Missing Factory Boost Solonoid = What Exactly?

[Lachlan33]

I have looked EVERYWHERE for my boost solonoid hopeing to earth the black wire to disable to 2 stage control thingy. Anyway I can't find it. As far as Im aware its suposed to be just near the air intake, and have a hose or 2 connected to it as well as some wires. Looked at pics and everything and yeah....either im stupid or it isnt there. What I did find today is around where its suposed to be is a hose that leads into some pipe which is blocked with a screw. This means what exactly? Im assuming the previous owner has fiddled with the boost level. (As far as im aware the car runs stock boost). I can't find the black/white wires either, theres just a mass of wires that run past my turbo.

If there is a bleed valve or EBC installed im at a loss to find that as well.

Anyone have any ideas on what could have been done?

I wouldnt mind seeing some pics of what other peoples setups are if your boost solonoid is missing. The only reason it would be gone is because the previous owner has raised boost yeah?

[WilYawn]

This is the boost solenoid, not hooked up in this pic.

[Lachlan33]

Yes, it would be near my pod on the passenger side yeah? Cause mines just plain not there.

[WilYawn]

Yes, it would be near my pod on the passenger side yeah? Cause mines just plain not there.

Yes it should be there. You can see a tiny bit of the airflow meter on the bottom left of the pic.

[BHDave]

It's been removed obviously. I'd say the previous owner had a boost controller in there and removed it before selling (the screw in the hose is a bit of a giveaway). You'll probably find the actuator is now directly connected to the boost signal (same as a 32gtst).

And that means you are running less than stock boost. Time for a bleed or an ebc

Edited February 23, 2007 by BHDave

[Lachlan33]

I was wondeirng that. Stock solenoid gone without anything in its place would mean 5 psi only yeah? Innnnteresting. Actually thats kind of good...means if I goto 10psi Ill get quite a shock. Time to shop for a boost controller.

[Lachlan33]

Ok now this is really bugging me. Was out driving this morning, and I confirmed that I definetly DO have the dual stage boost thing. Below 4,500RPM the stock guage would get to exactly halfway between 0 and +7, but above 4500rpm it would go up a bit.

Yet I can't find the bloody solonoid anywhere.

Any 33 owners who know what they are looking at live in the Blue Mountains? I need someone to have a look at my car and tell me exactly what im dealing with.

[Munkyb0y]

the easiest way is to locate your actuator and see where the line from it is running. thats what will be governing your boost.

this is what an actuator looks like. its the brass coloured thing with the green dot on it.

[ctjet]

that had better not be the current state of your engine bay boy...

[Munkyb0y]

lol no its not mine. just a google hotlink.

mine's much prettier than that

[Lachlan33]

Ok the hose coming off the actuator just goes straight to a fat pipe, which I believe goes down past the Pod to the Intercooler? Gah. I just dont get how if I dont have said solonoid, why I still have the dual stage boost thing. Theres also a thiner hose (not off the actuator though) with a screw through it. As said before by someone, it would seem a boost controller was used by the previous owner. Maybe its still there? I don't really know what im looking for but im pretty sure its not

[MANWHORE]

don't worry about the solenoid mate. Just install whatever boost controller you want and be done with it.

don't stress. They're for sale on the forums all the time for like $20.

[Lachlan33]

Im not stressing really, just trying to get a sense of what the previous owner has done to the car. Suposedly it was stock except for a BOV and POD, but now I find the solonoid missing, which suggests upped boost etc and it just makes me wonder what else was done.

[Munkyb0y]

yeah i know what u mean...but dont worry about it. whenever you buy a car, you buy it on it's merits, not what the seller tells you, otherwise ur screwed. so if your happy with the car, forget all that shit.

try a turbotech manual boost controller as manwhore said. set ur boost and be happy.

[MANWHORE]

well, at some stage, most likely a boost controller has been run. That's not to say that your car is a lemon or anything.

Bitta extra boost is no problem. We all do it anyways.

Your previous owner might not have lied to you. He might have bought it from japan like that thinking it's stock.

it's alright mate. If the whole car is nice, reliable, runs well, no problems, then that is what it is. a good car. Wehther it's had a boost controller doesn't mean it's deflowered or anything.