What's your take on this...

[dimixtron]

Ok, so after diligently tried figuring out why my car was only boosting around 5PSI, I think I may have found the problem. From checking all vacuum lines to making sure everything is in top shape. I decided to try shimming the wastegate and see where that gets me. So I added 2 washers to both sides, turned on the car...thought I broke something for a second until I realized that I didn't connect the AFM :nono: So I connected it up, turned on the car and took it for a quick drive around the block. At first I could have sworn I smelled something burning, but I drove around quickly anyways. So I pulled it and still, no increase over 5PSI, and if anything it barely raised above it. After stopping back in front of my house I really couldn't help but notice the smoke coming out from under my hood. :aigo: So I popped the hood and found smoke coming from the exhaust manifold/turbo side. A friend of mine, Johnathan, was saying that it's possible when the gasket was replaced for the manifold that the shop that did it may have covered up the little oil feeder hole with silicon if they did do that. Aside from that, is everything here pointing to a blown turbo?

 

[TooGoode]

Ok, so after diligently tried figuring out why my car was only boosting around 5PSI, I think I may have found the problem. From checking all vacuum lines to making sure everything is in top shape. I decided to try shimming the wastegate and see where that gets me. So I added 2 washers to both sides, turned on the car...thought I broke something for a second until I realized that I didn't connect the AFM :nono: So I connected it up, turned on the car and took it for a quick drive around the block. At first I could have sworn I smelled something burning, but I drove around quickly anyways. So I pulled it and still, no increase over 5PSI, and if anything it barely raised above it. After stopping back in front of my house I really couldn't help but notice the smoke coming out from under my hood. :aigo: So I popped the hood and found smoke coming from the exhaust manifold/turbo side. A friend of mine, Johnathan, was saying that it's possible when the gasket was replaced for the manifold that the shop that did it may have covered up the little oil feeder hole with silicon if they did do that. Aside from that, is everything here pointing to a blown turbo?

along with a possible oil leak on or around the turbo, you might have a boost leak also. although it says ~five psi, you are moving alot more air and its leaking out of your intercooler lines. that would be one reason that you cant boost past five. if you were to keep adding washers, my guess is that you would eventually hit fuel cut and still be around the same psi due to all that air passing the afm and not going into the motor....if you had no oil going to your turbo it would last long at all. you would get turbo death whine pretty quickly

 

[dimixtron]

along with a possible oil leak on or around the turbo, you might have a boost leak also. although it says ~five psi, you are moving alot more air and its leaking out of your intercooler lines. that would be one reason that you cant boost past five. if you were to keep adding washers, my guess is that you would eventually hit fuel cut and still be around the same psi due to all that air passing the afm and not going into the motor....if you had no oil going to your turbo it would last long at all. you would get turbo death whine pretty quickly

Okie, being that I don't know too much about this car and I'm still learning as I go..What do you recommend I try out first?
Oh, and what about the smoke coming out from the exhaust side? :O

 

[Rennat]

5psi on a stock gauge? or aftermarket...

my perfectly fine turbo did 5psi, added 3 washers, about 5mm-6mm and it raised it to 8psi-ish...

just make sure all of your pipes are on right, especially the one right off of the turbo to the intercooler, and check the throttle body coupler one, both are known for cracking and causing a bunch of problems.

 

[CajunKenny]

Another possibilty that will cause boost problems is an exhaust leak. Do you hear any new noises?

You mentioned having the exhaust manifold gasket replaced. Check that. Those bolts back out sometimes. Especially, after having a new gasket installed.

 

[dimixtron]

5psi on a stock gauge? or aftermarket...

my perfectly fine turbo did 5psi, added 3 washers, about 5mm-6mm and it raised it to 8psi-ish...

just make sure all of your pipes are on right, especially the one right off of the turbo to the intercooler, and check the throttle body coupler one, both are known for cracking and causing a bunch of problems.

5PSI an my aftermarket HKS boost gauge. And after adding 3 washers on each bolt showed increase from 5PSI to just below 6. Yeah and I've already taken a look at all my intercooler piping and connections. No vacuum leaks, or new noises. So this is totally beyond me..But the smoke is the only thing that scares me :|

 

[dumbo]

The oil could come from several places, CPS, turbo oil feed/drain lines. Where exactly is the smoke coming from.

If your certain everything is in proper order, I suppose a plugged up cat/exhaust system may cause this issue. Tough call, good luck.

 

[Black88Turbo]

It sounds like an exhaust problem. Check that first. But you said their was work done? If your Turbo doesn't have any oil going to it is going to make sounds that you won't want to hear and will die soon after. But what color is the smoke? White, gray, or black? Check your exhaust for plugs or an improper/plugged gasket on the turbo side of the manifold. Your friend might be right there. However the color of smoke is just as important as where it is coming from. But while you take the turbo off to check the gasket check the turbo for excessive play. Axial play: 0.13mm (0.0051 in.) Radial play: 0.18 mm (0.0071 in.) or less. If it is beyond that it is out of limits and NTB replaced. Stock CT-26's are not that hard to find but they can cost you a few pennies.
The other idea is to take it back to the shop that did the work and tell them to fix it right.....

 

[dimixtron]

It sounds like an exhaust problem. Check that first. But you said their was work done? If your Turbo doesn't have any oil going to it is going to make sounds that you won't want to hear and will die soon after. But what color is the smoke? White, gray, or black? Check your exhaust for plugs or an improper/plugged gasket on the turbo side of the manifold. Your friend might be right there. However the color of smoke is just as important as where it is coming from. But while you take the turbo off to check the gasket check the turbo for excessive play. Axial play: 0.13mm (0.0051 in.) Radial play: 0.18 mm (0.0071 in.) or less. If it is beyond that it is out of limits and NTB replaced. Stock CT-26's are not that hard to find but they can cost you a few pennies.
The other idea is to take it back to the shop that did the work and tell them to fix it right.....

Yeah, today i'm going to remove the cat and just try running it open pipes and I'll see if there's a difference. Yes, engine was rebuilt after fixing a blown head gasket and finding out I had a blown piston ring, so I figured I might as well rebuild it now. The smoke wasn't really coming from exactly where the turbo it, it was really hard to tell what color the smoke was. But it wasn't a sweet smell it was definitely the smell of something burning. I'm already getting a 57-trim but I want to make sure I've ruled everything out because I don't want to replace it and still have the problem occuring. I checked for shaft play it moves in and out very little but when it comes to side to side it's none at all almost. I guess the next thing to try will be taking off the turbo to check for plugged gaskets. I'll post my findings back soon.

 

[dumbo]

How old is the catÉ

 

[dimixtron]

How old is the catÉ

Probably just as old as the car, I'm not sure what the previous owner did as for as modifications go, but when it comes to the exhaust, I believe it is bone stock just as it was when the car was released. :nono: