I think my car is making too much boost...please help!
07-25-2018 | 09:19 AM
#1
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From: Charlottetown
I think my car is making too much boost...please help!
Hi everyone! I’m new to owning a tc cobalt SS. I bought the car off some guy who couldn’t tell me much about it. Long story short the engine blew and I’m putting in a brand new LDK block. My boost gauge is in kpa and it reads up to 200 kpa..... when I was driving it it could hit this 200 mark. I told my friend and he said that was insane and the obvious reason for my compression issues ... I wasn’t told about any tunes or anything like that. Does the cobalt come with a max PSI/KPA that it won’t go over when stock??? If so how do I set it up so I’m not over boosting!? I don’t want to blow another engine and I was told this kpa is wayyyyy too high!! Help!!!
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07-25-2018 | 10:21 AM
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The check engine light comes on randomly and goes off randomly... i don’t have a code reader so I’m really not sure.. do you think there is something wrong with my car? On the boost gauge should it stop on its own at the max? Mine literally will go all the way around to the bottom (200)
07-25-2018 | 10:45 AM
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I can't drive it even if I wanted to. Cylinder 4 has no compression and it was smoking so bad. It will hardly run at an idle right now. I am currently awaiting a brand new LDK block and k04 turbo from ZZPerformance. Hoping this will solve my main problem... I will get the codes read and post a picture when the engine is swapped. My friend said it may be as easy as taking off a tune if it is tuned. Does that sound about right or does it sound more serious than that? Thanks!
07-25-2018 | 10:47 AM
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Normally if there is any issue it will disable the electronic controls and revert to mechanical boost which is around 5psi. I don't think the factory turbo can put out 30psi either. I may be wrong though. I would guess your gauge is bad but being the engine blew its questionable. I would def put a factory tune on it before you drive on the new engine to rule out the possibility someone didn't know what they were doing.
07-25-2018 | 10:50 AM
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From: Livonia, MI
07-25-2018 | 10:53 AM
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From: Jackson, TN
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Kolt (07-25-2018)
07-25-2018 | 11:22 AM
#13
Normally if there is any issue it will disable the electronic controls and revert to mechanical boost which is around 5psi. I don't think the factory turbo can put out 30psi either. I may be wrong though. I would guess your gauge is bad but being the engine blew its questionable. I would def put a factory tune on it before you drive on the new engine to rule out the possibility someone didn't know what they were doing.
You can get it to spike 29-30psi, it's not going to hold that by any means. This is also assuming the OP has the stock turbo.
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Kolt (07-25-2018)
07-25-2018 | 11:51 AM
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Normally if there is any issue it will disable the electronic controls and revert to mechanical boost which is around 5psi. I don't think the factory turbo can put out 30psi either. I may be wrong though. I would guess your gauge is bad but being the engine blew its questionable. I would def put a factory tune on it before you drive on the new engine to rule out the possibility someone didn't know what they were doing.
07-25-2018 | 11:53 AM
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07-25-2018 | 12:29 PM
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Factory tune is set to 15psi, but if there is a problem with the wastegate or solenoid it wont help. Ill take pictures of my lines when I get home so you can make sure at least its routed correctly and everything is hooked up.
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Chelsxo (07-25-2018)
07-25-2018 | 01:21 PM
#17
If you hit overboost the car drives like poo poo (which the factory tune has overboost enabled, it will let you hit overboost once, then it disables completely via throttle limitation and open bpv/wastegate iirc)
07-25-2018 | 01:24 PM
#18
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Mine 100% did not disable, I have always been able to reach 200 kpa
07-25-2018 | 01:29 PM
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Chelsxo (07-25-2018)
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Chelsxo (07-25-2018)
07-25-2018 | 03:31 PM
#25
Definitely ensure you are reverted back to a stock tune to get that out of the way...
Personally I would ensure all the lines are run correctly to both solenoids (One on the turbo and one on the intake manifold). Boost leak and Smoke test the IC system and VAC lines all when replacing the motor.
If the gauge is still reading 200 KPA (I wouldn't be hitting WOT for engine brake in PS), I would find someone local to you with HP tuners to log the car. HPTuners can read boost output and you can confirm if its the gauge acting up or something else.
Personally I would ensure all the lines are run correctly to both solenoids (One on the turbo and one on the intake manifold). Boost leak and Smoke test the IC system and VAC lines all when replacing the motor.
If the gauge is still reading 200 KPA (I wouldn't be hitting WOT for engine brake in PS), I would find someone local to you with HP tuners to log the car. HPTuners can read boost output and you can confirm if its the gauge acting up or something else.