Boost controller pooped out on me, so now

[Cervantes]

my car is consistently boosting at 1.25 bar when I accelerate. I have to be careful with the pedal, so I won't over boost and blow my engine up. Is there any other way to set the boost w/out a boost controller? I have a tuned ECU on the way, and want to get some stability going on before I put it on. Or will the ECU (it's set at about 18psi) help with the over boosting?

Thanks,

Carlos

[skippymo]

correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't a fixed wastegate solve this problem? no need for a controller then.

[chuckthefuk]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the car come stock with a factory Bypass Valve. Similar to a BOV and in the same location.. And does the stock ECU handle boost?

skippymo is correct a internal wastegate will limit boost or prevent overboost.
-Chuck

[skippymo]

based on the information Cervantes gave it seems as if the BOV is bad. I would spend the money for an external wastegate (easier to change boost if no controller), fix the BOV and see what happens. or if you wanted to keep the boost limit at 18psi just get a 18psi wastegate spring and keep it internal. anyhow that's a large amount of boost....engine going to handle it?

chuck -- the ecu wouldn't keep it boosting right? it would just run super lean??

[chuckthefuk]

IIRC the ECU is fed vacuum levels and then takes control of the boost but this is with a factory BPV and internal wastegates..

Cervantes stated that hes putting a ECU tuned at 18 psi... but he did not state if hes using a BPV / BOV or Stock turbos..

We need more info to help you my friend!

-Chuck

[Cervantes]

It's stock turbos with a BOV. This is new info to me, I Don't really have that much car knowledge. I'm getting a boost controller either way. I'm not going to be busting 18psi, in going to set it at about 12-13psi.

[rougeben83]

your ECU controls the boost through a boost solenoid, its piped inline with your wastegate (the little circle things attached to your turbos) is that what youre calling a 'boost controller'? The ECU can directly control the solenoid, and/or alter fuel if it senses something wrong with your AFR's, its a safety measure that's built into the system at the expense of boost response (why people go with manual boost control or aftermarket boost controllers).

If you had your ECU "tuned" as you say, then it's already controlling your boost target, or at least it should if the tuner did his job. Don't you have a boost gauge? Get that first so you can even see if you're overboosting or not.

An aftermarket boost controller only takes the place of this solenoid, and bleeds the wastegate vacuum line up to the set boost target independent of the ECU.

I would seriously have you read more about boost control and the basics of wastegates and such before you do this. You don't want another "incident" like before, do you? We can spout all sorts of opinions to you all day everyday but if you can't pick and chose the information that you need, then you may be doing more harm than good.

[Cervantes]

I'm talking about a boost controller and have a boost gauge hooked up. The ECU hasn't been installed yet, itll be done at end of the week. the car didn't boost this high until the avc-r stopped working. Since the ECU is set to 18psi, I want to use the controller to regulate the boost and make minor adjustments to how I'm going to boost.

[chuckthefuk]

you know thats a key piece of info!!!

Apexi AVC-R Boost Controller !!!!! If that fails then whats going to regulate your boost?

Arg!!!

[skippymo]

whatever happened to throttle control? go slow = light on the pedal....go fast = heavy!
boost controllers make things complicated in my opinion, like the internal / externals, you know what you are going to get every time.
my 2 cents....ok i'm done.

[mike-tracy]

I'd recommend a manual boost controller in addition to your fancy tuning & boost controller as a safeguard.

[Cervantes]

you know thats a key piece of info!!!

Apexi AVC-R Boost Controller !!!!! If that fails then whats going to regulate your boost?

Arg!!!


lol...thats what i meant when i said my boost controller died, and why i'm boosting so high

[Cervantes]

I'd recommend a manual boost controller in addition to your fancy tuning & boost controller as a safeguard.


dont electronic and manual boost controller ultimately do the same thing?

[rougeben83]

They do, people do what they call a "parallel setup" basically both devices piped into the wastegate, one acting as a backup to the other should one fail. But honestly, if you have a good quality controller, either one will be dependable (I use a mbc myself).

However, being that you have a twin turbo, sticking to the electronic versions would be better. I honestly wouldn't try to change you boost settings too much on your own, especially if your ECU is specifically tuned to run 18psi (and will likely control the solenoids to that extent if you left it alone). I mean, the adjustability is a nice idea, but I can tell you from personal experience that I haven't touched my mbc since the day it was tuned...

[skippymo]

rougeben83, do you even need a controller then if the ecu is controlling the wastegate? I run N/A but am very interested in putting a small turbo on mine. trying to find a nice balance between money and functionality.

[Cervantes]

They do, people do what they call a "parallel setup" basically both devices piped into the wastegate, one acting as a backup to the other should one fail. But honestly, if you have a good quality controller, either one will be dependable (I use a mbc myself).

However, being that you have a twin turbo, sticking to the electronic versions would be better. I honestly wouldn't try to change you boost settings too much on your own, especially if your ECU is specifically tuned to run 18psi (and will likely control the solenoids to that extent if you left it alone). I mean, the adjustability is a nice idea, but I can tell you from personal experience that I haven't touched my mbc since the day it was tuned...


i just want to be able to lower the boost and not constantly run at 18psi.

[rougeben83]

They do, people do what they call a "parallel setup" basically both devices piped into the wastegate, one acting as a backup to the other should one fail. But honestly, if you have a good quality controller, either one will be dependable (I use a mbc myself).

However, being that you have a twin turbo, sticking to the electronic versions would be better. I honestly wouldn't try to change you boost settings too much on your own, especially if your ECU is specifically tuned to run 18psi (and will likely control the solenoids to that extent if you left it alone). I mean, the adjustability is a nice idea, but I can tell you from personal experience that I haven't touched my mbc since the day it was tuned...


i just want to be able to lower the boost and not constantly run at 18psi.

You could not stomp on the pedal as hard and you'll be on partial boost, just saying :razz:


rougeben83, do you even need a controller then if the ecu is controlling the wastegate? I run N/A but am very interested in putting a small turbo on mine. trying to find a nice balance between money and functionality.

You don't even need anything controlling boost technically, you can run a turbo straight off the wastegate pressure if you want (on stock VF series and TD04 that's around 8-10psi). All "controllers" does is act as a bleed valve in between the wg and inlet so that the wastegate starts to let off at a higher pressure than the spring inside it. The turbo ECU's have the programming to control a boost solenoid that does that job, the NA ECU's don't.

[ouch1011]

You don't even need anything controlling boost technically, you can run a turbo straight off the wastegate pressure if you want (on stock VF series and TD04 that's around 8-10psi). All "controllers" does is act as a bleed valve in between the wg and inlet so that the wastegate starts to let off at a higher pressure than the spring inside it. The turbo ECU's have the programming to control a boost solenoid that does that job, the NA ECU's don't.

This is what I was going to say. The boost control system on the stock setup actually increases the boost level by bleeding off pressure on the line leading to the wastegate. If you hook the wastegate(s) directly up to manifold pressure, it will run a low/safe boost level.

And a failing BOV/BPV will not increase your boost level, it either decrease it if it is stuck open, or cause compressor surge if it is stuck closed.

[Cervantes]

thanks for everyone's input!