Im having a lot of issues with my car now thats its turboed. Has a star stage 2 with missing link straight out of the box. Nothing else other then what came with the kit, minus the electronic map bypass modula, and the latest i found after checking some stuff is:

1.) I pulled my plugs back out that havent even been in for a week and the ends of them are completely black.Does this mean its running rich?

2.) I hooked up a pda and scaned codes and checked some stuff off the ecu and it says im running lean.

3.) My a/f reading on my apexi turbo timer(i know its not accurate) read around 14.4 at idle when i first changed the plugs, now its reading around 17.0.

All this contributes to the car wanting to stall out around 2k rpm whenever in a gear or not, even just revving hte car you can kind of see it want to stall out. And launching from a stop it bucks and spudders as well.

Originally posted by rgirard413
Im having a lot of issues with my car now thats its turboed. Has a star stage 2 with missing link straight out of the box. Nothing else other then what came with the kit, minus the electronic map bypass modula, and the latest i found after checking some stuff is: 1.) I pulled my plugs back out that havent even been in for a week and the ends of them are completely black.Does this mean its running rich? 2.) I hooked up a pda and scaned codes and checked some stuff off the ecu and it says im running lean. 3.) My a/f reading on my apexi turbo timer(i know its not accurate) read around 14.4 at idle when i first changed the plugs, now its reading around 17.0. All this contributes to the car wanting to stall out around 2k rpm whenever in a gear or not, even just revving hte car you can kind of see it want to stall out. And launching from a stop it bucks and spudders as well.

the 1st and 3rd tell me rich but the 2nd confuses me. Could it be you idle pressure is set to low, making you max out your fuel trim triping the CEL....but your fpr has to steep of a fuel curve causing you to run rich while boosting?

well thats my problem. The car hesitates pretty bad, but if im WOT under boost it runs fine for hte most part. All this is generally happening in vacuum(the stalling and spuddering) which to me indicated running to rich? the star stage 2 came with a vortech fmu, which i believe is unadjustable but is there anyway i can manually adjust it? Im assuming they adjust fuel based on boost level, but if im in vacuum shouldnt it not be doing anything and therefor i should be just like im stock?

mmm...I guess I need a little more info...I'm not real familar with star kits..they run on stock injectors and a walbro intank right? 7psi? I really don't know why you would be throwing a lean CEL with that setup.

Also it sounds like you maybe getting some fuel cut...check to make sure your ML is clean and working right.

the ML is practically brand new. It used a walbro 155 i think for the pump, although i could be wrong and a vortect fmu. Stock injectors. But it seems to be flooding the car with fuel. I really would like to get this issue cleared up if i can at all, its just hard cause i dont know where to start.

Did you disable the stock FPR? And did you run your fuel return line? I have never heard anything like this before. For starters don't use the A/F guage on that apexi... Use the O2 voltage that will give you a better idea of what is going on. As for the reading of that guage at idle, it is usless because the car is constantly adjusting A/F while in cloosed loop. The star kit does run a little rich by design.. It is a 12:1 ratio for fuel to boost. Are you running stock injectors or could someone else have put in larger ones before you got the car...?

no the stock fpr is not disabled. the fmu is run inline between the fpr and the fuel pump if i remember correctly. I would have to go look i forgot exactly. The injectors are stock, and they would not have been upgraded. Car was pretty much stock since i bought it and just been playign with it this year.

I do check the o2 sensor value as well on that, and its usually below .10. Im not sure what to do really. Are you saying hte stock fpr should be disabled? and the fmu run in its place? THe fmu is mounted in the year and im using a long vacuum line up front as i read that is the better method on my year to do.

Also the rear o2 wouldnt mess with any of the air/fuel would it? Cause i do have it disconnected right now.

Thanks for the help in advance

could it also be that i have an exhuast leak? If im leaking it could be messing with my air fuel? When i hit around 3500-4000, it starts to get really loud and growl like a lownmower. Sounds awful, so im hoping it is just a leak and the car doesnt seem to have the pickup it should either. It doesnt seem to be as torquey as it was preturbo. Just a possible thought.

oh my goodness yes...disable the stock FPR...the vortech is all you should need now.

