Hey guys, I don't know wtf I did... I'll figure it out all right, but if anybody can help me get there faster, I'd appreciate it.

Re-installed my boost gauge, used a generic "T" fitting between the BOV and vac line, ran the line, etc... Accidentally split the original vac line to the BOV, replaced it with part of the line from the turbo just before the restrictor pill. Honestly I'd have to look at it to know what the line did, I just cut an inch and a half or so and went about my way. Put everything back together, the car was ok (needs a tune).

At the end of the day, I went to hit the gas and the throttle is crap, won't boost above 9-10 psi until I get to about 5-6000rpm. Then it begins to boost, still lower than what it should.

WTF?

 

Did you reinstall the restrictor in the proper orientation? In fact, did you cut the restrictor out of the wastegate line? Its not part of the T that plumbs the wastegate to the solenoid, its actually inside the hose itself on the turbo side.

Wastegate ----T----restrictor----compressor nipple

 

yep, what he said.

 

Actually, I cut between the wastegate and the T... I thought about the restrictor pill (afterwards), but I'm pretty sure I didn't jack that up...

 

The restrictor pill is tiny, and brass. On the line (Vac) you should see a little green, or yellow dot. This is where the rest. pill is.. If you cut out the dot, or do not see the dot it is most likely not there..

 

I didn't know that it was marked, but the pill is shaped like a coupling, right? It's basically a reducer coupling?

 

From what I could see of it inside, its like a coupling, but completely open on one side, and the other side has a tiny pinhole in it.

When I was originally chasing the "boost issue" with the JDM engine, somebody asked if I had shortened the lines. Now, if that's able to cause a problem, that's really effed up. Food for thought. :-/

 

UPDATE: I actually cut the hose that intersected with the turbo - wastegate hose at the T- fitting; the one spliced between. There is a coupling on THAT one (not a T-fitting), and that's the hose that I cut.

Can a shortened line like that really affect boost? Alizarin, what did your boost issue turn out to be?

 

My ignition advance multiplier (IAM) was at 0, which turns off boost control, forcing wastegate spring pressure.

It sounds like you might have a boost leak that's preventing the wastegate from closing. Its a bleed type system, so if you're leaking, it can't get boost to the actuator to force the wastegate closed. Or is it the other way on those turbos... Regardless, you should make sure that none of those little hoses have a split or crack in them.

 

I've checked and re-checked, all lines look good... Great, actually.

I reset the ECU again and the car ran pretty nicely; perhaps it's a combination of the [serious] need of a new tune, the slightly different length of the lines (this could be menial or inconsequential), the recent heat, my overly conservative driving style over the last week (had $50 to spend on gas), the fact that my girlfriend incessantly uses the A/C, and a gremlin?

It's not as fast as I know that it should be, but I launched it in the wet today on a long strip of back road -- hit 96-97 mph in 9.999 seconds on the stopwatch even with all that wheelspin... Did it again, got a really crappy launch (way too much wheelspin) and hit 100 in 11.760 seconds... Halfway decent numbers for being wet, I suppose...