inconsistent turbo? help

[92awdtalon]

I just bought a 92 awd Talon. When i drove the car pushing 13 lbs it felt awesome. About a month after i had it home it started to feel different. in first and second it feels like it is leaking, there is a big lack of power, but only sometimes. when the car is cold it goes, but when warmed up it is inconsistent. i don't know if it is the turbo or something else. when boost is at 9 or 10 lbs it feels fine. i have checked for leaks but i can't find any. i have no idea what it could be. i have a turbo xs MBC, a turbo xs BOV, the second honeycomb is removed from the MAF, and the rest is stock. i would appreciate any advice or help.

 

[Defiant]

If you're lucky, it's just a blown turbo. If you're _really, really_ lucky, it's a boost leak.

But I fear worse.

 

[flytalon93]

Definitely run the follow checks:
1. Check turbo for shaft play and ensure it spins freely
2. Run a compression test
3. Check wastegate actuator
4. Re-check for boost leaks


Questions for you:
1. When was the last time you did any scheduled maintenance to her, ie. spark plugs, fuel filter, plug wires, etc.
2. When you say "now you are home" what do you mean. You bought the car somewhere else? What is the octane level of fuel in your area?

Overall many factors can come into play. We need more specifics to help diagnose.

 

[92awdtalon]

To my knowledge all scheduled maintenance was done at 120000 miles and now the car has 130000 miles. i bought it with 125000 miles. i bought the car in Colorado, close to Denver, and brought it home to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have put nothing but 91 octane fuel in it since i've had it. that is the highest to be found in Albuquerque.

If a turbo is "blown," how would it happen and what happens to it?

 

[92awdtalon]

I was running the car at 9 psi since my last post until a couple days ago when i decided to turn it up to 13 because it was feeling good. Bad idea, at 13 there was NO power in first or second. third-fifth feel good no matter what, but i dont know if it is because i can't feel them as well or if it is because there is no problem with them. could it be the transmission? i need to figure this out.

 

[TheTSiGuy]

I was running the car at 9 psi since my last post until a couple days ago when i decided to turn it up to 13 because it was feeling good. Bad idea, at 13 there was NO power in first or second. third-fifth feel good no matter what, but i dont know if it is because i can't feel them as well or if it is because there is no problem with them. could it be the transmission? i need to figure this out.

Like said above, check the actual turbo. take a few minutes to take off the intake/MAS and check the turbo. does it have oil in it? does the wheel spin freely? wiggle the wheel from side to side, and front and back. If the turbo seems fine, no in/out shaft play, no oil in the compressor housing, then its not a turbo problem.

Unfortunately, "lack of power" can be linked to SO many problems. I had a lack of power the other day. upon inspecting the engine bay, i found that the ground wire from the TPS had come undone. Easy bonehead fix. You just never know. Process of elimination my friend.