I've got a waste gate and I wanna use it!

[Bibs]

I'm just saying that people are helping you, and you're saying directly that you're ignoring them. Would have been an idea to read the rest of the posts before replying or edited your post. No-one likes to be left hanging...

 

I am indeed a lovely bloke, I have a certificate.

[Stimpy]

I read every post.  All posts have something interesting about them (even off topic 'fun' ones, but not sarcastic ones)

[Sparky]

Yeah, right.

[dodge1979]

ppffttt..as if theres EVER any sarcasm on here...

[jimblob]

I think the original question on how to fit a waste gate has been answered at this stage, these threads seen to spiral off in weird directions. Stimps open some other threads on your other problems so they can be answered clearly.

[Sparky]

Wise words indeed.  Ya don't get that kind of common sense from S4 owners.

[Stimpy]

Heyyyyy.... are you being sarc........

 

 

Oh yeah - I Geddit  

[Qavion]

I also need to have a go with my new cable I've got to run the ECU software (will that give clues to a lit CEL?)

I'll leave that one to the experts, but the reverse is true... Every time the CEL is lit, other than during startup, there have been some faults registered in Freescan. Don't panic if you see a few. Sometimes all that is needed is a reset of an electrical plug or refitting a loose vacuum pipe.

Personally, I think you're doing fine. There is a steep learning curve and the terminology can be a bit strange. I work on complex flying machines, but not a lot of the knowledge is transferable to Loti. You're being bombarded with advice in various threads. Some of it is a little vague or speculative, and not necessarily applicable (including my own), but I think we are heading in the right direction overall and not just you are picking up some good diagnostic tips in these threads.

Keep that feedback coming

P.S. Please don't sue us when you wrap yourself around a lamp post when that +1.0 boost suddenly cuts in (although, I hear that lightswitch effect was slightly subdued with the S4s ECM chip programming.

[dodge1979]

It probably would also help if threads didn't digress too much into other vehicles and flamboyant analogies...just a thought that would save 4 1/2 pages of txt and de-rail and confuse (and possibly obscure) the relevant answers..

[Stimpy]

I'll leave that one to the experts, but the reverse is true... Every time the CEL is lit, other than during startup, there have been some faults registered in Freescan. Don't panic if you see a few. Sometimes all that is needed is a reset of an electrical plug or refitting a loose vacuum pipe.

Personally, I think you're doing fine. There is a steep learning curve and the terminology can be a bit strange. I work on complex flying machines, but not a lot of the knowledge is transferable to Loti. You're being bombarded with advice in various threads. Some of it is a little vague or speculative, and not necessarily applicable (including my own), but I think we are heading in the right direction overall and not just you are picking up some good diagnostic tips in these threads.

Keep that feedback coming

P.S. Please don't sue us when you wrap yourself around a lamp post when that +1.0 boost suddenly cuts in (although, I hear that lightswitch effect was slightly subdued with the S4s ECM chip programming.

 

For me, acronyms and terms etc i.e. what things are called will never fully work with me - For a qtr of a century I've been an Oracle consultant and I still struggle with some of those acronyms. "After the SQL thingy make one of those 'include the nulls' thing out of two tables using outer join stuff".  I've been told I'm one of the best arounds <blush> but I do have problems with acronyms and terms (and remembering numbers and peoples names).

 

Yes I have learned a lot from this forum - I think its rather good.  When I get a moment I will make my Mac pretend to be a PC (yuk, I can hear it taunting me "I'll get a virus, I'll get a virus") and plug it into the car and no doubt look at lots of numbers and go "duuuuuh" (or maybe it'll make sense).

 

I have to say though - this recent mention about the yellow light being on in IGN mode has p*ssed me right off - trying not to repeat but one of the conditions of sale was to get rid of the check engine light and get rid of the ABS light.  I didn't realise they'd take it literally.  And stupid me for noticing the light was off when driving but forgetting to check it pre-startup.

 

Not sure if this is having an effect on the car - i.e. it's not in 'nursing mode' because it goes like a rocket.

 

I'm going to turn the rod one more turn to see if there is any difference in 'bar' (why on  earth didn't they use PSI?).

 

So - got the lead, got the software now I need to get a moment to put it all together.

 

I remember the system from my Caterham - you could rev it from the keyboard ! 

 

One thing I will say - it's WAY more fun now that I'm getting some boost but not getting the full bar is going to niggle me some time soon.

 

Current plan of action (full 'project'):

 

- get the s/w working on the MAC and play with it 

- take it to the car hifi place for a professional decommissioning of any immobiliser remnants.

- drive it around and see if the start issue goes away.

 

One thing I should have done when it caught me out - pre-AA - I should have taken the connection to the battery off and on again.

It probably would also help if threads didn't digress too much into other vehicles and flamboyant analogies...just a thought that would save 4 1/2 pages of txt and de-rail and confuse (and possibly obscure) the relevant answers..

