Need help with my boost gauge!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

borboyous · 11-12-2004, 06:26 AM

Hi guys!
I have a tricky one for you! I have fitted an aftermarket boost gauge in to the dash of my car. All the fittings have been checked and double checked to make sure they are secure and that there are no leaks. When the engine is stopped the gauge reads 0 psi, when the engine is started the reading goes down to -19 psi (or 19 in vacuum on the scale - whichever way you want to see it?) and if you rev the engine it goes up as far as -3 psi (3 in the vacuum side of the gauge). I fitted the T piece that came with the gauge onto the tube that comes up from the underneath of the inlet manifold and goes to the stock turbo pressure sensor (is this the correct point to fit?). If you require pictures to help I could take them. Any help to resolve this for me will be greatly appreciated cos Im like

well confused!!

Thanks

Craig

mkIImr2lvr · 11-12-2004, 07:35 AM

So, is your only question whether to not you hooked it up right? Or are you questioning the reading. At idle, the gauge will read down near 19 vacuum. You will see boost when you are out driving the car, not sitting still reving the engine. Pictures would be nice too.

JekylandHyde · 11-12-2004, 07:58 AM

Sounds like it is all correct to me.

At vaccum you should pull -19 to - 21 on a heatlhy 3SGTE.
You can not make boost just by revving the engine.
The engine needs to be under load.

borboyous · 11-12-2004, 08:49 AM

Silly me!! Took it for a drive and all is working fine except the gauge is sticking at -1. Should be an easy fix. The car peaks at 9psi and holds about 8psi - does this sound about right?

Here's a pic of my finished install - took me 8 days to make it fit, I had to strip the meter from the casing, it was oversized so I had to chop it here and there, then edit the circuit on the rear of the dash so I could open up a hole in it. Then I had to meter out the circuit to connect the power for the lighting etc which I soldered directly to the tracks. Let me know what you think!

http://imagehost.darkernet.co.uk/i/Picture(21).jpg

mkIImr2lvr · 11-12-2004, 10:04 AM

It looks good, but damn is that a lot of work when you could have just put in on your A pillar. But hey, it's unique, I'll give ya that!

JekylandHyde · 11-12-2004, 11:34 AM

If everything is running properly on your car, you should be able to boost to 11 psi.

borboyous · 11-13-2004, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JekylandHyde
If everything is running properly on your car, you should be able to boost to 11 psi.

Is that with all the stock settings? I have ordered an FCD and a boost controller in the hope I might get it to run 16psi - have I wasted my cash??

JekylandHyde · 11-13-2004, 05:06 AM

From the factory, the MR2 runs 7 ~ 11 psi.
If everything is running fine, you should get 10~11 psi.

Under certain circumstance the VSV limits you to 7~9 psi (too cold outside, coolant not up to temp, and others).

I would do a tune up on your car if you haven't recently (cap/rotor/wires/plugs ...fuel and air filter).

If you want to run more than 11 psi, you will need a boost controller.
There is no need for an FCD unless you want to RAISE the fuel cut level. Otherwise you can eliminate fuel cut for free.
See the other thread in here on the GReddy BCC.

borboyous · 11-13-2004, 05:48 AM

Well I already have an FCD so I will carry on as I had planned, I read in a forum somewhere that its best to raise the fuel cut level before trying to increase boost. Bearing in mind that the car only produces about 8-9 psi at the moment I figured the FCD would be a necessity before I added the boost controller and took it to a dyno?? If I am trying to run it at 16psi I figured that the fuel cut level would be quite low at the moment and would need a definite increase. I am wet behind the ears so please feel free to educate me lol!!

JekylandHyde · 11-13-2004, 09:38 AM

Fuel cut occurs at 12 psi.
With the FCD you can raise to 17 psi.

rony · 11-13-2004, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JekylandHyde
If everything is running properly on your car, you should be able to boost to 11 psi.

I still haven't boosted over 9psi all stock ;\ but then again my intake cam (were assuming, is off a few teeth) isnt on right so im not running at 100%.

mr2trd · 11-13-2004, 02:42 PM

hey borboyous,

That set up looks nice. how hard was it to install the aftermarket boost gauge in the stock location? Could you give me directions and pix of how you did it? thanks. im thinking about doin' the same with an Autometer boost gauge that i have.