Massive Loss Of Power!

[ekips009]

Alright here is the story... i was on a pretty big road trip from montna to arizona and was driving up a pass through utah with my a/c on and my cruise control on, and my car started to max boost around 15 psi (thats what my autometer gauge read) so i decided to take it off cruise control and turn off the a/c so i didnt stress the engine to much... then i started to pass a semi truck (with cruise control off boostin around 10) when my boost gauge started to jump all over the place and i had a huge loss of power! so i pulled over to the side of the road... and shut off the car... looked around didnt see anything majorly wrong so i left the hood open and started it back up, idling was fine but as soon as i revved it passed 2500 it would start to vibrate really bad... and i also noticed that at idle my vac was at 10 inHg instead of the usual 15inHg... so i looked around some more and saw that my ic hose comming from the turbo to the ic was moved alittle bit so i losened it and pushed it back on some more, it wasnt off though it still had about an 1.5 to 2 in till the end... so i started it back up and let it run for a little longer when i decided i really needed to get off the side of the interstate so i started back up the hill very slowly and back down and it seemed to be working ok but my vac was still low... with all my power still not back yet... so if you guys have any suggestions that would be very helpful! and thanks for your time!!! : )

 

[TurboTsiThatFly]

Have you done a boost leak test since that happened?

 

[ekips009]

No my boost side of the gauge still goes up to 15psi but its my vaccum that oly hits 10inHg mabey 15 downhill... i did a boost leak test before and had a huge leak (couldnt even keep pressure for more than acouple seconds) comming out of my upper ic pipe and fixed it... but was driving around alot before that and it didnt have any of the problems, so i dont think that it is really my boost like i said there was one hose that moved alittle bit but i put that back and re tightened it... honestly why i havent done a boost leak test though is im in college right now and dont really have a place to work on my car... but keep the ideas flowing please!

So one possible solution
1. Boost leak
2. ?
3. ?

 

[TurboTsiThatFly]

do you have any cel's?

 

[ekips009]

do you have any cel's?

sorry i hate to sound stupid but whats a cel? thanks for your patience!

 

[TurboTsiThatFly]

That would be a Check Engine Light!

 

[ekips009]

OH my bad you mean a check engine light! no... i dont... kinda wish i did though so i could scan it!

 

[Nito15]

If you have no boost leaks, check your spark plug wires. Their failure results in symptoms similar to boost leak and also a real bad spark plug gap could cause that loss of power. When you have a failing spark plug wire or a bad plug you will boost crazy and go nowhere because timing will be pulled automatically. Usually those two culprits won't throw a code either. Start with a boost leak check

 

[TurboTsiThatFly]

If you have no boost leaks, check your spark plug wires. Their failure results in symptoms similar to boost leak and also a real bad spark plug gap could cause that loss of power. When you have a failing spark plug wire or a bad plug you will boost crazy and go nowhere because timing will be pulled automatically. Usually those two culprits won't throw a code either. Start with a boost leak check

Agreed +1 to poster

 

[ekips009]

ok well i just gapped my plugs right before i left so they should still be good along with my wires... i could look into some new ones... as for the boost leak, my tester is still at my shop at home, which is 1,600 miles away, i could make a new one... but i really dont want to... i will probably end up with doing it though... but would a boost leak show up on the vaccum side of things? becuase isnt that two diffrent systems? thanks

 

[240sxpooter]

ok well i just gapped my plugs right before i left so they should still be good along with my wires... i could look into some new ones... as for the boost leak, my tester is still at my shop at home, which is 1,600 miles away, i could make a new one... but i really dont want to... i will probably end up with doing it though... but would a boost leak show up on the vaccum side of things? becuase isnt that two diffrent systems? thanks

the boost leak test might help find a leak IE....

Normaly when your car is reading vacuum its due the throttle plate being closed enough for the engine to "pull" a vacuum. So if your problem is "only on the vacuum side" then that would point me between the throttle body and the head. So check for leaks around there.

 

[ekips009]

sweet alright im thinking i will just go down and make a new boost leak tester... and check around the head and throttle body! thanks alot guys! i will give you a verdict as soon as i can!

 

[4Motion4g63]

Just Email me the car and i Will fix it................

 

[ekips009]

Just Email me the car and i Will fix it................

hehehehehe! yeah! thats the best part is working on it though... at least i like it! but trust me my car has so many problems i dont think you would want to try and fix it...

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

Timing belt jumped a tooth... Or someone mysteriously swapped a set of cams into your ride while you weren't looking... I'd bet on the timing belt skippage.

 

[ekips009]

Timing belt jumped a tooth... Or someone mysteriously swapped a set of cams into your ride while you weren't looking... I'd bet on the timing belt skippage.

hmmmm well i did just replace the timming belt right before i left... but i was really careful with how i did it... how would you check if it jumped? but i dont know im almost voting for someone swapped those cams in...

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

Take your top cam cover off, line up your crankshaft to the TDC mark and see if your cams line up properly. As seen here: Timing Belt VFAQ

 

[goonie]

did you check your waste gate ? and actuator
if its stuck open you will have a major power loss

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

But his vacuum at idle shouldn't change if that were the case...

 

[ekips009]

yeah the waste gate is fine...

 

[Bubbs Malone]

Possibly your coil? I had a similar problem today, the ignition coil eletrical connector wasnt making connection. Although, I threw some CEL numbers.

 

[ShadyGST]

Figure it out yet? I am betting on timing.

 

[ekips009]

no not yet... i have had classes this whole week but friday i will be able to work on it a bit... i will definatly give you guys an update as soon as i can! ; )

 

[ekips009]

so here is the verdic... timing belt still lines up, coil is ok, and boost leak test is good... i reallly dont know what else it could be...

 

[ekips009]

Dang is that really all we got?