Help! No boost?

[My96z]

Well I just recently put on a T3/T4 46 trim Hybrid, E compressor with a stage 1 .63 exhuast side.

I initially had boost set to 15PSI and van ran well. Yesterday morning I take the van fishing and I have a hard time making 10PSI and thats if its lucky, and even then its real slow to build and when it shifts, boost goes back to about 3-5 PSI. This is under WOT. Vacuum line to wastegate actuator is disconnected at this time.

I checked the wastegate actuator and it seems to be working correctly. I used the air gun off the air compressor and its not frozen and shuts completely. I even clamped the rod on the wastegate with some vice-grips to lock it shut and made a run and same results. I tested it with a vacuum pump and it holds 20" of vacuum perfect.

Ignition timing is at 12* and cam timing is on, checked it a few different times using two different methods.

Cannot detect any charge pipe leaks.

How do you check BOV's? I have a HKS SSQV that does seem to blow off under the meager boost I can build. I put a vacuum pump on it and it does not hold vacuum but I do not hear any air rushing from under the hood anywhere. I dont see it being bad though, its a quality piece.

Turbo spins freely. Maybe has 300 miles on it.

Any help is appreciated. Van is a turd without boost. Engine holds 20" of vacuum at idle.

Thank you for your time,
Jeff

[slasky]

I would suspect a boost leak somewhere. Have you pressurized the the pipes and checked for leaks?

[My96z]

Yes, best I can, but I dont know how effectively. I used my air compressor to put air into the TB via a vacuum nipple and held my hand over the intake pipe, its hard to do and I dont know how much pressure I put in but I didnt hear anything.

How would you do this properly?

[slasky]

I used PCV pipe with a cap on it to plug each end of the pipes. I drilled out one PVC cap and pulled a tire valve through it. I pulled the pipes off the turbo and the TB and put the PVC plugs there. You can then pressurize it and use a tire gauge to check the pressure. I can take some pics tomorrow of what I made if you need it.

[My96z]

Wow thats pretty cool. I think I can figure it out, doesnt sound to difficult.

[My96z]

Well I just got done pulling all the intercooler piping off and rechecking it for leaks. No rips or tears anywhere.

Only thing I can think of now is that maybe the adj. sleeve on the wastegate actuator rod may have slipped and let the pre-load off of the SV. Its a far shot but I am running out of options.

Or the BOV is bad. I dont know how I would take it out of the loop for a test run to check it...

One thing I thought was wierd was at idle the compressor wheel wasnt spinning. I could have sworn that the Super 60 I had on it spun at idle, but that is alot smaller turbo. As soon as I gave it a bit of gas it spun right up. It seems to spin freely though. I eveh held the nut on the compressor wheel and gave it gas and it spun that way as well.

[turbovanman]

It should spin at idle.

Can you spin the turbo by hand, does it spin freely. It sounds like the turbo failed!

To check the BOV, remove it and put a piece of cardboard or aluminium/steel block off plate and leave off the vacuum lines.

[My96z]

Fixed it!

I shortened the actuator rod a bit more than a 1/4" for more pre-load and it boosts like crazy now!

Thanks for the concern guys!

Jeff