Overboosting - r33

[Liz]

Ok guys I could really appreciate some help here. I've just installed an apexi avc-r into my 33 and it appears to be overboosting.

I've checked all hoses and connections, everything has been installed correcty. When the unit is set on a low duty cycle, boost is hitting 1.09bar before a fuel cut, when set to a high duty cycle boost hits 1.26psi before fuel cut! Both of the times I've tested this the boost has been set to 0.60bar.

As fun as 1.26 bar sounds, i fear the life of the turbo (but welcome the hks gt-rs idea). The Fuel cut problem is not such an issue as I have a power fc to go on very shortly.

What I want to understand is why it's boosting so high when I set it to such a low level? Is it something I'm doing wrong, is it a setting I've missed?

I've already had a few ideas floating around in my head however I think the best idea is to start again on a clean slate.

Ideas? Comments?

Thanks
Liz.

[Milhouse]

prehaps the wastegate actuator on the turbo has become stuck and isnt opening to release the excess exhaust gas... thus causing the boost spikes/cuts

try removing the boost controller and see how the car goes with just the wastegate controlled boost.

[upgarage]

incorrect installation?
inaccurate boost gauge?
leak on the vac line to the actuator

[Liz]

no leak in the vac line, I've replaced the hose twice now

I was thinking htat it was a wastegate problem too, but I want to eliminate any other possibilities before I go ahead and start taking things apart. But then again, too many signs are pointing at this problem!

I believe that it was installed correctly as another car with the same set up was done at the same time and is working perfectly.

[evil_weevil]

Liz,
How long till the powerFC is installed and tuned?

[Liz]

Liz,
How long till the powerFC is installed and tuned?

in the coming months.. well hopefully quite a while before the next track day to prevent damage

but this problem I've got about a week and a half to fix as I'm doing the huntley hillclimb on the 28th May!


what we are doing over the weekend is bypassing the avc-r and giving her a good thrashing that will hopefully identify if the problem is mechanical or avcr related.

Provided it's reacting normally under stock boost conditions, we'll then bump up the boost with a bleed valve and that might identify whether it's a leak.

I think that's the first step... and we'll probably go from there!

[evil_weevil]

Liz,
if you need to borrow my cheapie boost controller for some testing for an hour or so, gimmie a buzz over the weekend (cept sunday!!)

[Liz]

please note that i did not come up with this plan! Sif I could think like that.

yeah might give you a buzz if we need some help!

ta!

[evil_weevil]

hahaha

cool liz speak then bout it all !

[manual]

If you set the AVCR to "Off" instead of "A" or "B" does is still do the over boosting thing??

if not then it is just a setup issue - this is why i don't like the AVCR.

[Liz]

If you set the AVCR to "Off" instead of "A" or "B" does is still do the over boosting thing??

if not then it is just a setup issue - this is why i don't like the AVCR.

yes, same thing when it's off.

if i re-did the whole thing again, I wouldn't be buying hte same controller... that is for sure

[yumafia]

OK.... The problem if defenetly in a vacum hose somewhere there is a hole take all the hoses of and check them same thing happened to me coz i had a smallest hole in my vacum hose it jumped to 1.6bar on my sr20 a week later turbo blew up and it only went that high twice which means the hose that goes to actuator has a hole 100% or ur avcr is faulty

[Liz]

OK.... The problem if defenetly in a vacum hose somewhere there is a hole take all the hoses of and check them same thing happened to me coz i had a smallest hole in my vacum hose it jumped to 1.6bar on my sr20 a week later turbo blew up and it only went that high twice which means the hose that goes to actuator has a hole 100% or ur avcr is faulty

Thanks. I'll completely replace that hose tonight and see how it reacts.

Let you know!

[yumafia]

u mentioned u have a stocky ecu which means ur cars ecu should cut out on 12psi if everythin is ok coz skylines come with ceramic turbos which means they dont like the high boost coz they blow up hell easy... also make sure there is no leaks on the controler side as well coz sometimes the vacum hose goin 2 a controller it self may not be tight enough.

[evil_weevil]

how did you go Liz?

[Liz]

no good chubb... with all these guys that are looking at it, it appears we haven't come any further (confirming my car intelligence! lol) than what I originally thought.

One bit of further info is that one of the lines going from the 'on' side of the solonoid is plugged directly into intake pipe..can anyone confirm if this is the correct place? (the intercooler piping came with a hole there for this purpose (as the last car it was on seemed to have the avcr set up this way). Both of the guys that have looked at the car over the last few days raised the same query so it's worth checking out. But neither of them could confirm where else it should be going (a vacuum line in practice but they couldn't find it! lol - yumafia? Can you shine some light on this perhaps?)

