too many problems! low boost

[DoriftoTSi]

I've been struggling with some sort of boost leak for a while. When i first bought the car, i noticed it boosted low for a while, like 7 psi...but then the problem went away and i was boosting at a normal 10-11 psi again. But Lately i've been boosting incredibly low, about 5 psi. And my vacuum is about 10. So for a while i was thinking, maybe my turbo is just dead. My spool up is slow and it just doens't feel like it used to. Now i've been thinking, maybe its my wastegate actuator, i looked at it and it's caked it greese and oil, just covered, so maybe it's not working properly? Where the heck do i start looking, i'm gonna get a pump and test of the actuator arm is moving. I'm tired of this weak feeling

I'm really starting to hope it's just the wg actuator, why else would i boost so slow and low. I could have a big boost leak somewhere in my vacuum lines, but i've searched and i couldn't find anything wrong... bah help me

 

[realhp=turbo]

Is the car still somewhat stock? Do you have a boost controller? Ive noticed that mine does something similar. But I still have the factory boost control solinoid. I would do a boost leak check first as per vfaq. If that doesnt give you the answers your looking for then Im willing to bet that the oil that is all over your wastegate actuator is from your turbo leaking oil. Does it smoke at all?
mike

 

[DoriftoTSi]

i have a mbc and no smoke actually. Also, another weird problem, i boost really fast when the car is cold but like the car doesn't pull, i hear the turbo spool up like mad but i dont get a sense of power, it feels like it actually bogs.

 

[realhp=turbo]

Mine does that too as of late. I noticed though that if I ease into the throttle instead of just sticking it, it feels like I get more boost, then when Ive hit about 4000 rpm stick it and it then opens to full boost but it doesnt feel as if its doing any good to floor it, at all. Like Im wasting more gas than anything. I belive my ecu is pulling timing because I have a broken motor mount (completely unfixable). I think the top half of the mount is jingling on the block causing the knock sensor to pick it up as excess knock and thus, pulling timing. This is only a theory. The only other thing I can think of is the timing belt is stretching, cause my timing cover is thrashed and not even on the car. Do you think any of this is helping?

 

[DoriftoTSi]

i dunno man, anyone else have any more insight?

 

[ALP584]

this is really weird guys i have somewhat the same problem , my car will boost 14 psi when the engine is cold but as soon as it gets warmer it will boost around 8 psi and also after 4000 rpm i used to have nice strong pull but now it feels like its not pulling and when i checked for boost leaks i hear a whistling sound behind my intake manifold but cant find the leak i do know that my O2 sensor is very bad but and also there is a puddle of what seems to be fuel behind runners 3 n 4 its weird i dont know what it could be other then the o rings leaking for the fuel puddle but it sounds like the leak is behind intake manifold plus my idle moves slowly from 1000 rpms to 1500 rpms like when you vent the blow off valve but mine isnt vented ...........................im lost

my 2 cents

 

[swarm]

this is really weird guys i have somewhat the same problem , my car will boost 14 psi when the engine is cold but as soon as it gets warmer it will boost around 8 psi and also after 4000 rpm i used to have nice strong pull but now it feels like its not pulling and when i checked for boost leaks i hear a whistling sound behind my intake manifold but cant find the leak i do know that my O2 sensor is very bad but and also there is a puddle of what seems to be fuel behind runners 3 n 4 its weird i dont know what it could be other then the o rings leaking for the fuel puddle but it sounds like the leak is behind intake manifold plus my idle moves slowly from 1000 rpms to 1500 rpms like when you vent the blow off valve but mine isnt vented ...........................im lost

my 2 cents

WOW! We have the same problem above 4,000
I'll let you know what I find out.. Please do the same
even if you find out what is causing the sound behind the intake mani... i'm trying to find out, too....

lets take this to PM, so we don'tr hijack