Whats Wrong with this t-type?!

[rweyantr]

My boost gauge fluctuates 8 psi each way and when it gets to about 20- 25 # it goes down to 0.. What the heck is going on?? would a vacuum leak cause this?? It keeps cutting out as well.. When it passes 5# it starts cutting out..

 

[timothydog]

Do you hear any "popping" or detonation?
Sounds like you need a scan-tool to give you some readings and tell you what's up.

Another thing, is your car stock or what? Give us some specs.
Cuz if you are stock and going 20-25lbs boost you are in for trouble.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

There is a whole group of orlando guys. Get in touch with them, and I'm sure they will hook you up.

 

[rweyantr]

Originally posted by timothydog
Do you hear any "popping" or detonation?
Sounds like you need a scan-tool to give you some readings and tell you what's up.

Another thing, is your car stock or what? Give us some specs.
Cuz if you are stock and going 20-25lbs boost you are in for trouble.

I just picked up this car last night.. I am wondering if it is a blow boost controller or wastegate or something?


Whats the Orlando GN website??

 

[UNGN]

turbobuicks.com will hook you up with the Orlando gang. Mike Savino runs the web site.

If I had to guess I would say one or all of the following:

Fuel pump: Dead
"Y" hose: cracked, broken, loose, orifice too small leading to...
Detonation: not enough octane or too much boost/timing
Intercooler hoses: Dead, loose
coil pack: bad

 

[rweyantr]

Oh yeah,... and when you try to start it it acts like its out of time.. it turns.. stops.. turns.. stops.. Its really hard starting..

 

[NC87GN]

Sounds like its cam sensor related.. Get a multimeter or cam sensor tool and follow the procedure from gnttype.org under 'how to set your cam sensor'.. Hard starting is what triggered me to recommned this.. As far as your gauge fluctuations listen to the recopmmendations stated above..

HTH


Mike Banas
87GN

 

[rweyantr]

Hey thanks, I will try that now.. I was thinking something about that but I didnt know how..

 

[UNGN]

Check all the engine grounds, too. Negative battery cable going to turbo support bracket bolt and behind the passenger side head.

I hope you haven't caused a headgasket to seep water into the cylinders.

 

[SilverSleeper]

It sounds like a loose hose somwhere on the pressure side of the turbo. Under low psi it will act normally, but will have a lot of blow out once you get past its point.
One other thing to think about is a bad MAF or leaking air past the maf. If there is more air going into the motor than the maf is reading, it will run really bad.
Tell us about the car, what is stock and what has been done to it. With some knowledge about the car people can make better suggestions.

BTW, in case you havent guessed, 25#'s is a bad thing unless you have a lot of upgrades and some racing fuel or alcohol injection system. Above 16-17#'s will start detonation, and that blows headgaskets.
Not to put a nail in the coffin, but that hard starting thing that you mentioned? Same thing happened to my van when it overheated and blew out the drivers side headgasket. I would get the compression tested immediately. It usually indicates a cylinder(s) that is leaking.

 

[rweyantr]

Well, I changed the plugs.. disconnected the waste gate rod and it is cutting out without any boost.. add boost to it and it starts popping..

 

[SilverSleeper]

Has it thrown any codes?

You really need to get the compression checked. It sounds like it might have blown a hg and is crossfiring between cylinders. How is the idle, is it stubling or rough?
How do the plugs you pulled out look?
Tell us about the car..
stock? modded? how many miles?

While it is running, take a screwdriver and tap the MAF sensor (black plastic tube thingy by the air filter) carefully, dont beat on it. If it stumbles, a new MAF is likely in your future. Similar thing happened to me a week or 2 ago. Is it a solid pipe up to the turbo or a "dryer hose" ? Check it for leaks on the turbo side of the MAF.
You may have to test the coil pack as well. But, you should do certain tests to eliminate things one by one, or you will be chasing this all over the place.
1st thing. check your compression. If all cylinders read ok, then we can eliminate a hg. A blown hg alone could be causing all of this. running 25#'s on a stock car, you can bet a good amount that it has happened.

 

[rweyantr]

Originally posted by SilverSleeper
Has it thrown any codes?

You really need to get the compression checked. It sounds like it might have blown a hg and is crossfiring between cylinders. How is the idle, is it stubling or rough?
How do the plugs you pulled out look?
Tell us about the car..
stock? modded? how many miles?

I pulled the plugs and replaced them.. They were kinda rusty.. I guess the car has been sitting awhile.. (I just bought it a few days ago).. The title says 89k but I think its more like 189K.. The brake pedal is completly wore through.. I have no idea about the mods.. If I dont figure it out I am hopfully going to take it to a turbo buick club and have them look at it and tell me whats wrong..

While it is running, take a screwdriver and tap the MAF sensor (black plastic tube thingy by the air filter) carefully, dont beat on it. If it stumbles, a new MAF is likely in your future. Similar thing happened to me a week or 2 ago. Is it a solid pipe up to the turbo or a "dryer hose" ? Check it for leaks on the turbo side of the MAF.

I'll try the maf thing.. Will the MAfF off It has a solid pipe.. no dryer hose.. (did they come factory like that!)

You may have to test the coil pack as well. But, you should do certain tests to eliminate things one by one, or you will be chasing this all over the place.

How do you test that?

1st thing. check your compression. If all cylinders read ok, then we can eliminate a hg. A blown hg alone could be causing all of this. running 25#'s on a stock car, you can bet a good amount that it has happened.

The car doesnt over heat and the doesnt blow white smoke.. the oil is nice and black too.. The boost needle is all over the place when it spools.. I have no idea if its right or not.. It is a vdo gauge..

 

[SilverSleeper]

DOnt count on white smoke to indicate a blown hg.
My van ran really bad, but no white smoke, no coolant in the oil either. SUre enough when the head came off it was blown between 3 and 5. No indication other than the low compression on those 2 cylinders.

They came factory with a large black flexible hose, which tended to tear and leak.
Im still trying to figure out how you hit 25#s of boost in the first place. Stock cars usually cant do that. Stock turbo maxes out at 24#s if youre lucky, and modded.
Check to see if your check engine lite comes on when you turn the key on, make sure it isnt blown. You definately want to know if it is throwing codes.
Test the compression. Then if its ok, you can go elsewhere.If its not, you know where to start.
Just the fact you even got to 25#'s tells me the car has been modded. It might have a bigger turbo, better exhaust and other things.
Definately find some people in your area with turbo buick experience to help you out. If you cant check the compression yourself, take it to a shop to do it.

 

[rweyantr]

Originally posted by SilverSleeper
DOnt count on white smoke to indicate a blown hg.
My van ran really bad, but no white smoke, no coolant in the oil either. SUre enough when the head came off it was blown between 3 and 5. No indication other than the low compression on those 2 cylinders.

Yeah, I'll check that out.. I am sure someone has a compression tester in my car club..

Im still trying to figure out how you hit 25#s of boost in the first place. Stock cars usually cant do that. Stock turbo maxes out at 24#s if youre lucky, and modded.

I'm thinking that if there are a few lobes missing off of the came that might be why it throws so much boost.. since it cant pump it all out.. But I dont know..

Check to see if your check engine lite comes on when you turn the key on, make sure it isnt blown. You definately want to know if it is throwing codes.

Its not throwing any codes that I can tell.. The check engine light lights when I first turn it on but then goes away..

Just the fact you even got to 25#'s tells me the car has been modded. It might have a bigger turbo, better exhaust and other things.

I dont think that it has a bigger turbo, the guy that I bought it off of has one.. He said he paid 700 for it and would sell it to me for 400..