The funny thing is that did pop into my mind way at the begining but I couldn't find a way to say it with out sounding condasending...LOL

and the growl you here and the higher RPM could very well be the externall waste gate opening. But check for exhaust leaks to....you might be suprised at how much happier your car seems with a sound exhaust system. :thumbsup

heres a good read for you.

http://www.2gnt.com/nuke/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=59

but what I did...is I used my stock fuel filter and just took the FPR off. I pluged the hole with a yamaha motorcycle oil plug and an o-ring. Works great. Ican't remeber what size it is exactly but 12mm sticks in my head. It has to be really short too...no longer than 1/2, or it will block the fuel flow. Get that done and see how things run for ya :thumbsup

hope that helps

You all should be ashamed and not be allowed to go turbo! Just kidding.

First you are all wrong! Here is the problem:

no the stock fpr is not disabled. the fmu is run inline between the fpr and the fuel pump if i remember correctly. I would have to go look i forgot exactly.


The FMU goes between the factory fuel reg and the tank. For those of you saying to remove it.....He did not say SFMU READ. The way you have it setup wil cause you to run lean when you hit boost. Once that is fixed remove the missing link and see if it helps. I have had the Star for 3 years now and no missing link. Next at idle use a fuel pressure kit and measure your fuel pressure at idle. Post your reply here.

Terry
96 Eagle talon ESI
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, SFMU/return line, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

My FMU is run between my stock regulator and the fuel pump currently but its running like garbage. Wouldnt disabling the stock regulator make sense? What is the purpose for both of them.? Ill try taking out the missing link and checking my fuel pressure after that and let you know.

I had massive problems, almost exactly like yours, and mine were totally caused by the missing link. Double check yours.

seems like i am having the same problem. my car when i start it wants to stall out but it wonts and if i give it some gas it will all even out and idle fine. when i start boosting, it seems as if i am not even moving and i feel slow. the wastegate opens and the turbo spools good but just doesnt seem like im fast. i have the fmu running with the stock fpr too. i tried cleaning the ML filter but i guess i will try cleaning the inside of it too. just seems like when boosting im not really going anywhere. hmmm

and since there is sticker on my wastegate that says 7, im guessing thats a 7psi spring in it and im only boosting like 3psi. i know i will lose like 2 from the fmic but i should be atleast somewhere around 5. could it be because my ML is dirty on the inside that inserts into the intake manny?

yea my car does feel balls slow too. Im not sure what is going on but i do think i have an exhuast leak somewhere and i dont know what to do about this fuel issue.

your fuel should be fine if everything is inline with the oem fpr. i guess we should try cleaning the inside of the ML again, lol. i have cleaned the filter on the side like every other day. i didnt know the ML could cause my car to be slow though (if it is the ML just being dirty causing this)!!

well it does seem like it is running beyond rich..and there has to be a reason for it, but i just cant figure it out at this point.

I told you what to do and you dont listen, why do you post and then ignore the replies....your FMU is installed wrong...period. The FMU is designed to raise the fuel pressure based on boost, not set the idle pressure. The factory regulator will run 50psi continuouse and 35while the engine is running at idle. The Fmu at vacuum is free flowing, when boost is applied it begines to restrict fuel flow in a ration of 12:1 (if you are using the on that came with the Star kit). So at 2psi you are at 35psi + 24psi combined. yes you got it 59 psi. Now correct that, check your fuel pressure and remove the missing link then drive it. do not do one of the above and drive it unless you are ready for a rebuild. If you think i am being an asshole thats because you dont listen and keep searching for an easier way. With a turbo you either do it right or dont do it when it comes to fuel.

Thats the end of my rant.

Terry
96 Eagle talon ESI
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, SFMU/return line, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

okay here is how my FMU is installed, tell me whats wrong ...

factory line from FPR going to the bottom of the FMU
new fuel line going from the side of the FMU to the factory FPR
vac line running from bottom of car up to the intake manifold teed in.


whats wrong with this setup!?

its not that im ignoring your reply, I was going to do what you suggested, but the other people come on here and provide another answer and I dont know which one is correct. Im pretty sure i have the fmu installed correctly, run inline with between the fpr and the pump

this is how my FMU is installed:

Return line from tank is run to bottom nipple on fmu,
Fuel line from stock fpr is run to side nipple on fmu,
vacuum line running back up to intake area t'ed off a vac line.

Its been like this since day one of the turbo being installed.

Ok you managed to get that installed right and ruled out as a contributing factor. Next remove the ML and check you idle fuel pressure. Get back to me.....

Terry

Just to make sure this car ran fine before you put the kit on correct?


96 Eagle talon ESI
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, SFMU/return line, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

yes the car was running fine before the kit was added. I have to leave for work shortly so i will get that done tomarrow morning and get back to you.