Eeek. MR2 problems...
Discussion
Ok, what have I done?
I’d only been running few a few minutes (so not fully warm) when I got sat in a traffic jam next to an Impeza WRX.
He kept hanging back and blasting past, which I tried to ignore (not helped by my mate in the passenger seat egging me on). The realisation that the Impreza passenger was pointing and laughing didn’t help.
Eventually we pulled onto a sliproad down to a dual carriageway, clear road ahead and he booted it. At that point my brain announced ‘you have to get up to motorway speed anyway’ and went to hide in the boot.
From a significant disadvantage off the ‘start’ the MR2 didn’t loose another foot all the way down the sliproad, and was starting to gain quite quickly as the speed built.
At that point I decided enough was enough and I didn’t want to do anything illegal – so I left him to have his own accident (weaving through traffic at massive speed till I lost sight of him, no doubt trying to massage a bruised ego - PRAT).
I pulled off at the next exit and looped around, taking a few miles to find my way back to the main road and letting the turbo spin down.
Re-joined the sliproad and headed home. That’s when the problem occurred.
No turbo. Nothing. There wasn’t even an induction hiss all the way up to 5,000rpm. The boost gauge didn’t even twitch.
I trundled it home, occasionally stabbing the loud pedal to see if I was dreaming. I once managed to get a boost reading in 3rd at 4,500 rpm for a second or two.
It was very dark by then, so me and a torch didn’t really stand much of a chance but I looked anyway. All hoses, electrical connectors and pipework seemed to be in place but I could have easily missed something.
I pulled the 'ECU-B' fuse in the vague hope that the computer had tripped into safe mode and resetting it would somehow help. After a while I plugged it back in and went for another drive.
This time the turbo seemed to be running normally. The boost gauge was a different story – it was all over the place. It was cutting in late/jumping up and down or sometimes refusing to read at all.
At least the turbo itself didn’t seem to be doing any of that, boost was constant and seemed normal.
Don’t mind admitting it scared the [insertwordofyourchoice] out of me. That was probably the first time I’ve ever ragged a car before it’s fully warm and will DEFINITELY be the last. I’m not sure that had anything to do with it, but the coincidence is enough for me.
Anyway, does anyone know what might have done this? Why is my boost gauge insane?
What caused the Turbo to completely drop out – was it the ECU? Did pulling that fuse really help or did it just need some time to itself?
Scared now...
I’d only been running few a few minutes (so not fully warm) when I got sat in a traffic jam next to an Impeza WRX.
He kept hanging back and blasting past, which I tried to ignore (not helped by my mate in the passenger seat egging me on). The realisation that the Impreza passenger was pointing and laughing didn’t help.
Eventually we pulled onto a sliproad down to a dual carriageway, clear road ahead and he booted it. At that point my brain announced ‘you have to get up to motorway speed anyway’ and went to hide in the boot.
From a significant disadvantage off the ‘start’ the MR2 didn’t loose another foot all the way down the sliproad, and was starting to gain quite quickly as the speed built.
At that point I decided enough was enough and I didn’t want to do anything illegal – so I left him to have his own accident (weaving through traffic at massive speed till I lost sight of him, no doubt trying to massage a bruised ego - PRAT).
I pulled off at the next exit and looped around, taking a few miles to find my way back to the main road and letting the turbo spin down.
Re-joined the sliproad and headed home. That’s when the problem occurred.
No turbo. Nothing. There wasn’t even an induction hiss all the way up to 5,000rpm. The boost gauge didn’t even twitch.
I trundled it home, occasionally stabbing the loud pedal to see if I was dreaming. I once managed to get a boost reading in 3rd at 4,500 rpm for a second or two.
It was very dark by then, so me and a torch didn’t really stand much of a chance but I looked anyway. All hoses, electrical connectors and pipework seemed to be in place but I could have easily missed something.
I pulled the 'ECU-B' fuse in the vague hope that the computer had tripped into safe mode and resetting it would somehow help. After a while I plugged it back in and went for another drive.
This time the turbo seemed to be running normally. The boost gauge was a different story – it was all over the place. It was cutting in late/jumping up and down or sometimes refusing to read at all.
At least the turbo itself didn’t seem to be doing any of that, boost was constant and seemed normal.
