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Little to no boost

Old Oct 16, 2008 | 03:48 PM
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From: Corvallis OR
Little to no boost

Hey guys,
Ive searched some, but its kind of a weird issue so I figured I would post this then go back to searching...

So, my car isnt boosting or has very little boost (less than 5 psi) most of the time. My initial thinking is a waste gate issue but lets see what you guys think.

Ill floor it, get little to no boost like i said, then when I let off the gas it makes loud noise, like something is all of the sudden spinning really fast.

Other times ill floor it, no boost for a bit, then at around 4500, the second turbo transition I would suspect, same spinning noise again and I get all my boost.

every once in a while, car acts as it should.

Also, when I floor it, it sounds like air is escaping. I checked all my vacuum hoses and I didnt find a leak or bad hose. Blow off valve maybe?

Any ideas? Need more info that im not giving?

Thanks!
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Old Oct 16, 2008 | 03:52 PM
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From: Hershey PA
boost leak.

There's info about boost leaks in the FAQ
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Old Oct 16, 2008 | 04:00 PM
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Your sure about boost leak even though sometimes i get correct boost?
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Old Oct 16, 2008 | 05:10 PM
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Never sure, but it's the easiest thing to look for. Boost leaks can behave intermittently.

Dave
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Old Oct 17, 2008 | 05:19 AM
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oh, FYI, it only seems to do it when its warm. When its cold (I try not to btw....) it seems to boost fine. But i HATE to boost on a cold engine, so I don't do it much, but that is what ive noticed.
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Old Oct 17, 2008 | 11:21 AM
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From: Hershey PA
If you don't find any boost leaks, the next step would be solenoids. It's a crude approach, but unless you have a mityvac it's often easiest to replace both turbo control solenoids.

Dave
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 01:56 PM
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Where are the two solenoids located? How hard is it to replace them? I have the same problem. Do you happen to have part numbers?
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:18 PM
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Start with the obvious possibilities, I would start with leak check on the crossover pipe from the y-pipe to the IC. Especially if you're still on the stock rubber hose. Commonly reffered to as the S pipe.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 09:33 PM
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The primary turbo is totally a mechanical system - the solenoids and whatnot have no effect (more or less) in making 7psi on the primary turbo. If you're getting nothing, you've got a boost leak. Any problem on the control side that could effect boost would result in too much boost - like a wastegate line popped off.

The Y-pipe coupler and the small 1 inch hoses going to the factory blowoff valve and the CRV are common culprits since they're baked over by all the turbo's heat. Next is intercooler hoses that aren't on tight. If you still have the original factory hose clamps, they could be stripped out and won't tighten down properly - good replacement hose clamps from a hardware store can fix that right up.

Dale
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 09:50 AM
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See what's weird is that if I kind of double pump the accelerator then I get normal boost, can this still be a leak? It's like a actuator is sticking or something.
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by grego7
See what's weird is that if I kind of double pump the accelerator then I get normal boost, can this still be a leak? It's like a actuator is sticking or something.
Sounds like it may be a problem with the vacuum chamber, or the check valve and vacuum lines associated with it.

Troubleshooting link: http://www.autosportracetech.com/RX-...leshooting.htm
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 03:51 PM
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Yep, that's a solid sign that you have a vacuum storage problem. Letting off allows the engine to go into vacuum and recharge the vacuum tank.

I would start with check valves and loose or leaky hoses.

Dave
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 09:55 AM
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I got into it last night and I may have found the culprit, well I hope I did anyways, I haven't test drove it yet.

The small black hose going from the turbos to the CRV was really loose, while trying to take it off to inspect it the whole thing broke like glass, it was no longer rubber.

I will drive the car tomorrow when I get it all back together and report.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 10:36 AM
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You should replace this hose by a new silicon one (Samco or other) but the best will be to get a kouki version of the pipe set. It costs a little but it's far more reliable and as the pipes are bolt together, no risk to have a hose issue again. PM me if you want such a set.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 10:55 AM
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What set are you reffering to? Pics?
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Kotetsu
the best will be to get a kouki version of the pipe set.
What is this? Do you have a description of these pipes?

Dave
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 12:22 PM
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Are you talking about 99 spec y-pipe?
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by grego7
I got into it last night and I may have found the culprit, well I hope I did anyways, I haven't test drove it yet.

The small black hose going from the turbos to the CRV was really loose, while trying to take it off to inspect it the whole thing broke like glass, it was no longer rubber.

I will drive the car tomorrow when I get it all back together and report.
I had to replace the same hose a few years back, because mine was also rock hard and couldn't be tightened, causing a slight oil leak at its base. However, in spite of its being loose and brittle, it did not cause a loss of boost. It, IMO, would take a much larger boost leak than that to result in little or no boost.

Dave
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 12:46 PM
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I'm not the one that had the little or no boost problem.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by grego7
Where are the two solenoids located? How hard is it to replace them? I have the same problem. Do you happen to have part numbers?
Sorry, I read this and thought you also had little to no boost...


Dave
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by DaleClark
The primary turbo is totally a mechanical system - the solenoids and whatnot have no effect (more or less) in making 7psi on the primary turbo. If you're getting nothing, you've got a boost leak. Any problem on the control side that could effect boost would result in too much boost - like a wastegate line popped off.

The Y-pipe coupler and the small 1 inch hoses going to the factory blowoff valve and the CRV are common culprits since they're baked over by all the turbo's heat. Next is intercooler hoses that aren't on tight. If you still have the original factory hose clamps, they could be stripped out and won't tighten down properly - good replacement hose clamps from a hardware store can fix that right up.

Dale
mine won't boost past 7 psi... the transition seems to be normal ~7-5-7 and i can't find a vacuum leak. any thoughts?
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 10:20 AM
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retaliate1st you are missing the pills in the precontrol actuator and wastgate actuator.
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Old Nov 8, 2008 | 02:18 PM
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does anyone sell those? and does anyone have a picture of where and what?
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