Turbos make me want to puke!!

[BlckTalon]

OK, so my friend and I are working on his 99 gsx... He's got a full 3" exhaust, downpipe, hard upper intercooler pipe, greddy type rs bov, and maf blow through setup. And we are completely confused... After we got his downpipe on, he drove it for a few days just fine, then one day after sitting at a friends house, he drove it home and it was driving like crap. Everytime he'd reach full boost (around 14-15 psi) the car shuddered and lost a little boost. We thought possibly the bov was fluttering? So he bought and installed the upper icp, bov, and gm maf with translater. It's still doing it, and today while driving it around, his check engine light came on. What the hell is going on? He thinks its fuel cut but I think it might be something else. We have tried to tighten and loosen the bov and that doesn't seem to help.

Somebody has to know whats going on!

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Are you sure you do not have a boost leak? Did you check ALL of the intercooler couplers/clamps/connections? Not just visually either!

 

[napkinthief]

Pull the check engine light code and see what it is. It can be numerous problems, even something as simple as bad spark plugs. Check for boost leaks aswell.

 

[Bigglesworth87]

Does the downpipe delete the cat? Does he have a boost controller? Did you guys even tune the Maf translater? Do you have anything to tune with? Do you have a logger? Did you check for boost leaks? Need a little more info to really figure out whats going on.

 

[BlckTalon]

He does not have a cat on the car, and the problem was happening before he installed the maf translator. No he does not have anything to tune with yet. No boost controller, and we checked all the intercooler connections and no leaks that we can hear or see.

As of right now, he has no filter coming off the turbo (He's not driving it, just quick runs around his house) And there are 3 tubes that came off the stock intake and maf sensor. One is the breather for the valve cover, one goes to a sensor which in turn goes to the wastegate accuator, and the larger one we can't see where they go to... What should we do with these?

 

[1993eclipseGS]

The larger hose goes under the battery try to the charcoal canister.

You said right now he has nothing to tune with? He needs a logger, Then he can tune with the maft translator.

He needs to put an intake pipe on the car, With a filter. Do you know how much hot air that turbo is sucking in, From the engine bay, Especially right there?

 

[GVR4592]

Does he have a datalogger or is he flying blind like half the idiots with dsm's

 

[BlckTalon]

Alright first off, calm down! Don't blow something... Second, I'm asking about the shuttering problem its having, and it was having it BEFORE THE MAFT WENT IN!

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Everyone appears to be calm. We are trying to HELP diagnose your problem, But so far you have not answered any of our questions. Goodluck fixing the problem.

 

[BlckTalon]

How have I not answered your questions?

1. He does not have a datalogger
2. We have checked all areas for boost leak (possibly missing something though)
3. The problem happened before the fact of the translator
4. There is no cat on the car

Now.. what should we do with the hoses that came off the stock intake? Forget i said anything about the maft, pretend its not on there with the same problem.

 

[GVR4592]

What's the boost level? How did you test for boost leaks? Do you have access to a datalogger?

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

go to a local autozone or some place similar and go get that engine check light diagnosed first. then, put the stock maf back on, since you dont have anything to tune the maft with, it's just adding more problems. pressurize the system and see if it holds boost, he needs a boost gauge to make sure the car is even holding boost.

 

[GSntncT]

How have I not answered your questions?
4. There is no cat on the car

if this exhaust doesn't have a cat on it, that is the most likely suspect of the CEL. As it was said before, don't do a visual, physically check all pipes. Check for a possible crack in the intercooler. checks the pipe coming from the intake manifold as well. Even check the bov and the surrounding area as well. Do not have your friend install anything else until then. If it's getting to 14-15psi, then it cannot be that big of an issue.

 

[Tevenor]

What's your spark plug gap? New wires? Is the MAFT zero'd out completely? Does it studder at part throttle/part boost situations?

 

[BlckTalon]

The boost peaks at about 14-15 psi, yes he does have a autometer boost gauge.. I'm not sure what his spark plug gap is on his plugs or the condition of his wires, but the maft is zero'd out completely. We'll pressurize the system tonight to get a better idea if theres boost leaks.

 

[Victory]

Tevenor has a good point. DSM will shutter under boost when the wires are old and worn. It will come on all of a sudden at times too. Go figure.

Good luck.

 

[GSntncT]

What's your spark plug gap? New wires? Is the MAFT zero'd out completely? Does it studder at part throttle/part boost situations?

Very interesting statement. How often should you change your wires? I have the 8.5 mm magnecor wires, which I've not changed in at least 2 years......

 

[Victory]

Magnecor makes a nice wire. However, I'd keep an eye on it after two years. While the car may not flutter, you may still be losing some energy.

Every three years for sure, just to be safe.

 

[jpbrazill]

You still have a stock BC on there, correct?

Ok, check for your boost leaks, make sure that the maf is hooked up, etc. If you dont have a boost leak tester, you can make one at home depot for about $7. I would also recommend making sure a few things are tight and snug. For instance, plug wires, maf plug, boost lines, etc. Good luck man,

J.P.

 

[1stGenRocks]

Leave the maft unhooked and put the stock intake back on. Setting up and tuning the maft is a whole other problem so for now diagnose this first. You can leave the sensor and new uicp there just un hook the maf and hook the stock sensor back up.

Do a real boost leak test. NOT just a visual. The tester cost <10 bucks to make so there's no excuse to not have one.

With it idling spray water on the plug wires and see if it starts sputtering. If it does then your wires are definately bad. Also check that they are plugged into the coilpack and plugs tightly and make sure all the connectiosn are clean.

While you have the wires unhooked to check pull the plugs out too and post pics of them if possible. Make sure they are ngk bpr6es or bpr7es and are gapped at .28

 

[Thomas91169]

i would put alot of money on it that its a boost leak.

 

[Newlogics]

Sicne other people have already suggested all other probable causes, all I can suggest is make sure four white wires on the pos. battery terminal are not loose. If they are, it will randomly missfire and throw 'random missfire' CEL.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Well I would have started with simple stuff, known as troubleshooting. Replacing the $2 spark plugs would have been a wiser investment then replacing a bunch of stuff that wasn't broken .

That's what did it on my car.

Also a turbo that is going bad will.

Not sure why you would install a bunch of upgrades without even a datalogger or a friggin MBC? Have you ever read the upgrade path? (Sorry if I seem like a prick but this thread is kinda ridiculous).

 

[TSIMonsteR]

I agree. Those upgrades without something to log with, or MBC seems like a bad idea. If I were your friend, I'd invest in DSM Link. Nice Tunning/Logging Tool. Like it has already been stated, check your plugs and wires. Summit has both for a good price, I just ordered the NGK BPR7ES and some Accel 8.5mm wires from them.