Just noticed today that the car was driving a lil slower n i looked at my boost gauge n i was only at MAX boosting 4 PSI. As i drove more it went down to 3 PSI n is still there, its not dropping anymore. I noticed the car was gradually becoming slower but wasn't just all of a sudden at 4psi. Anyways i got out the trusty allen wrench n started playin w/ the boost controller (manual TurboXS), turned it up, no change on guage. Turned it down, no change on gauge. Solid 3psi. Any ideas what could be going on? THe negative pressure is normal on the boost gauge so i dont think its a vaccuum leak but i could be wrong. Also i was a good half hour out from my house and when i took the car home on the highway it was slow as shit. Almost felt like no boost at all, but maybe thats just kuz im used to 8psi i dunno. But the turbo still sounded like it was spooling and i could hear the air coming from the BOV.

Check all your piping for leaks.

i.c piping leak, i had the same thing happen to me at the dyno. i boosted the whole way down there, hooked it up to the dyno and no boost no matter what i did nothing over 2lbs. i ended up takin all the piping apart and reattachin all my couplers. took her for a test drive and i was boostin again. also ur vac would still read fine b/c the car would act like it was na so thats not really a good indication of a leak. i also tried to use starter fluid to test for leaks and that didn't tell me there was one so short of makin a boost leak test and fillin the pipes with an air compressor, takin them apart and checking is what your goin to need to do.

Also the tip of the intake cone/filter is relatively hot, and i didnt think the intake cone was supposed to be that hot. I have the 420a so its ont he right side and theres a good amount of piping over there w/ the Star Stage 2 kit so thats probably a good indication of the problem. You think my taking apart all the piping and reattaching it would do the trick?

Just check all the couplers. Make sure the clamps are tight and none of the couplers have tears or holes.

yea thats what im gunna do. If theres no obvious holes i may jack up the car and have a friend feel for any air leaks in the IC piping, do you think he'd be able to feel it if there was a leak around a coupler or would it not be noticable?

No. If you don't find an obvious leak then build a boost leak tester. Use the search to find info on it. Good luck. :thumbsup

i tried the friend feelin for leak test and it hmm sucks... boost leak tester is the best but i was lazy and just tore it apart and double checked everything.

I'm having the exact same problem but I'm suspecting it's my turboxs mbc. Did you know that it's not a ball and spring mbc, but a bleeder type mbc?

Originally posted by DSMRoadster
I'm having the exact same problem but I'm suspecting it's my turboxs mbc. Did you know that it's not a ball and spring mbc, but a bleeder type mbc?

Just curious but have you tested your piping and connections with a leak detector? I'm not saying that's your problem but I'm just curious.

I used the same method you used on your best friend's wife. The touch and feel.

Originally posted by DSMRoadster
I used the same method you used on your best friend's wife. The touch and feel.

If you want to try and down me then keep it to PM's you tool. My AIM is uberingram if you have anything intelligent to say.

you don't deserve to have a one on one conversation with me kiddo. I didn't try to down you, you easily did that on your own. If anyone here is close to a tool, it defintely would be you. The garden hose and hoe. Nuff said.

Oh noes, I don't deserve to talk to Captain Circle Jerk, V. :rolleyes

/pointless derail

Originally posted by 98starGS
i tried the friend feelin for leak test and it hmm sucks... boost leak tester is the best but i was lazy and just tore it apart and double checked everything.

yeah but look DSM, according to 98starGS it dont work too good. Im about to bypass my BC and run a line straight from the turbo to the wastegate and (without stomping the gas) i hit more PSI then i know i need a new BC. Im expecting that its a leak somewhere in the piping though so i doubt its gunna work.

welll i bypassed the BC and took her for a spin.... the needle wouldnt go over 0psi. Theres obviously a big leak somewhere but i dont know where.

Stick a coke can in the S16g's intake and clamp it down. (seriously)

Run a compressed air hose to the boost nipple on your turbo and pressurize the system to 5psi or so.

Listen for boost leak.

The reason your turbo was so hot is that it was spinning really really damn fast trying to overrun the boost leak... normally the boost controller would have opened the wastegate but since the controller wasn't seeing any boost, it left the gate closed allowing 100% of your exhaust to hit the turbine.