My car was running a perfect boost pattern and one day no boost at all. Everytime i get on it i don't hear the turbo's spooling and that kick is gone. My gauge is showing vaccum but no pressure; Tyler at Pettit says my wastegate may be stuck open and this is the reason why it's not building boost.

I read somewhere on here that the wastegate is built into the turbo. Does this mean i might have this problem again? I don't want to just fix it and it happen again . . . . would it be worth it to buy the 99' spec upgrades or just fix it and save the money til' my turbo's are actually ka-put? Thanks- Clayton T.

 

The wastegate door is built into the turbo. Aside from cracks in the housing around the wastegate door, there is little to go wrong unless something gets lodged in there. Housing cracks do not cause sudden loss of boost.

Much more likely your wastgate actuator is stuck open, and this could be from something getting caught in the mechanism and stopping it from moving, and broken internal spring, e-clip popping off and the mechanism coming loose, etc. The actuator unbolts easily, and you should have little trouble finding a cheap and long-lasting replacement. The turbos don't need to come off.

If you've never been under the car to do a little investigative work, this is a great chance.

Dave

 

I suppose another possibility is a catastrophic intercooler coupling failure...it's something that's easy to check, but I suspect you'd hear some whoooshing if that was the case.

 

Nope, no "whooshing".

Thanks guys, dgeesaman, you're always helpful

 

There is mostlikely a boost leak, and you wouldn't hear that woosh sound. You should probably remove all your intake/intercooler pipes and re install them.

 

you would definitely hear a whoosh sound. a really loud one. it happened to me and i thought it was cool at first because my turbos sounded awesome!

"If skills sold; truth be told, i'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli."

 

I would hear a "whoosh" sound if my wastegate was open? I'm not sure if i understand you correctly barban. When i'm driving it sounds like i have a blown exhaust gasket . . .

This sucks because my car runs so perfectly. It idles perfect, it rides smooth, it's just i get NO bost what-so-ever . . . not even a single PSI. It's cool, i'll just send my car off to Pettit again after x-mas . . .

 

If it is a problem with the wastegate, it is most likely that the e-clip that holds the actuator arm to the flapper door lever has come off and the actuator arm has become disconnected from the lever.

Here's my OJ-defense-esque explanation:
"If the arm comes loose, you'll get no boost."

-Max

 

I wish i had access too a lift

 

You just need a floor jack and jack stands to check out the Wastegate actuator. Ramps might actually be enough.

To check the IC piping, you need a flathead screwdriver. Seriously, do that yourself. I will be very disappointed in you if you can't manage that one. All the IC pipes are easily accessible from above.

Oh, and the intercooler piping may make a sound or not. It depends greatly on where the cut is and its shape.

Dave

 

Nah, the intercooler piping isn't the culprit; Pettit replaced those with silicone connector things and replaced the plastic y-pipe part. Thanks man.

 

It might be the wastegate but still you would have some boost. Most wastegates arn't capable of letting 100% of the exhaust out. Check your pipes, lots of times there are leaks or you might have a broken hose.