I was driving a couple days ago and all of a sudden the car just went completely lean and surged on me. I checked all my gauges and everything was normal..floored it to check my fcd and it was at 4.6xxx volts. so all that was normal. it also, at idle when i was sitting at a light the car started to die on me and i looked at vacuum and it was at 0. i just thought i had a vacuum leak but when i hit the gas to keep it from dying, vacuum went normal again. i was stumped. When i got home i got out of my car normally and of course my turbo timer kept it running. As I walked in front of my car I noticed it was rumbling like a v8. I popped the hood and 2 of the 3 bolts were gone. The bolts that keep my downpipe connected to the turbocharger. A massive exhaust leak. I ordered the gasket from HRC again (2nd time this has happened - even with locktight). I will fix the problem on Monday when I get the stuff but could the exhaust leak have caused the problems I was experiencing?? I hope so because I dont have the time to fix anything big right now or to take shit apart and check everything out. One more thing is when I go into gear and let off the clutch to move I hear a noise. It only happens when I start the car, put it in drive and when im coasting and put my foot back on the gas. whether im flooring it or easily. It kinda sounds like the transmission gears to me but im not sure. Could it be the cb boot that our cars had a recall on?? thanks

Exhaust leaks will cause boost probs... I always have some kind of exhaust leak somewhere, seems like I can never get rid of em all.... If its after the turbo then I wouldnt think it would cause too much of a prob cause it should just be loud and annoying, and less restrictive than your stock exuast actually... I tried ordering hahn's gasket but they sent me the wrong part number, so I shipped it back to them and by this time i have payed more money in shipping than in the gasket... and as of a month of waiting, I have gotten no refund or anything.. Kinda upsetting me seeing as how I have a little bit of HRC product on my car... If you dont want to wait for Hahn, just get header collector gaskets(the pro series) from autozone or pepboys... You can get the exact one you need, same size, works just as good as stock... As for your vaccume, whats your vaccume normally? Mine is 7.3 @ idle I believe.

7.3 in Hg is real real low. Stock idle should be at 18 in Hg. With a turbo it should be a little less. Mines at 15. Check for line leaks.

Alvin

yea...my vacuum is normally around 15-17. Im not getting any boost problems..

Well, I have the car back together now, and I am ready to start her for the 1st time in almost 1/2 a year... All the fluids have been drained and refilled.. What should I do to prep the engine before starting? I know that must be hell on the engine to start without circulating the fluids.... Should I pull off the plug wires and pull out the fuel pump fuse and let it turn over till I build up some oil pressure and get her juices flowing before I start it?

Then I'll check my reading on the vac at idle, I believe in the dfi it read -7.3psi at idle.. I'll have to check that when I start her up..

BTW, when I got that reading I had leaks from my NOS fogger setup that is installed on my manifold... I did uninstall it and sealed the threads with teflon paste before I reinstalle, and havent retested yet... BTW, does anyone know what size and what thread type I am looking for to plug off the holes for the nos fogger setup? I am gonna list the kit on ebay this week and need to block off my stock manifold for now until I get Ray to make my one of his intakes.

I have no idea about the NOS ports but since the car has been sitting for a year it might be a good idea to crank it a couple times. That will get the fuel and oil as well. Once you start getting pressure on your oil gauge, then start it. (Assuming you have one) Hopfully it will start. LISTEN VERY VERY VERY cafully for detonation. A local shop here spent $20,000 on some engine for there race civic and it blew the first day they started it. The sad part is they have bought 2 more since then and blown both. I guess they sould learn to put an engine together before they start fuxing with one. lol The Quality Tire civic, if any of you were at NOPI NATIONALS. I believe they put the engine in because with the type-R engine they were a second off the pace. Good LUCK super...I look forward to dynos