Somethings Not Right Here.

[Chahl]

Hey guys new to the fourm and the stagea family.

I have a 2001 rs4v m35 stagea wagon.

Owned it for about a month now, and I am loving it. But something has come to my attention when im on the way to work. Or anywhere for that matter my boost seams to be restricted. When I first get in the car and drive its not a worry, untill I hit full boost (on the gauge its +1 bar just over)it will hit full boost untill i stop accelerating then for the rest of the drive will limit me to the half way line on the boost gauge, it wont let me hit full boost untill I pull over and restart the car but it will be the same thing once it hits full boost again. I took it back to the place I bought it (synergy motorsport) and of course it didnt do it. No engine lights ect no fault codes ect. I dont know is this normal? Do I just install an aftermarket boost controller or is it something more sinister.

Sorry of its stupid or had been covered before but im hard pressed finding answers.

I am in no way turbo educated as this is my first turbo car, but am mechanicaly minded.

Cheers in advance.

[scotty nm35]

Be careful, the gauge is not very reliable.

If you bypass the boost solenoid you should constantly get 14psi or there abouts. If the solenoid is closing it is seeing a boost spike, knock or some other fault signal, as it should only be closed when cold normally.

[Chahl]

I didnt think the gauge was spot on, but its also an audible diffrence too. You can hear its not spooling as high as normal. I might try to get it upto synergy tomorrow. Its just weird. Other than that the car goes well and its not all the time this is going on. Most days it is but there were a few days it was fine and head heaps of power and awesome economy and then back to this. I also use shell vpower 98 thats what I found was best for it. Thanks for a quick reply too.

[joshm35]

This happened on my car. If you turn the car off and on again it will reset it but will still happen. What I did was get a hdi ebc (electronic boost controller) and did away with stock solinoid. Doesnt do it at all now. A boost t will do the same. Seems to be another common priblem along with bov.

[joshm35]

Dont take it to anyone as its something you can do yourself or have a forum member help you with. Where you located bud

[Brick]

Yep used to have the same issue at times. Boost controller should sort you out

[Jetwreck]

if you just want to replace the boost solenoid I have spares for sale.

[Chahl]

Well thats very interesting. Thanks all for the fast replys.

Im in morphett vale adelaide and work in mt barker. So would replacing the standard boost solenoid fix it or am I better off to go an aftermarket one? Like I said turbo illiterate haha.

Cheers guys

[scotty nm35]

If the ecu is switching the solenoid off then no, it won't fix it.

I would just bypass the solenoid hoses (as in join the two hoses together) it should then run 14psi constantly.

[Chahl]

Ok. So why the hell is it there then. And if I bypass it will I do damage ect? And whats the boost controller for then? Guys this make a no sence haha. Im such a dumdum....

[scotty nm35]

The solenoid adjusts the boost, from 7psi on the actuator, to 14psi when bleeding pressure off. If the ecu sees cold water temp, overboost, knock and plenty of other errors, it will lower the boost temporarily which is what you are seeing. If you don't want it to drop boost, just bypass the solenoid, if you want to find the cause of the error, you will need to get the ecu read on a consult 3 unit.

[Chahl]

Ohhh right. So i just bypass it end of issues? Right cool. Will give it a crack and let you know how it all goes. Thanks so much for your direction on what to do. I just hope nothing catastrophic happens. WARRANTY hahaha.

[Chahl]

Hey guys update.. ITS FIXED. Yay, went for a bit of a boot and it was perfect. Kept my ear out for any odd noises and couldnt hear nothing, just the sweet sweet sound of that turbo spooling. Thanks heaps i may actually be able to overtake a car on the way to work now haha. FANKS HEAPS

[ZRBE]

Hey guys update.. ITS FIXED. Yay, went for a bit of a boot and it was perfect. Kept my ear out for any odd noises and couldnt hear nothing, just the sweet sweet sound of that turbo spooling. Thanks heaps i may actually be able to overtake a car on the way to work now haha. FANKS HEAPS

Nice, what ended up being the problem?

Did you fix it yourself?

[Chahl]

Uhh the boost solenoid was the issue i think. And yeah just joined the two vaccum hoses together. Worked well, im going to go for a bit of a drive tonight just to make sure.

[scotty nm35]

Good to hear Chahl.

No need for a boost controller on the factory turbo.

[Chahl]

Hahaha awesome. I just bought a Stagea cross R35 skyline body for my rc car, will upload pics when it arrives from japan. And yeah Scotty thanks heaps for you help man. So happy the Stag is all good again.