys! That makes sence what you are saying and to be completely honest with you, I don't know what the wastegate flapper is or how to do a leak test or anything like that. This is my first experience with a turbo and I only have a very basic knowlege of their mechanics. Could you guys please walk me through the leak test and what to ckeck for as far as the wastegate, ect... Thanks so much. By the way, the turbo is an upgraded one (Greddy 18g) if that changes anything. I do have a stock turbo that I took off the new motor during the swap. If need be, I guess I could try putting the stock one back on, but I'd really like to keep the upgrade seeing as it produces so much more boost. Thanks agin guys (and gals

 

[twoTSis]

Boost leak test...Soapy water, check for air bubbles.

 

[twoTSis]

Boost Leak Tester:

Boostpro.net : Guides - DSM - Instructions for Boost Leak Test

Printable version at the bottom of the site.

 

[redbaron1988]

I was driving the car today and doing the baby method and all of a sudden, the car bogged really bad, started reving up and down between 200 - 800 and then died. Now, I can't get the car to stay running unless i keep pumping the gas... in addition, I can smell gas rather strongly. Any ideas as to what could cause the original problem plus this new one.. Do you guys still think its the boost?

 

[twoTSis]

Before anything else to a boost leak test!! Especially if it's bogging out now too!

 

[redbaron1988]

did the presure test today to find two large leaks at intercooler joints and a small one at intake manifold gasget. Fixed the large ones and the car runs great now... Thanks for the help guys.

 

[eagle4life]

I had a sick leak today was on my way home started to boost then pop! ICP poped off boost you got to love it

 

[SkubaSteeve]

Just picked up my first car

98 Talon TSi - and from what ive been reading, i have a boost leak, following everyones instructions im hoping for the best.