Don’t mind admitting it scared the [insertwordofyourchoice] out of me. That was probably the first time I’ve ever ragged a car before it’s fully warm and will DEFINITELY be the last. I’m not sure that had anything to do with it, but the coincidence is enough for me.
Anyway, does anyone know what might have done this? Why is my boost gauge insane?
What caused the Turbo to completely drop out – was it the ECU? Did pulling that fuse really help or did it just need some time to itself?
Scared now...
Not sure what tubby control mechanism yours uses but it sound more like a split vacuum hose or knackered pill-valve or solenoid. Hopefully.
If you're not getting the sound of escaping air then it's not likely to be a split intercooler pipe.
Hopefully nothing too expensive but, if like the rx, it'll be a pig to find if you're not an expert!
If you're not getting the sound of escaping air then it's not likely to be a split intercooler pipe.
Hopefully nothing too expensive but, if like the rx, it'll be a pig to find if you're not an expert!
Ah a friend (Dakkon on here) had an MR2 Turbo that suddenly would not boost etc. He'd blown a hole in one of the original pipes (imagine a piece of rubber that gets hot/cold/hot/cold eventually they brake). You'll need to have a good look at them all as it took a while to spot. But a set of induction pipes and all was working again.
I hope thats all it is and it fits some of your description.
[edit]err...his never made any boost though.....sorry skimmed your post and missed you getting some erratic boost....oops
>> Edited by Munter on Friday 9th September 11:00
I hope thats all it is and it fits some of your description.
[edit]err...his never made any boost though.....sorry skimmed your post and missed you getting some erratic boost....oops
>> Edited by Munter on Friday 9th September 11:00
If the intake pipes are OK then I think theres some kind of limp home mode possibly triggered by overboost that cuts all boost untill you stop the engine and start it again. I'd do a few searches on www.imoc.co.uk, that should turn something up. Have you got a fuel cut defender installed or something? how's the wiring to it?
Cheers guys, that pretty much matches what I was thinking (well, hoping).
I think limp-home mode seems the most likely culprit, for the briefly 'dead' turbo. That was possibly caused by a momentary boost-spike from a loose/split hose.
I still don't know what's up with the boost gauge - could it have been damaged by an overboost?
I'll have a go at it this weekend and put this thread up on MR2OC now.
As far as I know the only mods are a decat, induction and Blitz chip, but there is an unaccounted-for Greddy sticker and I seem to discover more little changes daily.
Think I need to get it to a PH meet and see what everyone can tell me...
Feeling slightly reassured anyway so thanks for that!
I think limp-home mode seems the most likely culprit, for the briefly 'dead' turbo. That was possibly caused by a momentary boost-spike from a loose/split hose.
I still don't know what's up with the boost gauge - could it have been damaged by an overboost?
I'll have a go at it this weekend and put this thread up on MR2OC now.
As far as I know the only mods are a decat, induction and Blitz chip, but there is an unaccounted-for Greddy sticker and I seem to discover more little changes daily.
Think I need to get it to a PH meet and see what everyone can tell me...
Feeling slightly reassured anyway so thanks for that!
I have no idea - I didn't fix it... I got in it this evening and it behaved like nothing had happened.
I'm assuming it was 'safe mode' and the car is now satisfied that it taught me a lesson.
I'm going to spend tomorrow checking all the hoses/connectors to be sure, but I'm virtually certain it was Mr T's way of telling me not to be such a cretin!
It's running a standard Denso recirc dv. Don't think there's a boost controller unless fitted as standard.
The mods programme is being planned now, but I need to put some cash away first. Spent a small fortune this month - new girlfriend to contend with amongst all else!
>> Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 10th September 01:26
I'm assuming it was 'safe mode' and the car is now satisfied that it taught me a lesson.
I'm going to spend tomorrow checking all the hoses/connectors to be sure, but I'm virtually certain it was Mr T's way of telling me not to be such a cretin!
andy mac said:
Sounds like a safety mode thi9ng. If I were you, I'd get a decent boost controller, and recirc valve/dv to stop any boost spikes.
It's running a standard Denso recirc dv. Don't think there's a boost controller unless fitted as standard.
The mods programme is being planned now, but I need to put some cash away first. Spent a small fortune this month - new girlfriend to contend with amongst all else!
>> Edited by _Al_ on Saturday 10th September 01:26
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