My spool time sucks, how to improve it, could it be a sticky wastegate?

[Verticaljump1]

Car: 1991 Eagle Talon TSI AWD 5spd.
Mods: Blow-thru set up (2.5" w/ 3" gm maf), small 16g turbo, boost gauge, NO FILTER ON THE TURBO NO SCREEN ON THE TURBO, COMPRESSOR INLET IS COMPLETELY OPEN FOR TESTING.

My turbo doesn't start spooling until 3800 rpm and full boost doesn't hit until 5500rpm in all gears, and the turbo is a standard small 16g. I have stock manifold, stock small 16g, and stock exhaust, so can this explain it? It boosts to 10 psi at about 5500-5800 and Idk why it takes so long, the compressor inlet is naked so air induction shouldn't be a problem, whatever it is it's makin me mad. I checked the bov-intake manifold connection, it was fine, no boost leak (I'm pretty sure), and my best guess would be the wastegate, but if you guys could list any and all possibilites I can check them, thanks and have a good day guys!

 

[UPGRADED2G]

im not a genius or anything, but I think you should have opened up your exhaust a LONG time ago.......way b4 upgrading your turbo.......less back pressure should allow for much quicker spool up.

air gets in easy....but how easy does it get out?

 

[Verticaljump1]

I figured it out, my wastegate was stuck, (it was partially opened), luckily I've got a spare that will be bolted on shortly, thanks guys.

 

[DSMJim]

I figured it out, my wastegate was stuck, (it was partially opened), luckily I've got a spare that will be bolted on shortly, thanks guys.

I was jsut gonna say that your flapper is open. Just thread the arm back until its tightly held closed. Glad to hear you got it fixed.

 

[Wing0tj]

Hey, I think Im having the same proble with the wastegate being stuck open. I was just wondering when it was stuck open did the car feel like it was working really hard and not going as fast as it should be? or were there any other things that were wrong. And how did you go about fixing hte wastegate?

 

[dsm10sec]

On my 14b the wastegate was stuck open... Didn't find out 'till I upgraded to the 20g. Oh well, I still beat honduhs.

 

[4GSixty3]

I had the same problem with my 14b. Wastegate was leaking so I changed the whole thing and it felt alot better and yes before I changed it, it seemed like my car was working it's ass off at 15 lbs but wasnt going anywhere.

 

[Wing0tj]

So all of you basically changed the whole turbo...? Or is there something I can do with the actuator like get a new one, or adjust it somehow?

 

[dsm10sec]

All you need to do is pull the turbo, close the wastegate or repair what's broken on it.

 

[Wing0tj]

what is there that could be broken?

only things I can think of are the actuator...idk how the flapper could be broken, are there any ways to "fix" the actuator if there is something wrong with it.

 

[fastrobb]

I am buildin a 96 gst spyder I recently installed a new t25 Turbo I bought off of a dsm tuner. I ported the turbine housing, o2 sensor housing, installed a 3" stillen down pipe & 3" tanabe cat back exhaust, db uicp & 1g bov, ball & spring boost controller, K&N open air filter & valve cover breather, unorthodox crank underdrive pulley, apc 9.3mm plug wires, autolite plugs, set the boost at 15 psi and the car is still not pulling as hard as it should be. I cant tell much difference over stock. Could the waste gate be sticking open ? When I was porting the turbo I noticed the flapper was hanging a little on the top of the waste gate opening, internally...

 

[Wing0tj]

when you drive, do you hit 15 psi quickly or do you have to get it up to like 5500?

 

[Verticaljump1]

When you were porting the turbo, did you keep the wastegate actuator on while doing so? If the actuator and arm were attached and you still saw that the flapper was open, do what DSMJim said and thread the arm back into the actuator until the flapper is held closed (or until the two notches on the arm are about 1/8" from the wastegate actuators opening). Pulling the turbo is uncessary to do a standard check. Simply take off the cotter pin on the the arm-flapper connection, jiggle the flapper to make sure it's not stuck. If it's not stuck, check the actuactor and arm. Check the distance between the actuator thread hole and the notches on the arm, they should be no more than 1/8" from eachother. If they are further than 1/8" inch thread the arm back into the actuator until you reach the 1/8" distance. After that bolt that baby back on. I'm not entirely sure on the bolt size, but all you need is a ratchet, 14mm socket, extension, and some pliers or good fingers and you can have your wastegate workin smooth and keep it's mouth shut. Good luck man

 

[Wing0tj]

Thanks, I just pulled the wastegate, I dont have time to fiddle with it now, but Ill get back on how that works

 

[BoostinAWD]

What'd I tell ya