Turbo 06 Diagnostic Help Needed

[TexasKyle]

Bought this car with this problem. Built by Powerhouse. The car had less than 1000 miles on it since the engine/turbo build. It ran fine before I agreed to buy it. (no the seller didnt screw me) Picked it up with the current issue.

What it is supposed to do:
be in boost by 3000ish Rpm
make 16psi max boost

What it is doing :
not making any boost until a touch over 4000 rpm
makes a max of 14psi
is a dog until it gets into boost. As in it's like driving a 4 banger until it gets into boost.
No codes have popped up
Car has no Cats, or evap system

I have talked with Mike at Powerhouse. The seller is going to pay to have it sorted out. At Mike's recommendation I will be taking it to Triangle Speed Shop.

I had never even been for a ride in a turbo car before this. I have zero experience with a turbo system. Yes, I know how they work. No, I do not understand the syptoms associated with various problems that can arise with a turbo system.

It's still going to be a week, or more, before I can get the car to TSS to have it checked out. I would like some idea of what I am looking at, problem wise, before I show up on their doorstep.

Any suggestions from you experienced turbo gents would be great.

 

[stang67gt]

my first suggestion would be to check for exhaust leaks and on the opposite end of the spectrum, exhaust restrictions such as a kinked pipe, clogged or destroyed muffler, etc.

 

[JeremyH]

Sounds like an exhuast leak, pre-turbo.

 

[AbdullaGT500]

I had an exhaust in my turbo itself which caused slow spooling for me as well.

 

[retfr8flyr]

Could be the W/G leaking and not letting it build boost. There's basically only 2 things that effect boost. Either the turbo is not getting enough exhaust pressure or there is a leak between the turbo and the intake, releasing pressure. If nether of these conditions exist then there is a problem with the turbo itself.


Earl

 

[TexasKyle]

Thanks for the replies. Those two things were what I had on my list.

My next question is this: Would either of those conditions, an exhaust leak or wastegate problem, cause poor power/driveability in the lower end of the RPM range. i.e. when not in boost?

 

[jodadejss06gt]

Hello, I have a 06 PH turbo car. I have had 0 driveability issues. If the car is making boost and making up to 14 how long does it stay at 14? If you had a leak after turbo on the high pressure side, I'd assume you'd leak more than 2psi. Does the car have electronic boost controller on it? I have mine only on wastegate pressure only. I have Tial's 8psi spring and hit 8 psi at 3500 rpm. Like the others said if your not making any boost till 4k then you surely have some issues. Even though the car is built, I wouldn't beat on it till you can lock down the issues. If its tune related you could find yourself building a block in a hurry.

I've heard of people capping off the plumbing at the turbo and at the intake and filling it with air to check for leaks.

I'm going to throw out that I think its tune related. The car could also have a dirty MAF sensor, that would certainly cause drivability issues. Shitty plugs could even do it. My car drives really nice down low. It feels just like it did N/A when I'm not getting it into boost and I have over 10k miles on the kit.

Check out this video and at :30 you can see the rpm is right inbetween 2 and 3 then I get on it. By the time I'm over 3k you can see the boost is over 5.


There other videos on my page that you can look at to see how well mine spools to give you an idea.

 

[JeremyH]

Thanks for the replies. Those two things were what I had on my list.

My next question is this: Would either of those conditions, an exhaust leak or wastegate problem, cause poor power/driveability in the lower end of the RPM range. i.e. when not in boost?

It can, definetly, if you would nomrally be spooling and seeing seeing 1-2 psi at 2000rpms and 4-5 at 3000rpms and you got jack shit for boost becasue of an exhuast leak then the car can stumble and have issues. But this actually sounds more like a vac leak, something after the maf.

Building boost late and not hitting max boost is a text book example of an exhuast leak. Be it at the header, a pipe, the wg or at the turbo itself.

Basicly at lower rpms and lower exhuast velocity the exhuast is leaking out and then as it gets faster and rpm increases the exhuast flow becomes fast enough and there is enough load to finaly spool up the turbo, but then you still dont hit max boost becuase it never fully spools with that constant leak.

 

[fdjizm]

The car is essentially N/A when cruising around so I don't think you will feel much of a difference till you get into boost anyway.

love that vid!

 

[jodadejss06gt]

Jeremy is probably right, exhaust leak too.

 

[Nickoli]

Turbo's are a pain in the ass!!!!

With that said I would defiantly do a pressure check. Go to any home improvement store and find a pvc cap that will fit in the coupler before the turbo. drill a hole in the middle of it and get a valve stem for a tire and push it through. Take an air compressor and pump air into the system. Do this with the car warm. If the car is cold it might let some air past the rings. Get a spray bottle with soapy water and start spraying clamps and couplers. If you see bubbles you have a leak.

It also could be a dirty mass air meter. I think that is my issue right now with my car. pull it out and get some mass air cleaner to spray it off with.

Good luck!

 

[TexasKyle]

Thanks for all the replies.

Jodade -I can't see that vid while at work. It's likely to be Thursday before I can see it. Thanks though. Also, the car HAS run fine in the past, and no tune changes have been made, so I am ruling out a tune issue. Mike tuned it, on the dyno, so I have a lot of faith in the tune.

fdjizm I do realize that when not in boost it's basically a N/A car, my issue is that it runs like crap at this point. Stumbles and no throttle response to speak of when not in boost. Which isn't normal for a N/A car, so I wouldn't expect it to be normal in a turbo system.

One other thing I should have mentioned is that the car was rarely driven, spending much of it's time in a nice cozy garage. Not sure if sitting up like that did something or not.

Nickoli/Lightblade - I had not thought of the MAF. I will check that as well. Exhaust leaks will be checked for as well. I am not really sure I am following you on how to pressurize the piping though. I may have to move into a PM with you on this, unless you think you can get me sorted out here. I don't mind you explaining it further here, I just hate to look like a complete idiot in front of the whole world. LoL

 

[jodadejss06gt]

I didn't mean pressurizing through the block, I mean't basically capping off right where it coupler goes to the turbo and right where the coupling goes into the throttle body. and pressurize the intercooler piping.

 

[Nickoli]

I didn't mean pressurizing through the block, I mean't basically capping off right where it coupler goes to the turbo and right where the coupling goes into the throttle body. and pressurize the intercooler piping.

I pressurize through the block. That is the best way to find any boost leaks that are from a vacuum hose or even the clamp that connects to the throttle body. That seems to be the worst spot for a leak anyways because of the oval shape of the tb. Here is a video of what I did. At .29-.30 mark you can see the plug (pvc cap with valve stem) I use to pump air into the system.

 

[TexasKyle]

Thanks guys. I will try the things mentioned here and report back at the end of the week.

 

[Goose]

The drivability problem sounds like it could be with the tune or you could have a bad plug. Also check that your MAF is clean.

Did the car ever make 16lbs of boost since you got it?

 

[stang67gt]

I used this as a guideline:

 

[TexasKyle]

Did the car ever make 16lbs of boost since you got it?

Not since I have had it, but I knew that going it. It did run properly in the past, and made the full 16psi.

 

[chuck@evoperform]

Check to make sure the turbo(s) spin freely. I have seen where a turbo where the bearings are starting to go bad will cause the car to drive like crap, not spool as quick, and not make as much boost.

Remove the intake tube/filter from the inlet on the filter, carefully (the compressor fins are can be sharp and or easily bent if not careful) give the compressor wheel a spin with your finger (engine not running of course) and see how easily it spins.

 

[rednek01]

If my brother comes to the borders meet on Thursday I am sure he would be more than happy take you for a ride he has a turbonetics kit on his 06.