I tend to agree (although I do like friendly banter - a bit) however hopefully my post above is more on topic

[Bibs]

Not sure if this is having an effect on the car - i.e. it's not in 'nursing mode' because it goes like a rocket

 

But you're not getting more than half a bar of boost. That's what the car does in 'limp home' mode to protect itself. 

[Stimpy]

re - using ecu data to perhaps give information - I literally just came across this....

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/04/product_round_up_top_ten_car_gadgets/?page=2

 

go to the second gadget down

[fflyingdog]

Uh oh you have done it now.........................

[Stimpy]

But you're not getting more than half a bar of boost. That's what the car does in 'limp home' mode to protect itself. 

I'm under the impression it does a load of other things - so I can take it near the redline on revs and I've gone down the M40 at <ahem> mph.  I'm sure that limp mode is more aggressive at preventing you from doing certain things.

Uh oh you have done it now.........................

 

Who's fuse tip has been lit?  :-)

[Bibs]

No, it just restricts boost.

[Qavion]

 

Steve, if you're consistently getting roughly half boost, there seems to be nothing wrong with the mechanical side of the turbo. You really need to concentrate on the ECM (computer) control. If you put too much pre-load on the wastegate by reducing turns, then you may be overstressing the capsule diaphragm.

Did you try feeling behind the Check Engine Light for disconnection? It only takes a few seconds. Setting up Freescan or Espritmon may take days, depending on your computer interfaces and computer-savvy.

After one of your spririted drives (not in heavy traffic), have you stopped and immediately rushed around to the engine and felt the temperature of chargecooler? If it's warm, your chargecooler pump could have a few worn blades and you won't get proper water circulation and therefore lower cooling/ boost. If you burn your hands, it's totally knackered. Use some gloves to remove the engine cover (That WILL be hot).

Edited July 22, 2014 by Qavion

[Qavion]

go to the second gadget down

It says "OBD-2".

Your car should be "ALDL", therefore incompatible with that gadget.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALDL

[jimblob]

Doesn't matter if the check engine light is on or not with the boost solenoid disconnected you should still be able to get your .65 of boost. Give your car back to taff and just get the dam thing fixed then open up a thread called "random chat" and go wild.

[dodge1979]

Or stop experimenting and follow whats being offered as the solutions without digressing off on a tangent! Itd be sorted by now

[Stimpy]

Well the recent stuff has been on topic.

 

I'm totally pissed off that I didn't check the CEL came on pre-startup

 

Re: charge cooler - I'e had an electric one fitted - I have 'palmed' the CC and it is hot to the touch but not so hot that you have to zip your hand off it.  I did this a few minutes after checking other things - I need to do it in the method Qavion has mentioned.

 

Yes, I believe it should be given to SGT (Taff) to sort it 'properly'.

I also need to see if I can feel the CEL from behind, as it were.

[Qavion]

Re: charge cooler - I'e had an electric one fitted - I have 'palmed' the CC and it is hot to the touch but not so hot that you have to zip your hand off it.

Thanks for the update, Steve. I didn't realise you had had an electric one fitted. If it was done by the experts, then you should be ok, especially if they did the touch test after a run. I was working along the line that your chargecooled air was hot and the ECM may not been allowing the extra boost.

Now we have to focus on your CEL and engine diagnostics.

I was also considering buying an alloy wastegate actuator the same as your new one, but from what you have said regarding pipe location problems, I might just stick with the original type

Edited July 24, 2014 by Qavion

[Sparky]

Simple resolution for the actuator - just replace the rubber pipe with something about 3 inches longer.

[Qavion]

I was thinking the pipe may be sticking out at a strange angle and touching something it shouldn't... or having a sharp bend in it?

 

There were also a few other personal reasons:

 

I tried to order one last year, but was given the run-around by a local distributor (he hasn't answered my last two emails).

 

Genuine Lotus pipes are pretty pricey.

 

I already have a spare standard actuator.

 

There were also rumours that the alloy one doesn't have the same characteristics as the original. Something about extension vs pressure?

[Sparky]

Not a specialist bit of pipe - available all over the place, I have metres of the stuff.  The Forge capsule actually helps to route the pipe even more safely than the original, as the spigot points away from the turbo.  Can't really comment about your last point, except they're being run most satisfactorily by me and others!

[Stimpy]

Thanks for the update, Steve. I didn't realise you had had an electric one fitted. If it was done by the experts, then you should be ok, especially if they did the touch test after a run. I was working along the line that your chargecooled air was hot and the ECM may not been allowing the extra boost.

Now we have to focus on your CEL and engine diagnostics.

I was also considering buying an alloy wastegate actuator the same as your new one, but from what you have said regarding pipe location problems, I might just stick with the original type

The alloy one looks shiny and nice - unfortunately its somewhat hidden!

 

I've allowed my connection to hover so that the pipe fits nicely  - I'll probably get a longer pipe at some point.  Just make sure that the angle of a new pipe doesn't 'kink'.

 

You might have to (easily) dremmel off a bit of the thread as its somewhat longer than the original.

 

Given the choice I'd still buy the one I've got if it's cheaper and does exactly the same thing as the original.