 |
|
|
1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: How much boost is no boost? Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Thu, 21 Apr 2005 06:17:46
In Reply to: Re: How much boost is no boost?, nathanb, Thu, 21 Apr 2005 06:00:19 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Since the gauge reads atmospheric at idle, at a minimum I'd guess that the hose between the turbo gauge and the intake plenum is cracked/off/missing. At idle you should be seeing the needle well down into the white. Until that gets fixed, any reading on the gauge is useless.
As it is a '97, you've got the BPC solenoid (three wire). Unplugging it should give you base boost.
I'm going to keep asking 'felt completely normal except no boost'. Is that it felt normal, but you saw no boost on the gauge? Namely, it accelerates OK (maybe a little slow for an Aero?) That points to getting the gauge hooked up first, and then start going through the car for issues once you know what your true boost levels are.
Or is it "normal for a car with no boost?" A turbo car that isn't boosting is amazingly doggy. It makes a normally aspirated car look fast.
I take it from your description that the car seems to have adequate performance, not full-Aero, but it gets out of its own way. That tells me that the turbo system is at least working. Taking the W hose should have allowed you to get a lot more boost, but the Trionic system is pretty good at self-protection, so it can retard ignition and reduce fuel to control boost. That tells me the MAP sensor is probably hooked up OK. And no CEL tells the same story.
I'd get the boost gauge working first. That should be a simple hose off, probably in the engine compartment. Since this is a New To You car, you're going to want to go through it. Unless you KNOW the plugs have been replaced recently, just plan on replacing them. If they have been replaced recently, pull them out, make sure they're the right NGKs properly gapped. See if they show rich or lean running.
After that, replace filter (fuel, air), pull the right turn signal assembly off and make sure the hoses to the charcoal canister are hooked up, replace the one-way valve between the valve cover breather and the throttle body (they like to disintegrate - I've seen cars where they are missing), that sort of thing. I picked up a '97 this summer that had complete, verging on anal level, records. Every scheduled maintenace per the book. And I still had to go through it to bring it up to snuff. If you're under a half-tank, fill the tank with premium fuel (93 or better)
Once you've got the boost guage working and you know where you sit on the usual suspects (new filters, plugs, etc), and you know what grade of gas is in the tank (maybe he's running 87 from Joe's Watery Gas Emporium), then see how the car performs. Then it's worth going after potential bad BPCs or stuck wastegates.
If a car looks bad, don't assume the car needs a new paint job when all it may need is a good washing.
posted by 192.249....
, Thu, 21 Apr 2005 05:32:46, Thu, 21 Apr 2005 06:17:46 <-- Viewing This Message
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
