Supercharger Problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Terran · 07-31-2005, 01:56 PM

Hi Folks.

I need some help. I bought a 4AGZE motor, and I've been having boost problems ever since.

In a nutshell, the car is simply not boosting. The supercharger clutch is engaging, but NO BOOST. Can anyone inform me of any possible reasons WHY this is happening? I don't know where to look.

Thanks.

ToyotaTechGeek · 07-31-2005, 04:25 PM

no boost whatsoever? do you have a gauge? is the little green light on the dash indicating boost? how are your couplers? how is the SC belt? you can't tell by 'feel' like other belts because the pulleys are so close together.

Terran · 08-02-2005, 11:46 AM

Nope, no boost AT ALL.

I have a gauge, but even that doesn't register anything. Just a quick spike whenever you rev the engine. It jumps from 0 to 1 - if so much at all - but NOTHING.

I don't have any green light on my dash. My engine was transplanted into a Tercel. I came on this forum because I know the 4AGZE orginitated from the MR2.

The supercharger belt is okay, I guess. The tension is nothing unusual.

Does anyone think this could be a wiring issue?

I mean, if the SC clutch is engaging, then doesn't this mean that the charger is working, and possibly the problem is somewhere else??

feral4.mr2 · 08-06-2005, 07:24 AM

where do you have the boost guage tee'd into? are you useing the ABV and do you still have it hooked up like factory?

post pics man, my nanna used to have a Tercel, would be awesome with a gze in it.

Terran · 08-07-2005, 08:04 AM

The guage is connected from the outlet pipe from the TMIC.

ToyotaTechGeek · 08-07-2005, 09:06 AM

i have a Tercel. what year is yours? so, you made your car a top mount intercooler? is this an AE swapped 4AGZ-E? i have my boost gauge reading from the intake manifold.
if you are getting a spike on our gauge at start-up, but nothing under boost, then i wonder if your SC clutch is somehow not engaging, but does when it starts. the gauge moves in what direction? towards vacuum? or boost?

Ratfink · 08-07-2005, 12:55 PM

Probably a dumb question but your sure your not leaking the boost right?
I would imagine that if the supercharger was engaging but not giving boost it would be killing a grip load of power. DOes the car run pretty normal or is it a complete dog?

Terran · 08-08-2005, 03:47 PM

Interesting questions... I'm not too technically inclined, so I will try to answer your questions as best as possible.

My Tercel is a 1998 model.

The TMIC is from the 1st Gen 4AGZE.

One mechanic believes the problem is the clutch. Presently, the charger is scrapped down in an attempt to determine what is the problem. If we run the wires to the battery, we hear the click. Doesn't this mean that it is engaged? Should I be hearing that click in the course of driving? Then again, how could I?? My exhaust is so loug already.

My boost gauge moves in the direction of boost. It doesn't have vacuum reading.

I can say with certainty that there are no leaks. As far as we have checked out, there hasn't been any such indication.

The car runs fairly well without boost. In the course of driving, from about 4000 RPM, I do hear a hiss, but it is so delicate. The acceleration at that point is stronger, but nothing to make you need to hold on tight for support. It's not what I know I'm supposed to hear and feel. But again, nothing registers on the gauge to indicate that the engine is under boost.

ToyotaTechGeek · 08-08-2005, 07:14 PM

i'll be willing to bet that your start-up spike is due to the clutch suddenly engaging. sounds like it possibly is an SC clutch. sort of like a bad A/C clutch.

Ratfink · 08-09-2005, 01:16 AM

Sounds like a good guess to me because if it were to engage but not supply boost there would be a big kill in power. Superchargers not only give power but they also rob it. If it were to rob the power without returning boost I would presume you would have problems getting it to move worth a dran anyways.

Terran · 08-09-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyotaTechGeek

i'll be willing to bet that your start-up spike is due to the clutch suddenly engaging. sounds like it possibly is an SC clutch. sort of like a bad A/C clutch.

Well, you're now the 3rd person to suggest it can be the clutch.

With the limited information I have provided here, would there be any way to determine or confirm if it's really the clutch? And if it is the clutch, is it replaceable, or do I need a whole new supercharger?

It's not quite easy to come by a 4AGZE supercharger where I am... do you guys know of any other compatible replacements I can search for?

ToyotaTechGeek · 08-09-2005, 08:45 PM

maybe do a search on "speedchaser" on MR2OC.com
it is a replacement clutch assembly and actually raises the boost produced by the SC. it's a smaller stator assembly. the OEM clutch should also be used. the speedchaser clutch is difficult to acquire as they are limited production. man, maybe i should get you to send my money, i'll fly out to trinidad, and stay for awhile...you know to help along with the install! haha! i have always wanted to visit the carribean as my late uncle was jamaican and my best friend is from barbados and i have a dyin gwish to tour cuba (especially in the oriente provinces!).
as for the diagnosis, i will check my BGB for info (measurements) and such will post later!

Terran · 08-10-2005, 12:01 PM

Thanks... I'll look around for it!

You said your best friend is from Barbados... does he/she still live there? I know that they're supposed to have a small population of 4AGZE owners. Is your friend an enthusiast like us?

ToyotaTechGeek · 08-10-2005, 01:34 PM

oh yes, a die-hard Toyota man like myself! no, he lives here in VA, but has promised to take me along when he goes home for a visit next time!

Terran · 08-16-2005, 03:13 PM

Well, here's another update...

I took the charger back to the previous mechanic who said that the problem is really with the ABV. He had handled the car for a while during the swap, but he never told me about the boost problem until I had the car back myself. That's a long story...

Anyway, he insists that the problem is that the inlet of the ABV is not opening. He claims that he manually stuck it open and he felt the real power of the engine, but this caused problems on idle.

Yesterday, we connected the charger to an old Land Rover, and ran a belt with it... and the impellers turned fine... the charger IS working. It IS creating boost. So why am I not getting any??

Will the fact that the charger is spinning indicate the problem is definitely somewhere else?