hey everyone, my FD just hit 50k mles and it started to give me problems. i put in a cali ecu and its a non cali car so i think i heard a pop and im not quite sure. now ive put in a non cali ecu and it sounds like the control valve is vented open. basically it just makes alot of hissing noise instead of boosting. im wondering if its the control valve, or a vaccume hose or what. the car idles roughish smooth for a rotary, but that was always like that. it seems to rev smoothly with no boost, and when i press down the accelorator down more it just keeps revving as if its NA and makes alot of hissing noise. so i guess its a boost problem and not a vacum problem. help please! thanks
russell

edit: i put in the stock ecus because i had a M2 ecu i sold...

 

You have a boost leak, just start going through all of the possible places -- bov hose, ic coupler, etc. Do a search, this is a common problem that is usually pretty easily solved.

 

yep thats what i figured, i replaced the IC and everything so it could be that, the ic itself may have a leak, i dont know. i just thought if i described a symptom i wouldnt haveto waste time and money fixing it. anyone have any ideas where to start?

 

I already did. Start at the turbos and check every single coupler and hose to make sure it's ok. To check couplers, you actually have to remove them and stretch them by hand.

Don't forget to check to make sure the AWS hose is still attached to the air intake elbow.

 

You could try to check and see if your boost sensor vacuum hose is still on. Its located on the driver side all the way at the top of the fire wall, its hard to miss.

 

i checked...its still there and fine.. any other ideas?

 

So in the last three hours, you've checked every coupler and hose for leaks? A leak big enough to vent all of your boost should, frankly, be quite obvious.

 

i took off the intercooler and intake, i felt the lines and none of them had splits in them when i squeezed. also i choaked the intake and the engine didnt turn off, if that means anything. there doesnt seem to be any holes in the hoses, thats why i think its either under the uper intake manifold or its the control valve or blow off valve. let me know if you have any other thoughts, i appriciate it
thanks
russell

 

Remove your air filter. Block off the intake pipe (make the hole airtight). Get an air compressor, remove a vacuum hose, and rig the air supply up to the fitting. Slowly pressurize your intake piping until you hear hissing on some part of your intake. Feel around if you have to. The spot where all the air leaves is your problem.