I bought a car already boosted with a Vortech V2 on it, It's an 01 5 speed SE and i hooked up a boost gauge about a month ago and it was reading 11 psi upon initial hook up of the gauge which is exactly what it is supposed to put out, Yesterday i hit it again when i was cruising around and it seems to fluctuate between 5/6 psi. Belt isn't slipping and car's running strong but i did relocate the gauge a couple times and used the same compression fitting that connects to vacume in the back of the gauge. Took off all charge piping and re installed with better T clamps and still the same. Any idea's ? im going to put a new comp fitting on and try that next.

 

Where are you getting the vac source from for the boost gauge?

 

put the guage back where you saw 11 psi and see what happens and if you loss psi it can be from a boost leak somewhere on the charge piping couplers or a vacuum line could of came off or there can be a hole in the charge piping or the worse which is a blown motor but you would know

 

Tee'd into the line coming from the BOV

 

I just took the gauge out of the ash tray where it's mounted to put a new shifter trim in but had to disconnect the gauge, I used the same compression fitting but it was a pita to get back on the vacume line, Everything is in the exact same spot it was before i just had to take it out and put it back in, Unless the vac line is pinched behind the shifter trim somewhere, Ill check this weekend and the car seems to run the same ?

 

But the BOV is also getting vacuum from somewhere since there isn't a stock BOV vacuum port. where is the BOV getting the vacuum from?

Did the lack of boost show up right after you did that? After you removed and reinstalled? Also are those crush fittings usually re-usable? Since there are not any drivability changes, it sure sounds to be a leak at the gauge itself.

 

Try running a seprate dedicated line just for the gauge, also what are your vac readings at idle?

 

This is where it sits cold start about 1100 ish rpm's, Drops between 8/9k after warmed up

 

Vac should be around 18-22

 

Check all vac lines make sure everything is connected

 

Uh, well if your refering to your rpms thats normal.
When your rpms drop to 8-9k does the vac reading go down to what TurboA32 stated cause thats where they should be.
Honestly if you were seeing full boost before you relocated your boost gauge then its something to do with either the vac source or the line going to the gauge itself.
When Ive had a boost leak from a coupler coming loose the car drove weird under a load, it was very noticeable.

 

I think you need a better gauge, running a vacuum line all the way into the vehicle isn't a good design IMO. It seems like there is a leak at your gauge. The greddy 52mm boost gauge just got discontinued so they are cheap. I just bought a used one off of ebay for 70 shipped came with boost sensor, gauge, vacuum tee, wiring harness for boost gauge and the power harness. Just make sure to get the 52mm one because its the only one in PSI the others are in bars.

Heres a link to the one I bought http://www.ebay.com/itm/140649994207...84.m1423.l2648

I messaged the seller and got it for 70 shipped

 

BTW off topic but I'm wondering how you have your vacuum setup with the bov and boost gauge with the VI there what line did you use? Or did you delete the VI, thats what I'm thinking to do maybe that would be better? Sorry again for being off topic if someone has an answer and doesn't want to clutter the thread pm me please thanks!

 

what does the gauge read with the car at idle?

 

It's never gone that low even when it was boosting right psi

 

There is one silver factory fitting in front of the Im that is missing a hose but im not to good with the 3oh's yet i just got familiar with the 3/5 and sold it so i have alot to learn. I re tightened all the charge piping the other day so idk. The guy i bought the car from deleted some stuff too so im not sure if it's supposed to be like that or not.

 

well but your lack of boost happened AFTER it had the proper boost jut AFTER you messed with the gauge. Also as stated the drivability is the same so you're not missing any boost only the gauge isn't displaying all of it, most likely because the move created a leak going to the gauge.

 

Hopefully it's at the gauge as i triple checked all the charge piping, It's hard to tell and don't want to get into boost to much because as today i only have just over a hundred miles on a new clutch and flywheel, I noticed today the gauge reads 15 fully warmed up at idle and always drops exactly to 18 on a decel regaurdless of what gear or rpm's.

 

when your car is at idle the vac should be 18-22 when you are in boost and you shift or let off the gas the gauge should go to vac from 22-30. now you would be in the higher rpm of course

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79a8zggbh_g
see how the vac is when you shift

 

Thanks for the help guys but i found the problem today. Last week when i tightened the charge piping i tightened one of the v bands to tight and it put a small dent in the pipe, I took it off today and fixed it as best i could for now and took it for a run. Gauge hit's 10/11 psi but does anyone else have a problem hitting full boost in 1st gear because it's so short ? Vac readings are about the same though maybe 16 @ idle now

 

check all your vac lines should read 18 vac at idle

 

I will Turbo thanks, Im going to go to my friends shop this weekend and put the smoke machine on it.

 

First gear doesnt seem to exist for me :P

Most definitely sounds like a VAC problem, I know that with all the issues that I was having, it turns out that my VAC lines were just completely skewed and all over the place. Things that should have been getting VAC weren't and things that weren't supposed to of course were.

 

It must have a vac leak somewhere, Maybe a cracked or mis matched hose or what not, I'll try to check this weekend, And yea Tibal 1st gear is just smash the gas and shift lol, I need extended revs badly, Lmk if your ever interested in parting ways with that EU too man im going to be looking for one soon.

 

I'm bumping this thread because i can't figure out why im still only hitting 6 psi, I have checked and re adjusted everything, I re did the gauge at both ends, Charge pipe etc, I smoke tested the IM looking for a leaky vac hose or gasket but nothing at all. The car isn't my daily so i don't have alot of time to play around with it, I know i saw 11psi before and the car seemed to pull harder so idk. Im trying to get it buttoned up before i have to put it away for winter. I have a code for lean bank 1 and an 02 heater circuit and that's it.

 

your leaking boost from somewhere you just keep on looking

 

I know that i got a leak somewhere but im stumped, I guess ill have to order up a boost leak tester and pressurize the charge piping

 

So u fully fixed the vband issue?

 

How mamy coupled sections do you have? Are you running an IC?

 

No IC and this is the best pic i have of the piping,coupled is TB,MAF,BOV,and blower itself.

 

could be leaking out of the bov or that maf

 

Im guessing so too, check the BOV first. See if its holding all the boost till redline.

 

Is there any particular way to check if the BOV is leaking ? The MAF couplers are tight as **** so maybe it is the BOV. I friend of mine has a performance shop and he said he will make me a 3'' stainless piece from the blower to the MAF welding the BOV adapter to it and one from the MAF to the throttle body but he wants like 300 bucks to do it which struck me as a little pricey. Thanks for the help guys im going to keep plugging away. Need to get this thing on the rollers soon and get it tuned.

 

The BOV should only vent at idle, and then slightly vent at partial throttle. At full throttle it should be complely closed until you let off. Rev the car up and with you in front of the BOV, feel and listen to see if it starts releasing boost in the upper rpms before under full throttle.

 

Thanks Flava, Is the BOV usually a common culprit in the boost leak dept, Im gonna check that out next, Is there an adjustment on it if it's not holding boost or just toss it and get a new one ? I notice when im driving around under partial throttle it vents extremely loud climbing up through the rpm's.

 

Depends on the BOV, some are adjustable and some arent. Not sure what type of BOV you have, but it appears to maybe be a Turbo XS. If so, it looks like it uses washers below its spring.
http://turboxs.com/shop/product.php?id_product=131

 

It is a TurboXS RFL

 

It ended up being the BOV, Where it bolts to the adapter it was loose and wasn't making a tight seal, Thanks for all the help guys.