Waste Gate Actuator

[Goon]

Alright, so i finally got my car running again. I learned to never try to get shit done for free or cheap. Just go for the gusto and buy it right the first time. Anyways, its been a long 7 months. But, now shes a running. But not too well. I dont have boost like i used to. All i have is that stock boost guage, but im only getting half the boost i used to, when i had the smaller wheels. Sometimes the guage will peak and ill take of like a mofo, but only in first. but most of the time it only goes up half way. But sometimes, when im climbing a hill or accelerating on the highway i can watch it start to climb but then fall off. So what im thinking is maybe the waste gate is opening, it cant hold the pressure the new wheels are putting out, and face it, its 15 years old so im thinking maybe the actuator is no good. But because i have no money, i was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions to what it might be, or if they know of a way to test the actuator. Thanks

[ritzard]

hey goon i have this book called "maximum boost" it haz alot of good info in it so ill look thro it 4 you and see what it has 4 any tips on testing.

ill get what i find up here asap.

[Myetball]

Had a similar problem when I got mine going again. Couldn't get over 3psi even if vented all the actuator pressure. Turned out the wastegate was partially open all the time. The stock actuator didn't fit the same on my new turbo...rod was too long.

Keep in mind I switched to a Garrett T25 so to fix it I plugged off the stock actuator hose, installed the actuator that came with my turbo (took some fabrication) and plugged the actuator directly into the turbo outlet via a hose barb. I added a spacer between the actuator mount and the turbo to pull the wastegate closed.

After getting my FSM and reading how these cars control the wastegate, I'm glad I did. Now I have 7psi of steady boost and will soon go up to 10psi with a bleeder in the actuator hose.

Another thing you might want to look for is boost leak. If you are peaking then falling off you may have a leak in your hot pipe.

[ritzard]

This is what the book has to say on a seized wastegate

A machanical problem that keeps the wastegate from closing properly will create a large exhaust leak around the turno, producing sluggish low speed response. a failed wastegate valve will seldom keep the turbo from producing about the normal amount of boost, but it will take a lot more revs to reach that normal amount. If, for example, the wastegate valve seizes at the position it reaches to control maximum boost, the system must produce enough revs just to overcome the leak before producing any boost.

It dose not say anything directly about testing the actuator but ill keep looking.

what other problems is it haveing other than the boost not being consistant.

[Goon]

Hey thanks guys. I havent figured it out yet, but i was one tooth out with my cam timing and that made a world of differance. Now instead of having my boost kick in during second gear it kicks in during 3rd when im doing about 110k. So im getting bigger exhaust. Im going to try a 3inch down pipe to where the cat is, then from there cut the cat out and run 2 1/2 inch stright, and im going to try a 2 1/2 sysytem, no cat no muffler on either, see how they work. But the boost still peaks and falls off. I still need to work on that. Sorry i never got back to you sooner, i moved out and i dont have a computer, so the only chance i get on here is when i come visit my parents (once in a blue moon). But thats that. thanks guys

[ritzard]

i 2 now have this boost peak and drop off did you ever fix yours mine on the guage on dash will hit full boost then drop 25% then go back to full over and over real fast.

let me know if you fixed yours and how?

[Goon]

Hey,

No i still have the leak. I bought a bike, so i sorta forgot about my car for the last 7 months. anyways, i gots it back on the road now with a 3 inch down pipe into a 2 1/2 that runs along to the back into a flowmaster. sounds awesome and shes making some good power. Anyhoo, i havent got the leak fixed. I was going to attemp tightening the hoses and what not on the weekend when i change my oil. But i do know, my buddy had a simiar problem in hes f250 when he started running 25-30lbs of boost. he cut is actuator rod and it helped. so i was going to try that, but i dont remember if the actuator pushes or pulls the waste gate. So i dunno. I was going to email the turbo distributor here and see what one costs if they have one. But i havent figured it out yet. Im going to try on the weekend and see what happens. sorry i cant help, but ill let you know what happens.

Goon

[Myetball]

Originally posted by ritzard
i 2 now have this boost peak and drop off did you ever fix yours mine on the guage on dash will hit full boost then drop 25% then go back to full over and over real fast.

let me know if you fixed yours and how?

Sounds like a problem with wastegate actuator. Check to see if the wastegate is closed all the way. Disconnect the actuator rod from the gate lever and move the lever all the way closed. If the pin on the lever doesn't line up with the hole on the rod you have some adjusting to do. You can add more tension to the actuator spring, and close the gate, by adding some washers between the actuator mount and the turbo housing. May need longer bolts to mount the actuator.

[ritzard]

how would i go about disconnecting it i personally dont wana mess with the turbo but if someones guiding me ill try

got any pics i can work with?

[Myetball]

No pics. The actuator rod is connected to the wastegate lever by a veeeeeery small "E" clip. You can slide the clip off the lever with a small flathead screwdriver. You've got about an 80% chance the clip will go flying and you'll never find it again :D so be careful. Once the clip is off just lift up on the rod and it will disconnect from the lever....DONE. Assembly in reverse order and you'll probably drop the clip a few times :D

To get the actuator off the turbo, simply unscrew the two bolts connecting the actuator flange to the turbine housing. Install some washer in between and bolt it back on....piece of cake....except you need hands the size of a 5-year old's to get in there.

[ritzard]

how will i know once its all disconnected if the waste gate waz not closeing correctly?

[Myetball]

Once you get the e-clip off, pull the rod off the wastegate lever. Now, move the lever back and forth.....when you are standing in front of the car, move the lever all the way left. That's closed. Holding it closed see if the hole on the rod will slide on the lever. If the hole is farther right than the lever pin.....hole doesn't line up....the wastegate is partially open all the time.

What you are aiming for is for the hole on the rod to be slightly left of the lever pin so you have to pull out on the lever to get it to go on. This will raise your boost pressure. When you add washers in between the actuator and turbine housing, is will move the actuator and rod to the left.

Send me an email at mr_wig2003@yahoo.com I drew up a little graphic to send you that should explain this.

[ramdavis]

had a same problem I would put money on the boost soliniod which is connected to your head bolt on the back of your cam carrier underneath your pcv valve.