Continuing on from my other thread which was getting too long.........

After driving home from TOTD with no probs went out again last night and the car wont hold any sort of boost above about 9psi now, the needle just flaps around and the car jerks about just like the actuator is giving up or there is a split hose.
So today i've tried another actuator, taken all boost hoses off to check for leaks, removed my dump valve in case that was leaking, checked manifold for cracks and found nothing!!

What else should i be checking?

 

Did you pressurise the system?

 

Nope how would i do that, fit some sort of air line to my boost hose via the dump vavle outlet maybe?
Then listen for leaks?

 

i think i remember you saying you was still using the amal valve, as you've been messing around with the car check that the plug hasnt fallen off, make sure you have at least 1 hole's worth of pre load on the actuator when fitting it.

 

Yes mate i am still using the Amal and was thinking earlier if that was playing up it would make the boost cut in and out!

What do you mean by 1 holes worth of preload, what holes?

 

hi
when you disconnect the actuator rod and hold the rod against the wastegate lever you wind it so that when you look at it the distance is 1 hole so you have to pull it to attach it back on (you have preload ) slap me if i am wrong
mark

 

spot on there fella

 

If i did that i'd be running about 20psi!!!!
It's proabably about 3/4 of a hole and peeking at 17psi, like i say if it was one full hole that would be around 20psi.
Its a -31 actuatuor the minimum boost it will hold is about 10psi and that is if the rod was just slipped over the wastegate arm with no preload.

 

Right I think its all sorted!

Found the Amal valve plug wires were exposed and looked like they had been shorting out on each other which of course would close the valve and my boost would instantly drop to about 9/10psi (what it boosts to if I unplug the Amal).
Also i noticed plug lead No. 3 was arcing to the head!! So changed that too.

This was all after my clutch cable snapped this morning and i had to get towed home crushing my slam panel and tearing my inner wing in the process because i had the rope around the slam panel as I cant get to my towing eye behind my bumper!!
Thankfully none of that can be seen from outside the car but i will have to get the wing welded and then a quick blow over, which is a twat cos i only got it resprayed 2 months ago!!!

 

Not necessarily mate, the last zvh i did i set the pre load on that garett -31 to one hole's width, also using a bleed valve it only spikes to 17-18psi but holds a good 16-17 going by the gauge, tailing off slightly towards the end of the rev range. on a standard head and cam though. Also i said it would be the amal valve plug

 

Yeah cheers for your input mate! Hopefully its ok now!

 

Ah unlucky mate, least you got the boost sorted.

Gonna cost a lot to fix the damage?

 

Hopefully not, my sprayer owes me some free work so i'l see if i can get him to do it for nothing!!

I had to tow it like this cos i cant get to my towing eye



and this is what happened..