Car was running fine about a week ago when parked. Got in it today and will not boost past 20 psi. MAP EF3, hallman MBC, boost was around 23psi. Was looking to turn it up and do a pull and now it only gets to 20psi and seems to spool slow. I pulled the line of the WGA which I thought would let the turbo go higher but it did not. No shaft play in and out, a little side to side. turbo has ab 6k on it. No boost leaks. I'm thinking i've got an exhaust leak pre-turbo somewhere? How can I check that? Thanks

 

Do another BLT then check the BOV and WG flapper.

 

how do i check the flapper?

 

??

 

not to be a a** but did you turn the mbc the right way?

EDIT: sorry, just noticed this happened before you were gonna turn it up.

 

If everything you are trying isn't making a difference and it feels like it is spooling up slower that sounds like a boost leak to me.

If it was an exhaust leak you can usually hear those pretty well, but check your manifold to see if there is any cracks, loose bolts or bad gaskets.

Boost leak test is still my suggestion on this. Hope that you get this resolved soon Less boost = Less fun

Thanks,
Dallin

 

Seafoam exhaust leak test

 

Not that this has anything to do with your situation but ran into a similar problem and it ended up being bad spark plugs. Car ran fine until I got on it, hit 20 and the thing just fell on its face. Thought it was a boost leak & learned to always look at the big picture. Air, Fuel, Spark.

 

Pulled the plugs and they looked fine. I'm going to do another boost leak test but im not expecting anything diff... APEXR you plugs wouldn't let the turbo boost past 20?

 

My car wasn't doin exact that but but was boosting worried and it was the spring in the MBC and I have a Hallman too so check that.

 

I pulled the hose off the WGA but I'll unscrew it and check it out

 

Hey I had the same issue with my ef3 turned out to be a pin in the comp housing had to send it to map to be fixed if give them a call and see what they say.

 

Turns out the plugs weren't firing properly so the ECU would choke things up before it got to serious. Never threw a CEL, mechanic was surprised. Good luck.

 

Try something with your MBC. Rotate the adjustment knob all the way out counterclockwise. That is, back the knob all the way out to full soft (-), to the lowest setting possible. Do a WOT run in 4th gear with the adjustment knob on the MBC set in this fashion. Tell me what the boost reading is with the MBC adjusted this way.

The MAP turbos come with a Turbosmart actuator dont they? At least it looks like one to me judging from pics.

 

Do the Hallman's have replaceable internal springs with different stiffnesses available? Also, does the actuator fitted by MAP have different stiffness springs available ss well? Maybe the OP has a soft spring in either his Hallman, or in the WGA, or both.

At any rate, he should try increasing WG spring pressure via adjustment of the turnbuckle located on the end of the actuator rod. Try this with the MBC knob set to full soft. That is, increase spring pressure by rotating the turnbuckle inward clockwise a turn or two at first.