If it turns out this is set up right it can only be the wastegate actuator. (i think)

The damn car brought me to tears last night as I was driving home at 3am and my fuel pump started to overpower my stereo and couldn't hit anything over 15% throttle (that was a fun drive) without the car being starved for fuel. The fuel pump was replaced with a Bosch 040 when the avcr was done and at the same place.... co-incidence?? I THINK NOT! Could be something as simple as a blocked fuel filter.

Given that I have a track day in 2 weeks, I've decided to accept defeat on the issue and take the car to Haak Automotive. I've just had enough!

YUMAFIA - Yeah stock ecu, I don't know how it's managing to jump past that (sounds like a leak but can't find one!)... I've turned the unit off completely and it's reacting the same way. Do you have msn?? I wouldn't mind heading to the mechanic with a little more knowledge than I have now!

I'll keep you updated, but at this stage, I'm one very sad skyline driver :(

[Liz]

I've changed my mind. I'm so tough lol

I'm ripping out the fuel filter tonight and having a look at all fuel lines back there... make sure there are no kinks in anything then putting it back seeing how it runs with the new filter and fixing up any problems I may find along the wya. See how she runs then...

Sounds like the blockage is definately before the fuel pump so I'm doubtful that changing the fuel filter will do anything, but it's the first thing to eliminate!

WISH ME LUCK!

[evil_weevil]

*wishes Liz luck*

heya Liz,
**** hey, that seems like a bit of a pickle you were in.

If you still want, we can unhook your avcr, go back to stock and hook my boost controller up and see how the car runs?

out tomorrow night (tues) but any other time this week after work.

good luck still :)

chubb

[Liz]

Yeah I'll definately take you up on that offer chris!

I'll just get the fuel issue sorted first so I can actually hit boost!

Will give you a call through out the week

liz.

[manual]

One bit of further info is that one of the lines going from the 'on' side of the solonoid is plugged directly into intake pipe..can anyone confirm if this is the correct place? (the intercooler piping came with a hole there for this purpose (as the last car it was on seemed to have the avcr set up this way). Both of the guys that have looked at the car over the last few days raised the same query so it's worth checking out. But neither of them could confirm where else it should be going (a vacuum line in practice but they couldn't find it! lol - yumafia? Can you shine some light on this perhaps?)


Ummm, by intake pipe do you mean the pipe connecting the pod filter to the turbo?? in other words - is this connected before the turbo?? but then in saying that you say its in the intercooler - so it should be pressurised and then that would be fine??

Not sure if this is what you are following - but its pretty straight forward:

"Connect the vacuum line from the waste-gate to the "COM" side of the solenoid, and Connect the vacuum line from the turbo to the "ON" side of the solenoid. Try to locate the solenoid as close to the waste-gate actuator as possible and use the least amount of vacuum hose as possible."

Hope that helps you out a little - but without seeing it, makes it hard to say for sure.

[Liz]

Ummm, by intake pipe do you mean the pipe connecting the pod filter to the turbo?? in other words - is this connected before the turbo?? but then in saying that you say its in the intercooler - so it should be pressurised and then that would be fine??

Not sure if this is what you are following - but its pretty straight forward:

"Connect the vacuum line from the waste-gate to the "COM" side of the solenoid, and Connect the vacuum line from the turbo to the "ON" side of the solenoid. Try to locate the solenoid as close to the waste-gate actuator as possible and use the least amount of vacuum hose as possible."

Hope that helps you out a little - but without seeing it, makes it hard to say for sure.

1 - pipe coming from the intercooler heading into the plenum.. so yeah it is pressurised so you think that'll be right. I mean the nipple was obviously there for a reason hey. Ok.. so maybe that's fine.

2- All connections are set up correctly and followed as per the directions (and as you've stated), no leaks or anything.

Thinknig about it more.... I've come up with the following

1 - The wastegate actuator could be not working like it should
2 - The dump pipe may not have enough gate clearance to let the air out (it's a hitech dump so I doubt that would be the problem)
3 - Faulty solonoid
4 - Could be a simply wiring problem.

[manual]

ok, without actually looking at it - i am outta idea's

[Liz]

ok, without actually looking at it - i am outta idea's

frustrating hey.given I have missed my hillclimb and I have a track day to go to, I'm going to hand the car over to Powerplay Imports on Friday as they are already familiar with the problem I'm having and have been on great help so far :)

I don't think I know enough about boost and the fuel line to be playing around with either of them lol.

[Liz]

Powerplay have tested the pump and pressure was good until it reached about 5000rpm and hten it just died. They also had a look at the install and it wasn't correctly mounted in the proper bracket... so that's all fixed up.

