I thought I saw a mention somewhere of a shop that works on Evo's in Norfolk. I've been looking around for it and have not been able to find it again. I'm having a problem with my VIII that could be tuning related, and I've never been able to figure out what's going on with it.

It would be handy if there's a near by shop that could do work on it without having to go hundreds of miles.

 

I read your problem. So when you go wot it feels slower then when you are accelerating at half throttle? It could be the flash, but it is not likely your exhaust. I dont own a shop but if you want I can take a look at it for you, I can at least log your car and let you know if the issue is due to knock.

 

Sage Auto knows the Evo platform very well.

850 West 40th St.
Norfolk VA 23324

They dont do tuning and open ECU is going to be an issue around here to get a full quality reflash. Many local evo owners can get you close though.

 

Thanks, I may take you up on that. My mechanical boost gauge shows that the the car is building a proper boost; holding 19-20 psi bleeding off to about 17. Not too long ago I tested for leaks, found a very small one (boost gauge tap T fitting) and corrected it. Didn't change anything. There is no top end hit to speak of. WOT may be a bit better than half or 2/3, but not much. Eventually the car will get going; the more I lean on it the more it feels like it doesn't want to go.

Thanks for your help.

 

I'm sure u do since u own 1. I've seen some of ur work and I was impressed.

 

Thanks when you coming over?

 

I'll try and get down soon to check u out.

 

Yeah the dudes at sage are pretty cool man i was checking out some coilovers there the other day, im going to pick them up after i take my car down to nick at dtm to get it tuned i just logged 400 miles on the motor another 600 more to go until i let it eat

 

I've been researching my problem a little more. One thing I need to look at yet again is that my second owner VIII had an EBC in its first life, and when I got the car the stock solenoid line with the boost pills in it was missing, and a wrong set of vacuum lines in its place. I bought the Mitsu part (MN143555) and replaced per the diagram. I've always wondered if something else is F'ed up. The thing makes good boost, but feels like it has perpetual turbo lag.

 

What RPM do you see full boost? If you are talking about the pill I am thinking of, it will just cause a higher spike if it is missing. Not perpetual lag. Are you sure all of the lines to and from your solenoid are hooked up right? It sounds like you have a bad boost leak, or the solenoid is bleeding to much air to the wastegate actuator (basically keeping the wastegate open). If you want to drive it to Hampton, I wouldn't mind looking at your car for you. Although there are other local people that know what they are doing that are closer to you, as mentioned above.

 

I don't mind bringing it to Hampton at all. I can bring it up week after next, I'll be in Jamaica all next week (and wheels up Friday morning). I think the solenoid lines should be hooked up properly now, I've looked at it a number of times, comparing it to the vacuum line layout diagram. Before I got the pill lines in the thing maxed out at about 8-12psi; couldn't really hear the turbo at all. Now it whistles like a truck.

I don't think the boost peaks at any particular RPM. When it hits peak boost (18-20psi) it stays there. I've done some leak checks and chased out a few minor leaks. No changes. I've thought about the waste gate opening incorrectly; it feels just like that. Push it and the bottom drops out. It will get going eventually, if you hold it open. It has none of the throttle snap of smaller inputs.

I really appreciate your help. Someday I'll learn enough about Evo's to get by.

 

Ok, just let me know. If you have time try putting it in 3rd gear at ~2800rpms, then floor it to 4k. You should see 18-20psi by 3500.

 

I tried your test today a couple times, and it hit 18psi @ about 4.5k. I'll try it again tomorrow and try to repeat those numbers. I did a leak test in the spring; my little air pump was able to run it up to about 10-12psi where I detected a slight leak (the T fitting on my boost gauge tap) and I fixed it but didn't test it again. I'm tempted to test it again and see what I can get with more air. I would guess that a leak like that could cause a problem like this would be very evident.

I'm tempted to do a boost test tomorrow AM to make sure there's nothing up with that end of it.

 

If all you could detect was a slight leak, then it is probably something else. Especially if it is taking till 4.5k to see 18psi. It is spooling almost as slow as my 6262.

 

Just take it to PM