1st Gear No Boost SR20

[dongoesby]

I have near -0.6kpa vacuum at idle and hits steady 13psi under boost on all gear except first. I tried to push it on first and it just feels like all motor. I stopped revving at 5k rpm. Tried to search around but got mixed answers.

Some said it is normal since there is not enough load.

I have following set up:
stock s14 sr20
Defi boost gauge
HKS acutator
stock boost soleniod (correct vacuum)
exedy lightweight flywheel
stock exhaust
tomei manifold
others (not related to this topic)

any comments welcome!

[Greddy323]

my sr run thru first feels like motor but it isnt... having a light flywheel will cause it to run thru the gear faster than your turbo spools... idk im just throw opinions

[!Zar!]

At idle my car pulled -20.

Check your gaskets?

[clark]

wow i've never heard of someone running a stock boost solenoid and an adjustable wastegate actuator.

you should probably eliminate the solenoid.

[slider2828]

get rid of the solenoid and get an actual boost controller....

[dongoesby]

At idle my car pulled -20.

Check your gaskets?

sorry typo, it should say (-) in front of 0.6 kpa.
I've searched and -0.6kpa should be a fine number.

wow i've never heard of someone running a stock boost solenoid and an adjustable wastegate actuator.

you should probably eliminate the solenoid. Clark, you think the solenoid would cause no boost at first gear?

get rid of the solenoid and get an actual boost controller.... Getting a boost controller would help me gaining back boost at first gear?

[astrophixvox]

sounds odd. I'm running pretty much your set up w plenty of boost in first. You keeping your rev high when you launch?

[clark]

sorry typo, it should say (-) in front of 0.6 kpa.
I've searched and -0.6kpa should be a fine number.

Clark, you think the solenoid would cause no boost at first gear?

Getting a boost controller would help me gaining back boost at first gear?

dongoesby,

well, someone correct me if i'm wrong, but preeeettyyy sure the stock solenoid actually creates better boost response at lower RPMs. causing the turbo to spool faster.

i'm sure there's some ill effect you're experiencing by using it with your adjustable wastegate actuator.

i would say either test with a stock actuator WITH the boost solenoid, OR eliminate the solenoid.

also, ar e you sure you have the right hoses going the right places on the stock boost solenoid??

what i think is happenins is that you are getting on the accellerator, and your wastegate is throwing your flapper open.

you could also have the hks adjustable wastegate rod mis-adjusted.

many variables.

[dongoesby]

dongoesby,

well, someone correct me if i'm wrong, but preeeettyyy sure the stock solenoid actually creates better boost response at lower RPMs. causing the turbo to spool faster.

i'm sure there's some ill effect you're experiencing by using it with your adjustable wastegate actuator.

i would say either test with a stock actuator WITH the boost solenoid, OR eliminate the solenoid.

also, ar e you sure you have the right hoses going the right places on the stock boost solenoid??

what i think is happenins is that you are getting on the accellerator, and your wastegate is throwing your flapper open.

you could also have the hks adjustable wastegate rod mis-adjusted.

many variables.

I got boost today. Sounds like a noob, but i actually can get boost after like 3.5k rpm on 1st gear when i really hammer the pedal. It is very different than the rest of the gears, instead of hammering in to get boost from 1st gear, i can just step half way or less on the pedal and the boost could come on.

This all happened after I found out that my coolant system had air trapped in yesterday. It caused my exhaust gas temperature to jump sky high. Because of this, i never push the boost to redline. The EGT was 1200+ F 65mph hwy cruising and 1400 F under boost and eventually hits 1500+ F when it reaches 7k rpm at 14psi. I had only hitted 1500+ F once, and I have never tried it again.

As after the coolant problem has taken care, the hwy cruising temp drops to between 1000~1100 F, and 1200~1250 F under boost, and below 800 F at idle. The car feels great now, feels more power and more smooth. And it solved my idle jumping problem too. :) I hope I didn't damage anything at the time I hit 1500+ F. I know it had reached to the level where it could melt a piston.

[jspaeth]

my sr run thru first feels like motor but it isnt... having a light flywheel will cause it to run thru the gear faster than your turbo spools... idk im just throw opinions


Bingo. Not enough load and you may be going through 1st gear too quickly to fully spool the turbo, especially without an EBC.

[coupster]

Sorry to bring this back to life but how did you discover the traped air in the cooling system?