The AVCR was definately not an install problem as it's installed correctly, no leaks or anything.. they are trying to work out why the gate isn't opening like it should.. seems to stay shut till about 1bar :(

[evil_weevil]

its in good hands now Liz so very soon you'll be out in front of me on the old road :D

hahah seriously though, the know what they are doing - shouldnt be off the road for too long?

[Liz]

yeah they knew what they were doing alright.. i had them stumped for a while.

The overboost was a combination the dump pipe's wastegate clearance (or lack thereof) and a collapsed cat. I've replaced my hitech cat with a high flow one from powerplay (dunno what brand but high flow is high flow) :) and also the standard dump/front pipe has been put back on the car.

Quite scary really, no wonder I noticed little difference in the boost when i put the avcr on, its because it had been doing that for about 8months, which is when I got the exhaust done.

I've also put a bigger cat back system on whilst I'm there.... it was a bit small and a BIT too loud! lol

The car isn't going to get anymore modding now... talked this over with the powerplay guys and they say a reliable track car is a stock track car! So yeah, it's going to remain as is (apart from tyres). Just a hell of alot of driver training. :)

[evil_weevil]

so what size was the previous cat back?

and they've reccommended the stock dump pipe?

The Liz machine is having a big change! hahah

Thats my theory in regards to track cars - just get some easy mods done (coolers, slight more boost, exhaust) and then concentrate on the suspension and stopping :)

Ive got a little bit done (great brakes) and tad more power than stock - just need suspension and I'll be happy

oh, driver training?? what a coincidink!!! skid pan day!! how good timing is that Liz!! :D:p

[evil_weevil]

gimmie your dump pipe!! :D

(if its in good condition!)

[Liz]

I'm going to take the dump pipe and get Hi-tech to modify it and clean it up, see if we can make a worth while dump pipe out of it.. i just got the car back right and it's reving out evenly all the way to redline.. no flat spots... just coz the exhaust was a bit restrictive I'll show you next time I see you, you'll be quite surprised!

The old cat back was 2.5inch, the new one is 3inch, sounds different, not as unique as my car sounded before..

She's so beautiful to drive at the moment..revs out so nicely.. no more flat spots either :) was defiantely restricted before but I had no idea coz I didn't know better!

Definately with you on the stock is best side of things... did you say driver training too? I'm there!

talk to you more about it when i see you next

adios!
Liz.

[evil_weevil]

Hey Liz, gees I didnt relise your old system was only 2.5"!!
What has been going on now with the Lizzzeh machine?

So what has been changed (besides exhaust) and what hasn't?

Old road soon hey??

[Liz]

Well the front pipe was a split 3inch with highflow cat.. and the cat back was 2.5inch with a massive muffler

I've now gone stock dump pipe, highflow cat and 3inch cat back.. once hte power goes up I'll fix the 3inch and get it back on there.. no point until then as it'll cause unnecessary strain on the engine.

The other thing that was changed was the avcr set up.. only slightly.

Right now I'm sorting out how to fit 17x9s +22 offset on a gtst... haven't heard any success stories yet.. so first up is set up.. camber kits and sway bars.. then we'll flare the guards and see how it goes... if for whatever reason they still don't fit, I think it'll just be a case of putting 235s on them rather than using the 245s that's already on them... and if they don't fit then... hmmmm i dunno.. deal with that one when i come to it!

Hang on.. didn't I say a week ago that I wasn't going to do any more modding?!?!?!

oh well :)

[evil_weevil]

hahah Liz you will never stop modding :)

I said I was going to keep my 'line stock as....yeah right!!!

got your pm over on SAU,so which tyre place you going to deal with now?
I know it sounds odd, but Tempe Tyres would know what they are doing and most likely would have done your job before, worth a shot I say?

[Liz]

I wouldn't underestimate Tempe hey... they do a good job more often than not!!!

I'll try a few tyre places out.. really it's price and how they treat you more than anything else.... but more than happy to pay a bit more to someone woh's nice and helpful!.. still yet to find them though! hahaha

Rob from Powerplay Imports was a panel beater for over 10 years and is their mechanic now so I think that's a good all round solution. They've done all of the above work after that dodgy place stuffed things up. If it can be done... Rob is the bloke for the job I think :)

[evil_weevil]

Speak with Rob and see what he can offer Liz, but yes, Tempe (although fullee sik reputation!) do some good work and deals.

If I "ever" decide to get wheels for my car - it will be there, they can afford to do cheap/great deals.

I know Andy is taking the LC GTR there to get some guards rolled. (when its registered of course:D)