Good Morning!Thanks for all replies in advance!I have a question about the BstC Boost Commander on my car.It was already installed on the car when I purchased it.I just don,t have ay instructions for operation of this unit.If anyone does that would scan and post or email it would be greatly appreciated.If the unit is turned on the boost seems to be limited even if you dial in max-to like 18-20lbs.The little red light does not come on until over like 17lbs of boost.With the unit turned off the boost seems to build up instantly and the red light comes on almost instantly.The boost carries 24lbs then!Would this be the normal operation?Should the unit be turned to off for maximum performance?It would seem the case.Is the purpose of the unit more for day to day driving to limit boost for economy or durability?All help will be appreciated!
Question about BstC Boost Commander?
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This may help
Here's a link:
http://www.ramchargers.com/RamNews/Translator/bstc_manual.htm
It doesn't have the drawings but it may help a bit. - BB
Here's a link:
http://www.ramchargers.com/RamNews/Translator/bstc_manual.htm
It doesn't have the drawings but it may help a bit. - BB
They may have it set to only start spooling at mad high throttle? there's a trigger trimpot adjustment in the back, along with some dip switches. The instructions will tell you what is what. Not sure why they'd do that, but it's the first thing I'd check. Turn the car off but the key on, and floor the car. Try to note when the light turns on. If it's at a particular position, and it's mad high, then that's what they've done.
I have no instructions at all.I know that it is hooked up correctly because of the link to Ramchargers.But I have no idea about the operation of the unit, other than thedial settings are in approx 1 lb increments, so a variation of approx 7 lbs of boost from low setting to high.But the car runs much better with the unit turned off-much more boost and quicker to spool. Seems like that should not be the case. The red activated light comes onalmost instantly with the unit turned off.What is supposedly activated?I don't know-just don,t want to hurt my car.
Try this, turn all dip switches to off. Turn the set 2 trimpot (on the back of the unit) all the way clockwise (This eliminates any boost scaling in third gear). Turn set 1 all the way counter clockwise (oops should be Clockwise) , this will be min tps setting.
Now, with the bstc on, turn on the ignition but do not start the car. When you press on the gas pedal the bstc light should come on, and you should be able to hear the boost solenoid clicking. The clicking should increase in speed as you turn the bstc knob (on front of unit).
I'm going from memory, but it should work
If you are local to knoxville, I could stop by and help you out.
Mike
Now, with the bstc on, turn on the ignition but do not start the car. When you press on the gas pedal the bstc light should come on, and you should be able to hear the boost solenoid clicking. The clicking should increase in speed as you turn the bstc knob (on front of unit).
I'm going from memory, but it should work
If you are local to knoxville, I could stop by and help you out.Mike
I looked at the back of the unit.Swithes 1 and 2 or "off".Switches 3 and 4 are "on".The dial marked trigger is either all the way or nearly all the way counter clockwise.The dial marked 2 is maybe two steps up from counter clockwise.I have seen 20lbs of boost in 3rd and 4th gear with the contoller on, but sometimes only 17-18 with the contoller on in 1st and 2nd! When the controller off the car pulled much harder and is consistent with 20-22 lbs of boost. I have a pte 52 and a v4 with 009's.Trieing the key on not running ck the activated light does not come on until almost wot. With the key on but the Boost Commander turned off and the car not running-no activated light.But with the car running and switch on unit off the activated light comes on almost as soon as you touch the throttle.My assumption was to set the boost via wastegate to a baseline at a minimum desired and then you could dial in an additional 6-7 psi of boost. In my situation I don't even get as much boost turned all the way up as when the unit is off! Thanks for the offer Mike and you can call me at 865-927-7227 local here in Knoxville-Just ask for Bill!
Hello! Thanks all for your replies! I found a zip file with the directions and operating instructions. Mike had said to try all switches off and the directions said that this was correct for most cars. Switch 1 and 2 on my car were on. Also The trigger switch was turned nearly all the way counter clockwise and that is why the activated light only came on at nearly wot.Also,if your turned the trigger dial all the way clockwise the activated light never even came on. If you turn it all the way clockwise the light comes on instantly. I set it at the halfway point until I get to drive it. I will let all know what these changes did, if anything. Thanks again and have a great day!
Bill,
As far as additional boost is concerned, the limitation will lie in the boost solenoid. Example, if the chip commands 100% duty cycle of the boost solenoid, then you'll still only get 0-100% range with the bstc, i.e. the max boost will be equal between the two at max set point. The solution to increase the range is to go with two solenoids and bleed off more boost reference, you will lose resolution (that knob gets real touchy) but gain total boost.
Mike
As far as additional boost is concerned, the limitation will lie in the boost solenoid. Example, if the chip commands 100% duty cycle of the boost solenoid, then you'll still only get 0-100% range with the bstc, i.e. the max boost will be equal between the two at max set point. The solution to increase the range is to go with two solenoids and bleed off more boost reference, you will lose resolution (that knob gets real touchy) but gain total boost.
Mike
Okay.After driving the car it runs much better than before with the Boost Commander set to off.I got kind of a pop at between 20 -22 lbs of boost. I do not get the pop with the boost commander turned off. I noticed after adjusting the trigger dial the activated light comes on sooner, but still not as soon as with the switch in off. As the car runs better and does not pop with the switch off I will adjust the trigger where the activated light comes on as early as with the switch in the off possition. This would seem to be a the same position of the tp sensor. So, since at this setting the range of control is 13-15 as a low to 20-22 as a high in boost and the high is the same with the boost controllr turned off that the only way to get more boost would be a chip change. It would seem that with a CAS V-4 and a PTE 52 there should be some more boost there. Also the pop that I heard is about like a misfire. Is it possible for just 20psi of boost to upset the spark at the plug end?Thanks again!
