Boost leak? or worse...

[Visgili32]

So I have been in Australia for about a week now on vacation with some of my family, and my brother decided to take my 1998 GSX out for a joy ride (after he found my spare key) back in the States. The GSX is completely stock and ran with absolutely no problems, boosting fine and idling fine before I left. I got a phone call from him last night at about 3 in the morning saying the car sounds like it begins to boost, then at about 3,000 RPM's the air from the turbo sounds like it just "vents to the atmosphere" (no, I do not have an after-market bov) He also says the car has trouble getting over 3,000 RPM's while its in gear, but when its in neutral it "rev's" past 3,000 with ease, and still idles perfectly. Any ideas? Do you think a coupler just came loose somewhere after the turbo and there is a large boost leak? Is it possible that the crappy 2nd gen stock bov finally went or a problem with the wastegate? (what are the symptoms if the stock bov fails?) or may I be dealing with something worse with the turbo or something I haven't even thought of... :/ I would greatly appreciate any Ideas or knowledge anyone can give me, Thanks.

 

[rush2252]

Sounds like a boost leak. If it wont run over 3k I wouldnt be too alarmed until you get back to further inspect. Either that or the MAF came unplugged. Im sure your going to have a hard time diagnosing the problem from your car thief brother.


Kolby

 

[95'RS-T]

+1 on the boost leak. The only thing i don't understand is why it don't get passed 3k RPM? Even with a boost leak such as the coupler coming off it should still drive like a car without turbo pulling rpms all the way to redline IMO

 

[rush2252]

In your instance since you were N/T w/turbo and much higher compression it would. But due to the very low compression on the turbo models it wont. Also note the MAF is reading X amount of air and dumping X amount of fuel when in reality that X amount of air is never reaching the intake because its leaking but the fuel is still there.


Kolby

 

[95'RS-T]

In your instance since you were N/T w/turbo and much higher compression it would. But due to the very low compression on the turbo models it wont. Also note the MAF is reading X amount of air and dumping X amount of fuel when in reality that X amount of air is never reaching the intake because its leaking but the fuel is still there.


Kolby

gotcha

 

[Remyink]

Sounds like a boost leak. My brothers car had a similar problem. Turns out it was the stock side mount intercooler was leaking all the boost.

Do a boost leak test.

 

[Visgili32]

Alright, thanks guys, I'll make something to run a leak test when I get home. If any other ideas pop up, don't hesitate to post (Im probably going to be here for another week)