Ok so I noticed a little while back that I have this weird rattle coming from the engine bay.Today I decided to investigate and I let the car run while I was wearing a set of leather gloves.I decided to check the actuator rods.since damian posted on a thread earlier that he had a similar problem with his tca door being slightly open causing a weird rattle.
I cehcked the tca and didnt affect the rattle.I touched the pre spool actuator rod and I feel it vibrate.I pull on it and the rattle noise ive been hearing changes.So Im like.Aha.I found it.So now im a bit confused as to what could be causing the pre spool actuator rod to vibrate in such a manner.The rod feels somewhat loose as well.If the door to the pre spool isnt closed all the way would this affect primary boost at all? Ive been having a lower than normal primary boost patern.
The boost pattern is 8-8-10.Im also experiencing longer than normal boost lag.

 

ummm bump

 

If the door is slighly open you will have less boost on primary because 2nd turbo is stealing most of the air. If you tighten the Rod a little it will solve both of your problems.

Amel

 

Make sure the PC Actuator is screwed on tight (two 14mm bolts) to the Primary Turbo.

 

aha.okie dokie.ill get right on it.Thats whats probably causing all of these problems.Ill check the car asap.Im sure theres got to be a logicall fix for this.I sure do miss my boost and power.The car felt like an animal for the first few days.And then this rattle showed up and no more power.Not like it used to be anyways.
Quick question.Is there anything that would cause only the rod to vibrate and be loose? just asking in case the actuator isnt loose and its adjusted properly.

 

I don't know that one... Jimmy?

 

Could be the PC Actuator inner spring ( in the diaphram) is weak or loose, which would in turn cause rod instability??

 

is there a way to fix this? or do I have to replace the unit?

 

I'm not sure how problematic the repair would be, IF it's even repairable. You might want to do a search, see what you come-up with.

You'll probably find a used one in good shape in our Class-Ads for under 20 bucks?

 

ill check to see if its out f adjustment or if its loose.If neither fix the rattle problem then I guess ill have to replace the thing.Thanx guys.Ill be working on the car on friday morning.So ill post my results soon thereafter.

 

^ Good Luck.

 

ok.so I couldnt wait untill friday.so me and a buddy worked on the car today.we jack up the car and I find the pre spool actuator.I grab it and sure as **** its barely on there.It seems that one of the bolts is completely missing and the other is loose.This was the culprit I though.It was a pain in the *** to tighten the bolt but I managed to do it.Also its a 13 mm not a 14mm.
Then I take the car out for a test drive and wouldnt you know it.The power and boost is back.No more annoying rattle either.Quite possibly the easiest fix.
My baby works like she should again.You were right on the money arexseven.Thanx.

 

NO I WASN'T,...it was a13mm bolt!!!!
It's the best news I've heard today. Congrats.

 

you were on the money as far as the actuator barely hanging on for dear life.The fact that it was so lose caused it to rattle and also probably caused the pre spool door to open up.Thanx for the help.Hopefully others can benefit from my experience here.

 

Actually, I have been trying to diagnose a boost problem as well...Do I need to lift the car up to check the rod or can I do it while the car is down? (property managment are nasty buggers) I have noticed a barely noticable rattle and cant find it..if anyone has a pic of where to look that would be best...or I could take a pic and just use ms paint to circle where to look.

 

its not that hard to locate the pre spool actuator at all.Do you have a boost controller at all? or do you know the two lines with restrictor pills in them? those vacuum lines go to the actuators.on the back side of them are rods and the rods connect via c clip to the little doors inside the turbo system.The wastegate actuator is on the side right underneath your intakes close to the downpipe.The prespool actuator is underneath the car near the oil pan.You will need to jack up the car in order to be able to check it.But I had to tighten the bolt from the top.You will have to remove one of the intakes in order to be able to get to it.Tightening it down was a pain in the ***.But once it was tightened no more rattle and no more boost issue.Good luck.

 

ok cool, thank you very much for the info. now I just need to find a place to jack my car up. I gotta do a wheel hub as well..

 

good luck.If you have any trouble finding the actuator let me know.

 

will do, thanks again

 

no problem.Thats why were all here.To help each other out when **** goes wrong.For these cars it happens a lot.So its nice to have a inteligence pool of sorts.