A wasted $ 2,000 and counting....

[Skerd]

I just paid $ 2,000 for a turbo removal, rebuild, and installation. The problem is still EXACTLY the same as before! Whenever the boost is maxed out in any gear, the engine will stutter, stumble, cough, and hesitate. The gauge does go all the way to the right. Any ideas? Thanks.

[GUY JOHNSON]

How much boost are you pushing?

Guy

[Skerd]

I have a Moto-concept 330hp chip upgrade which runs to 1.2BAR The dealer tried to blame it on this chip, but I told them it had the same problem before the chip was installed.

[lotusguy]

I just paid $ 2,000 for a turbo removal, rebuild, and installation. The problem is still EXACTLY the same as before! Whenever the boost is maxed out in any gear, the engine will stutter, stumble, cough, and hesitate. The gauge does go all the way to the right. Any ideas? Thanks.

Skerd,

What model/year is your Esprit??...Jim '85TE

[HarryW]

I just paid $ 2,000 for a turbo removal, rebuild, and installation. The problem is still EXACTLY the same as before! Whenever the boost is maxed out in any gear, the engine will stutter, stumble, cough, and hesitate. The gauge does go all the way to the right. Any ideas? Thanks.

Haven't got a clue about turbo's or max p type chips, but overfuelling can give you similar symptoms to this, just a though.

Harry

[Skerd]

1995 S4s.
Only 1/2 tank of premium gas.

[cnh1990]

It's going into overboost protection and the ECU is cutting the fuel pumps and it feels just like the car running out of gas. Check the waste gate controller, the wastegate capsule, and the lines that activate it.
Calvin

[lotusguy]

Skerd said: 1995 S4s.
Only 1/2 tank of premium gas.

Skerd,

When was the last time you pulled at looked at your plugs? Similar symptoms have ocurred on S4 and S4s's with worn plugs. A switch to new plugs cures the problem. Happy Motoring...Jim '85TE

[Skerd]

Calvin & Jim:

I mentioned all of those possibilities to the dealer before, during, and after I dropped it off. They said that was not the problem and it needed a new turbo. I know those things could (and in hindsight might just be) the cause.
Thanks.

[GUY JOHNSON]

Souds like the overboost switch is comming on to early.

[Skerd]

Sounds like I have a $ 2,000 credit balance.

[cnh1990]

Yes the first thing is check the plugs. Mine sort of did something like that when the plugs were burnt. The PO had but in regular turbo plugs of the single electrode type and they did work fine for a while 6K miles but after that they were shot. A friends SE had a leaky actuator hose going to wastegate capsule causing it not to open, it then would go into over boost. The computer would sense the overboost then cut out the fuel pumps in self protection. Feels like running out of gas until the boost drops. then the car runs fine. This is a common problem.
Calvin

[MikeyRide]

Skerd,

Have you asked the dealer you have working on the car how much 4cyl Esprit experience they have? They've only been selling Lotus for about 2 years.

Maybe they thought you had a stuck wastegate and the rebuild would fix it?

Anyway, my experience (and the owner of my car before me, and my neighbor Frank Lu, *and* friend Ron) has been: bring it to Ralph, pay him, and it will be fixed.

Mike

[Skerd]

Calvin - The car goes in again tomorrow. I will mention the plugs.

MikeyRide - I'm curious. How do you know where I take my car? You said they have only been selling Lotus for two years? They are an authorized dealer and always do (eventually) fix it. The place you mentioned is about a 6 hour round trip. I have thought about them though.

[jonwat]

Skerd,

I have a '95 S4s and was considering fitting the Moto-concept 330hp chip upgrade

What are your thoughts on the performance/driveability/economy since fitting the chip?

Cheers,

[Skerd]

Since this loss of boost problem was occuring before the new chip, and still is doing it, it is hard to speak on the performance improvements just yet. I will once it is finally fixed.

The driveability is perfect. Idle is perfect. More smooth. No complaints. A few months ago somebody posted a long, detailed summary of exactly what the chip does. It is a LOT more than just HP gains.

[MikeyRide]

Skerd said: Calvin - The car goes in again tomorrow. I will mention the plugs.

MikeyRide - I'm curious. How do you know where I take my car? You said they have only been selling Lotus for two years? They are an authorized dealer and always do (eventually) fix it. The place you mentioned is about a 6 hour round trip. I have thought about them though.

I recall you saying that you live in the Princeton area, near Anton. Correct? I think it's more like 3yrs for Sports & Specialist cars, BTW. Their tech may be trained on V8s (I have no idea) but I'd be suprised if he has 4cyl training. Hopefully he's calling Dave Simkin at LCU for advice.

I see your point about the drive (it can be 4hr round trip for me in traffic) but would you rather have the car fixed or (eventually) fixed? Rightly or wrongly, I attribute most of my painless ownership experience to him. The car was right when I got it, and continues to be right.

YMMV, of course. People have complained about Ralph too. You can always find someone with a negative story to tell.

You know, you're not too far from me (if I'm right). About an hour to Middletown, NJ. I have Freescan, a cable, an engine management manual, and a working S4s to swap parts off of if you want to come by some weekend when the weather's better. Bring Anton and his car too.


>> Edited by MikeyRide on Wednesday 22 January 22:13

[Skerd]

MikeyRide - I work 15 minutes south of Princeton, live 40 minutes south. The car went back in today. I will bite my tongue and not say anything until they call with their findings ($$$$). If they strike out, I would like to take you up on your offer. Thanks.

[MikeyRide]

Good luck. If I had been reading the forum, I would have offered earlier.