Hi gang,

A little background: running A-Spec GT40R turbo, Turbonetics NewGen swingate, and PowerFC w/ Boost Control Kit.

I have the top nipple of the w/g going to the COM port of the solenoid, the lower nipple tee'd to manifold pressure and NC port, and the NO port open to atmo. The 3-bar MAP sensor goes to where the OEM MAP connector is and the OEM MAP sensor connected to the PFC via their harness.


Issue: When I have the solenoid connected to "control boost", it spikes like crazy. E.G. The PFC is set to limit boost to 1.2bar using 10 duty (slow build?) but on the track when I go WOT, it shoots to 1.5+bar. I then disconnect the top "control" pressure line off the w/g and use the spring pressure (14psi) to control boost. Works as prescribed but boost builds ever so slow. So I'm guessing it's the controller that's acting up or the PFC.

Any suggestions on how to diagnose this?

TIA.

 

Hey Hedwig,

Post a pic of the solenoid. The one I had with the AVC-R went bad...started spiking and duty control could not be controlled. I bought a replacement, so I have an extra one.

Currently using a Greddy Profec B Spec II, which had a solenoid exactly like the Apex'i. Identical.

Tony

 

When was the last time you inspected the operation of the NEWGEN? The early ones had a "welded" pivot point that would break down...nice boost spike action.

 

Hi Tony,

I'll get a pix later on. It may be a dud...I got the boost kit off Spyfish quite a while back.

WRT the Newgen, the stupid hinge pin fell off the orig...the flapper was kinked in their. Turbonetics sent me a brand new w/g. This is about 2.5 months ago. It spiked w/ the dud w/g and it spikes now w/ the new w/g so I'm assuming it's the controller. Especially, when it stays under 1.0 bar when I yank the control pressure line so it's using spring pressure.

Thx.

 

Hedwig,

Mine did the same. Surprised that someone didn't warn you on that. Using a TurboSmart now.

Tony

 

Who would warn me??? IIRC, we didn't get much feedback about installation of this kit. So you still think it's the w/g not the boost controller? The spring control allows the pressure to be nicely limited to the spring pressure. It's just that boost characteristics sux.

Here's the solenoid in question...I've disconnected the line from the COM side.





I'm really not in the market to splurge on another w/g.

 

hey hedgers -

so, it holds fine w/o the solenoid at WOT? (like rock steady..?)

not a big fan of that swingate action either...
hows that GT40R holding up btw?

 

Hi M...

Been ages since I've seen you online anywhere. How's the widebody?

I guess "fine" would be equivalent to acceptible. The gauge indicates 1.0bar or less w/o solenoid @ WOT. But the boost builds slowly and not so smoothly...you can hear the w/g flutter as it vents. I think w/ the solenoid, the vent would have been kept shut a bit longer to quickly bring up boost then gradually vent to control boost.

GT40R is not bad....but even on track (mind you our local track is like a big karting track) it's a big laggy. Makes the car like a 2-stroker...all top end.

Here's a boring vid...sans solenoid control.

http://www.youtube.com/v/u1OQJAaSa80
*how does one embed youtube vids here?*

 

well, i was going to say, what you could do is rig up a manual boost controller and see if its the wastegate or the solenoid?

if it holds fine with the manual boost controller, then its a solenoid problem, vs if you still have problems, then i would say that its a problem with the wastegate.

im not a big fan of those gates from turbonetics, but to each their own.

widebody is good, ill post some pics up - IIRC Rich had taken pics and told me he was going to put them up - dont know if he ever did? I think you know I finally put the S1-3Ps on......... you still have those penskes?

 

No, I think you are right Hedwig, it's the solenoid. As I said I had the same one go bad on me.

Hmm. Same WG go bad, same solenoid go bad...going to stop right there!

What boost do you want to run? What spring do you have in the WG? You probably want to be able to turn your boost control up and down.

Tony

 

hey Tony - what are you running these days?

 

GT4094r. I have a dyno sheet for pump gas in the single turbo section...buried a couple pages back. I LIKE it.

 

sounds like good fun... debating whether or not to swap out my T04R...

I'm thinking about goin to the GT42R but am really debated about whether or not I need that kind of power ... although the other side of me keeps telling me that one can never have enough power lol

 

Overlay some dyno charts of similarly ported engines (to yours) with GT42, GT40, GT35, R85 and the 500Aspec. Keep in mind the boost pressure you want to run.

The porting matched to the turbo matched to the tuning is magic!

And it's never enough...you know that!

Tony

 

Tony,

I'm running the 14psi spring. So far 1.0bar is good for what I do but I'd like it to be a rock solid 1.0bar. Down the road, I'd prolly venture into 18-25psi territory but I don't really need it now.

That sux about the same issues w/ wg + solenoid. I hope your manifold was not plasma cut like mine...yuck. http://www.encompass-tech.com/photog...R_Manifold.jpg

So back to my orig questions, how does one test it? Supply a voltage (5V? 12V?) and use a Mityvac and see if the thing opens? I'd hate to spend on a new solenoid to discover it's something else. What are you asking for the spare solenoid?

TIA,
Hedwig

 

Mitch,

I haven't tried a manual controller...just too lazy (and cheap) to pursue that route. In fact, if my money printer was still working, I'd splurge on that sweet HKS EVC Pro you run.

Oh right, I do recall seeing the pix Rich posted...I even asked if it was your car. D'oh! Have you tracked it yet? Vids?

I still run the Penskes...great stuff...except I'm prolly due for a rebuild a couple of years ago. It has such a large sweet spot on track that I can get away with a bit of sloppy driving. I'd prolly got stiffer for autox though...currently valved for my 650F/350R springs. Mebbe go 800/500? I think Andy McKee (AMRX7) runs 1000/800 on his car! But Andy has way better car control than me. (understatement of the year)

-Hedwig

 

Hedwig,

I don't know if the solenoid is good or not. Take a picture of the connector on yours. I am sure it's the same...just to make sure. You can pay postage and you can have it. I get first dibs on a spare part you may have in the future!

BTW...the greddy b profec II uses the same solenoid and connector.

How to test? Not sure in your case of the PFC. If you can jumper into the signal connection going to solenoid and log it against boost, rpm, or time and try to trigger it. Not sure what that is going to gain you without having a "good" baseline to compare against.

Thinking with a simple mind (my speciality) it could be just a solenoid, I would guess that when you "full signal" (whatever that means) it opens. The rest of the time it closes. If you can measure yours at idle and under boost, I can measure mine and we can compare voltages (same solenoids, different controllers).

Tony

 

My first manifold looked just like that...but with a nice warp to it. Had it planed down quite a bit on both "flat" surfaces. The custom long tube runner I am using now has greatly decreased spool-up time, especially when I went to the 3.5" DP.

 

A manual controller would cost you like 12 bucks man lol - would take you less than 1 hour to build it

yeah i do love my EVC Pro, its so easy, now that i finally have it all setup and compensating for atmospheric conditions

no vids, am going to track it later on this month - those springs sound a bit soft, i was thinking 800/500 myself - have you changed the oil on those suckers yet? im surprised that they are still responsive - don't you track it often? are they still holding up pretty well?

 

Yes, yes I know... I've overlayed the GT40 and the GT42, they both look like magic

now all i need is freaking money tree

hey hedge, you done with it?