No Boost in 1st Gear

[1stblackawdtsi]

First off, I have a 94 tsi awd with a 6bolt swap. Stock except for a 3in downpipe and exhaust, no cat. Has a hacked air can with K&N, Mas has the plug removed and no silencer, but both honeycombs are intact and in great shape. The factory boost solenoid has also been modified to raise boost levels. Now, the car has sat for about two months, and when I went home this weekend from school, I started the car. The idle was really shakey. It sputters a little, but after i drove it the idle settled down. Once the idle was better i took the car out again. Started to accelerate in 1st, and the car would not build boost(Autometer boost gauge), shift to 2nd and boost would build to 10psi, same in 3rd and 4th. This really has me dumbfounded. I really don't even know where to start, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GILZTSIAWD]

Am I reading that wrong or did you say that the mas is not plugged in?

 

[csgsx23]

what does this

Mas has the plug removed and no silencer

mean?

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

Sorry, Im talking about the large brass set screw in the bottom of the MAS. That has been removed and siliconed shut.

 

[Defiant]

Welp, you've destroyed your MAF. Where were you ever told removing that was a good idea?

You don't develop boost in first because the engine revs fast enough that the intake doesn't get backed up, which is what "boost" is. But don't try for boost in first- the engine isn't loaded enough to be happy with it. Instead, get second as soon as you're rolling and let the turbo work.

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

Yeah, but the only problem with that is, that mod to the mas was done by the previous owner, and the car boosted and ran great for the 3 months I drove it. There was no problem with building boost in any gear until the car got started on Saturday. But I do have another 1g mas in the garage so I could try that one.

 

[GILZTSIAWD]

Try that one and return with the results.

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

That won't be until next weekend, thats the next time I can get home from school. Any other ideas that I could try at the same time would be great, so I can try multiple things. Knock out a few birds with one stone. Thanks.

 

[viprez586]

Check the wastegate flapper aswell. The seating plate on my exhaust turbine housing was completely cracked through resulting in full boost at 4.5-5k. Talk about slow!

But now im back to bigger problems, Bad headgasket, rings, and boost leaks

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

The other maf i have didnt change a thing car still does the same thing as before. Builds no boost in 1st, but in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th it builds 10psi. Its almost like the engine is not loaded in 1st gear.

 

[Defiant]

Its almost like the engine is not loaded in 1st gear.

That's exactly the situation. Which is why you don't want to try to "get" boost in first.

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

Defiant-I understand what you are saying, but the car should still build in first. I'm more worried about having my car run properly than how i drive it. I don't try and build lots of boost in first, I'm leaving first at 4000 to 4500 max, usually like 3500 if I'm pushing it. Well I might switch to a 2g mas now, planned on it for the future, but this might be the right time to do it.

 

[Zenja]

What RPM do you get 10psi at in the other gears?

 

[Defiant]

I'm more worried about having my car run properly than how i drive it.

They're both variables in the same equation. If it hurts when you do that, don't do that.

 

[viprez586]

Defiant-I understand what you are saying, but the car should still build in first. I'm more worried about having my car run properly than how i drive it. I don't try and build lots of boost in first, I'm leaving first at 4000 to 4500 max, usually like 3500 if I'm pushing it. Well I might switch to a 2g mas now, planned on it for the future, but this might be the right time to do it.

Personally i build boost in 1st effortlessly. Check the arm on the wastegate and make sure its connected correctly, also check your wastegate diaphragm make sure the tension is correct.
what it sounds like to me though is your wastegate flapper seat is cracked badly and not seating correctly. If this is the case your flapper is acting like its open.

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

Yeah, I'll have to check that next weekend if I can get back home. If that isn't the problem, I don't know what is up.

 

[Evil_speedracer]

Would checking for a boost leak be a good idea? Also, I wonder about the condition of the vacuum lines.

 

[viprez586]

Would checking for a boost leak be a good idea? Also, I wonder about the condition of the vacuum lines.

It wouldnt hurt, any leaks in the system will cause you to run rich

 

[1stblackawdtsi]

Yeah, I've been meaning to build a boost leak tester for a while now, however the car is kind of my last priority right now. I just want to figure out what the proplem is.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Did you ever find the cause? I'm having the same issue. No boost in first gear. I performed boost leak test, and no leaks.

 

[Mauispyder]

As stated previously, if car builds boost in all other gears it’s ok.

 

[AWD-Tony]

No way Jose. I had a 2g before and there is no way that that is normal.

 

[Mauispyder]

Ok good luck

 

[Dsm panda]

Thats a problem? I wish my fwd had no boost in 1st.... Just blows the tires off once any boost comes in...

 

[boostjunkie92]

check for boost leaks as well as your wastegate. I had the actuator come off the flapper before and obviously i wouldnt build any boost