Bill,
If the boost is the same with the bstc turn to max, and with the bstc turned off, then a chip change will not increase boost. When the bstc is at max, it is running the boost solenoid wide open.
The chip must be doing the same for the boost to be the same with the bstc off/on.
The orifice in the boost solenoid can only move X amount of boost bleed. Only thing to do is tighten the wastegate rod, put an additional spring on the wastegate rod, or change amount of boost reference.
If you add the second solenoid, you can bleed twice as much boost reference and double the range of the bstc.
With all that leaded fuel you are running, it doesn't take long to foul the plugs enough to get popping.
Yeah, that 52 will move more air than 22lbs
Mike
If the boost is the same with the bstc turn to max, and with the bstc turned off, then a chip change will not increase boost. When the bstc is at max, it is running the boost solenoid wide open.
The chip must be doing the same for the boost to be the same with the bstc off/on.
The orifice in the boost solenoid can only move X amount of boost bleed. Only thing to do is tighten the wastegate rod, put an additional spring on the wastegate rod, or change amount of boost reference.
If you add the second solenoid, you can bleed twice as much boost reference and double the range of the bstc.
With all that leaded fuel you are running, it doesn't take long to foul the plugs enough to get popping.
Yeah, that 52 will move more air than 22lbs
Mike
It's me again! I got to thinkin about the waste gate actuator rod a couple of hour ago. I then pulled the clip and noticed that the distance from the flapper to the rod was not real tight. I turned the rod in 4 turns, which I think should be about 4 psi more boost.
When I bought the car back two things seemed odd.The max boost at that point was in the 17-18psi range and the fuel pressure seemed to be way to low (22psi static). I turned the rod two turns shorter and reached 20psi.I then adjusted the fuel pressure to where it was before (40psi). The car ran better with the additional boost but was running rich enough to see blk smoke at wot and throw a code.I had heard that depending upon who burned the chip as to the fuel pressure needed.I had since seemed to find a sweet spot of 30psi. I also raised the fuel pressure today 4 psi to compensate for the hopefully additional 4lbs of boost!I had a scanner that I borroed last weekend. The blm's on throttle were 128 but like in the high 90's at idle.I cant want to get a scanner! Just trieing to get the most from my combo without killin it! Thaks again!
When I bought the car back two things seemed odd.The max boost at that point was in the 17-18psi range and the fuel pressure seemed to be way to low (22psi static). I turned the rod two turns shorter and reached 20psi.I then adjusted the fuel pressure to where it was before (40psi). The car ran better with the additional boost but was running rich enough to see blk smoke at wot and throw a code.I had heard that depending upon who burned the chip as to the fuel pressure needed.I had since seemed to find a sweet spot of 30psi. I also raised the fuel pressure today 4 psi to compensate for the hopefully additional 4lbs of boost!I had a scanner that I borroed last weekend. The blm's on throttle were 128 but like in the high 90's at idle.I cant want to get a scanner! Just trieing to get the most from my combo without killin it! Thaks again!
I just pulled a plug to look at it. The plugs are AC Delco CR43TS.I only pulled the number 1 cylinder. The plug looks good. It is gapped tighter than I would have thought. Looks to be about 030. The plug is clean and dry. The porcelan in the center electrode is still light colored with kind of a light almond color on it. The top electrode also has the same color. There seems to be no fouling. I run about 50/50 mix of 93 and 110 leaded. I have no cats. One of the coolest things is that my tail pipe is white on the inside. Kinda like the days of old! am thinking of trying the NGK plugs that people speak highly of on this board.
Hmmm, that is really strange about the fuel pressure. Just to be sure we are on the same page; static as in engine running, vaccum line off? The 128 blm at wot is probably a software patch to lock the cell. When I get my car down here, I'll take out my ecm and direct scan and put it in yours to see whats going on.
Mike
Mike
Good Morning! Yes that is what I mean about static fuel pressure! I know that seems contrary to what it should be. Even at 34psi it runs rich and throughs a code 45. Yesterdeay I turned the fp up to 35 from 30 as I increased boost. I hadn't thrown a code in over a week. This morning the mil light comes on and codes 42 and 45. I am turning it down to 32psi and driving it again. NC87GN had replied to an earlier post and stated that fuel pressure setting is relevent to how the chip is set up. The guy that was working on the car before I bought it was supposed to be real good with these cars and have it dialed in so to speak. He had the static set at 25! His name was Shawn and he lived here in Lenoir City. I can't ask him because he moved to Florida. He might be a member of this site though. I wish I knew whos chip it is to shed some light on the subject. There is another possibility that the fuel pressure gauge is bad or giving a incorrect reading. he car ran so well last night after changing the setting on the BstC, then this morning more codes....Oh Well! Thanks again!
Thanks for the offer Ian. I already got them from another member.Thanks again for your willingness to help. If you know Jsta6 the Shawn that worked on this car lived in Lenoir City and the car at the time was owned by Will Gabbard. I will try and send him a message on the outside hance that it is him. He could possibly answer some questions about the chip.
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