I have finally had enough trying to tune the wonderful Home Depot boost controller and want to get an electronic boost controller. I have very few performance mods, a downpipe, no cat, and 4" exhaust. What controller would you guys recommend? I really just want something that I can set to the stock 10-8-10 pattern and leave it alone. The best I have been able to tune the manual controller is 8-6-8 and it sucks.

Now tell me if this thought process will work. If I get an electronic boost controller and set it to the 10-8-10 pattern and my boost gauge reads something else will that tell me that there is something else wrong? I would like to use the boost controller as a sure thing to regulate the boost. Is this true?

 

First off, why did you go the manual controller route? Did the system make 10 psi before?

 

If you want something that's easy to set up and inexpensive, the Greddy Profec-B and the new Profec-B they just came out with are easy to use and work great.

For something more advanced, the Apexi AVC-R, Greddy E-01, and Blitz SBC-ID are nice. The AVC-R and E-01 get REALLY powerful - you can tune your boost by RPM and gear, set up warning points, all kinds of crazy stuff. They're also more pricey as well.

Go with what you're comfortable with. Tuning an AVC-R to do just what you want it to do can be tricky and time consuming, but if you like messing with electronic doo-dads, it's great. The E-01 gets even crazier, with options to datalog other inputs, a warning buzzer and light, all kinds of stuff. I've got an E-01 right now, and have been really happy with it, but I've just played with it - I've yet to tune boost with it.

Dale

 

DamonB-

I went the manual route because when I did a vaccum hose job on the car I found out that the person that had it before me did not put in the restrictor pills, so I attempted to use the manual controller as a replacement.

 

Get a Power FC if you have the $$$. It's the easiest ECU to use and it controls high boost well with Apex's solenoid+MAP sensor kit

 

I just installed a Greddy Profec B Spec II and it works fine. At first I tapped it into both wastegate and pre-control actuators, big mistake. Felt like non-sequential. Anyways, just put back the stock pre-control pill and installed the Profec the standard way and feels much better. Good low end response, stable boost. I get 10-8-10 but in first gear it's more like 10-6-10.

 

^ What mor said

I also just got the Profec B Spec-II and i love it. If you dont have an upgraded ECU you should look into the spec-II because it has a warning and limiter feature so you will never overboost.

 

So if I don't have the stock restrictor pill does that mean that the controller would not work? The reason I want to get an electronic boost controller was because I was under the impression that it would replace the restirctor pill. I don't have a restrictor pill and was trying to eliminate having to get a new one.

 

You realize a pill would be tremendously cheaper than a boost controller?

 

I thought that it was not possible to just buy the restrictor pill? When I mentioned it to my local POS Mazda dealer, they had no idea what I was talking about and tried to sell me the whole vaccum hose kit.

I also thought I remember reading that with a downpipe and exhaust that boost creep could be an issue with the stock restrictor pill. Is this true?

 

You don't need the restrictor pill in the wastegate line, just the precontrol line. The controller solenoid replaces the pill in the wastegate line.

Boost creep is another animal altogether, and is usually a problem for completely open exhausts with the stock (unported) wastegate. I don't think anyone is seeing creep from downpipe and catback...if you have a midpipe you may see it, but no boost controller alone is going to fix it.

jds

 

I have a downpipe, midpipe, and exhaust. I no longer have a cat. Could boost creep be a problem?

Anyone know where to get a restrictor pill for the pre-control line? I tried looking through the classifieds, but found nothing.

 

YES! Wastegate ported?

 

No the wastegate is not ported. Is this something I should take care of?

DamonB -

What would you recommend? The stock restictor pill in the pre-control line, a boost controller, and porting the wastegate?

I do not see boost creep right now, in fact I just see lack of boost.

 

profec B

 

Something sounds wrong, you should see all kinds of creep... and my first reaction to 8-6-8 is that your cats one or both are plugged up, but that's obviously not the problem....

Fix the Boost problem fisrt...

Then try to controll it.. tuning the controller to get you 10-8-10 might be an exercise in futility, and you might break something else...

Also once you're trying to controll it, a Blow Off Valve can be setup to keep boost creep from happening by venting anything over 10 PSI... thereby keeping your engine safe.... an saving you money from getting a ported wastegate....

-DC

 

You have a boost leak. If you install an EBC, you will melt your turbos trying to hit higher levels of boost. Find your leak first and then deal with the problem.

This is not meant to you personally but too many people jump into a midpipe without considering all the negatives. I think the general mindset of the forum is that a midpipe is great and everyone should get one but that is not the case....

 

I like this idea. How is this done. Could you setup the Blow Off Valve to keep boost creep from happening at higher specified boost levels?

 

Are there any particular items to check for a 8-6-8 boost pattern?

Most of my problems with this car are caused by the person who had it before me. He made most of the modifications to it, and ended up popping his motor. I spend all my time fixing his mistakes or trying to figure out what he was thinking.

 

If you have 2 manual boost controllers in the car right now, I suggest replacing the prespool controller with the stock hose. You should be able to order that hose from the dealer, and it should come with the pills in it. Once you replace that hose, see if you can get your boost adjusted with one controller.

Trying to get the two boost controllers working properly can be almost impossible. If you have another problem, somewhere else, this won't fix it.

Adam

 

Anyone know the part number for the prespool controller hose? I am having a tough time finding it in the parts catelog and I know that the moron at the Mazda dealership will have no idea what I am talking about. He thinks a rotary is something you drive your car around. Look Kids! Big Ben!

 

From what I understand... (Will be doing this soon...)
You take the hose from the boost gauge and "T" into it and then stick it onto the nipple that comes from the base of the head of the BOV


The one that sticks out at an angle and hook the tube up to it and then "Jet" the BOV to blow off anything over 10 PSI.... and when Boost kreep comes it will vent the extra pressure off....

-DC