Kappa Performance Forum
Kappa Specific => Problems and Service => Topic started by: Sly Bob on October 09, 2017, 01:16:35 PM
-
Car has run great since new and I knew this day was coming.
Took a 5 hour run back from visiting our new great-grandson. Driving on the hwy I stomped on it to pass and it got up and went but it didn't feel right. It was surging and hesitating but when I backed off all was well. I didn't have the DIC set to display boost so I figured it was anomaly.
A while later I got on it again and same result. Under heavy boost it would hesitate and backfire as I shed speed, more than what it usually does with the RCD exhaust with resonators on the GXP.
NEXT TIME I had to hit it to get around someone I did the same thing but this time I switched the DIC to show boost. I was probably pushing it more than I would have but I needed to get a handle on what the hell was going on. The boost built to 24 PSI with some hesitation and although I was still on the throttle and still accelerating, the display suddenly went from 24 to ZERO PSI.
Under 0 boost the thing runs fine and even with moderate boost of maybe 8 or 9 PSI there are no issues. Seems I only have a problem with maybe double digit boost. No codes are set, at least ones that will turn on the CEL but will scan for codes just the same.
I have T bolt clamps everywhere and the intercooler looks good from the front, wonder if I have a blowout on the back. Have to pressure test tomorrow as I have to leave for work in a few minutes.
Any other thoughts?
-
Could be a flaky sensor or wiring. Do you have the GMPP tune and/or TMAP sensors? If so, are they crimped or soldered?
-
When was the last time you checked your spark plugs?
-
Never had the plugs out but only 38,000 miles. Tune is a Westers tune so no crimped wires or modified connectors.
-
Shitty gas?
-
Shitty gas?
The fact that the boost goes to 24 and while still in boost drops on the DIC to zero really has me scratching my head and I don't know that gas would cause that. Had bad gas before once and threw misfire codes.
The gas was top tier.
-
Anyone local to you have a copy of HP tuners? You can scan for codes and log it while driving.
If it's dropping to zero boost, I think you have an air leak or your HPFP is failing and the car is being put into a temp limp mode.
-
SlyBob-
Do you need HPT back?
-
SlyBob-
Do you need HPT back?
Thankyou GJ. Lets see what happens when I check for leaks and see where that gets me. I DO appreciate the offer though.
-
It appears as though I may in fact have a leak. I have in my possession, a test fitting that Kenny made a number of years ago. Picked it up at one of the glorious mod meets at DeepBlueGXPs place. Oh how I miss those days...
http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,5000.msg67971.html#msg67971
ANYWAY, after checking for codes and finding none, I thought I'd go looking for the fitting that Kenny made up. It didn't work as well as I had hoped. The tire valve didn't allow me to hook my compressor to it without holding it there while I looked for the leak. I heard a leak while I held the air chuck on the air valve but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Went to the hardware store and bought a few pieces from the plumbing section, glued them together, drilled a hole and looked for my 1/4" NPT tap.
Can't find the tap but will pick one up later today.
-
...drilled a hole and looked for my 1/4" NPT tap.
Can't find the tap but will pick one up later today.
I looked in GJ tool box and couldn't find one, what a shitty tool box he doesn't even have a set of taps.
http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,11573.msg191768/topicseen.html#new
You can use mine Bob, it's in the bottom drawn on the left there's a metric set and a standard set just under the metric they both have the tap you need.
Now about those mod meets, do you have the room to host one?
-
I looked in GJ tool box and couldn't find one, what a shitty tool box he doesn't even have a set of taps.
http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,11573.msg191768/topicseen.html#new
You can use mine Bob, it's in the bottom drawn on the left there's a metric set and a standard set just under the metric they both have the tap you need.
Now about those mod meets, do you have the room to host one?
Yeah, any self respecting guy should have taps and I'm just as guilty. I have a standard and a metric set of Snapon taps and dies but mostly straight thread taps. I can find my 1/8" and my 3/8" NPT taps but the 1/4" went missing somehow but having said that, I'll probably come across it next week. Have one now anyway and will continue tomorrow.
Space for a mod meet? Oh I wish... Can't even park on the road around here and only room for two cars in the driveway.
-
I looked in GJ tool box and couldn't find one, what a shitty tool box he doesn't even have a set of taps.
http://www.kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php/topic,11573.msg191768/topicseen.html#new
You can use mine Bob, it's in the bottom drawn on the left there's a metric set and a standard set just under the metric they both have the tap you need.
Now about those mod meets, do you have the room to host one?
I have space, we may have to talk next year. I just can't house anybody but tenting would be possible.
-
I have space, we may have to talk next year. I just can't house anybody but tenting would be possible.
Hmm, how big of a tent can you get in a Solstice. If it does happen, I for one will be there Bob. That is as long as I have the car fixed by then.
-
Okay, got home tonight and finished putting the test rig together. 1/4" foster plug in with a ball valve to isolate it, pressure gauge to see what she's holding. Will fire up the compressor tomorrow and see where I am. Don't think it'll be long before the bumper comes off.
Wondering if I need to start looking for an intercooler...
Oh and don't pay any attention to the "Made in USA" sticker. This rig was made in Canada baby! :tool:
-
Tap sets are in the other box.
-
Tap sets are in the other box.
So there's another box? What else ya' got you aren't telling us about. :D
-
Okay, hooked everything up this morning, started the compressor, set the regulator to 20 PSI and listened...
Yeah it's leaking, I hope it's not the intercooler I thought. Looking for one last night at work and didn't like what I saw. DDM out of stock, Werks shows it on their site but was going to call this morning if I needed one. Right after asking here if any one had one to sell. I'm getting ahead of myself. :roll:
Felt around at the connections and found a small leak at a T-bolt clamp downstream of the intercooler where it joins to the pipe that has the Tmap sensor.
[attach=1]
Tightened it and thought I was good but wait, I hear more leaks! Feeling around and the clamp below it was leaking. If you put sideways pressure on the connection it leaked worse. Are we done yet? Nope, hear more leaks.
Cranked the pressure to 25 PSI and went to the other side of the intercooler and there was a small leak on the top clamp that when pushed to the side became a bigger leak, tightened that. Of course the bottom clamp was leaking too just for good measure so FINALLY I had all the leaks fixed.
Looked at the gauge I had installed on the piping and it was at 26 PSI.
[attach=2]
No more leaks.
Now I haven't road tested yet, I will tomorrow (hopefully) as long as the monsoons let up but I'm pretty confident that was it. I put these charge tubes on the car maybe 6 years ago and haven't touched them since. All T-bolt clamps so what could go wrong? The leaks caused by all the loose clamps combined would be the same as a pretty substantial tear in the intercooler.
I encourage everyone to take an hour of your day and test your system for leaks, you never know what you might find.
Hoping I've put this to bed, will know more when the rain lets up. Can't tell you how relieved I am that I don't need an intercooler. :yay:
-
Bob
What you ran into convinced me to ditch T-Bolt Clamps and go back to worm clamps.
I had a leak in the exact same spot, top and bottom.
all T-Bolt clamps have a flat spot in the circumference where as worm clamps provide 100% 360 degree pressure. If you aren't careful, it's very easy to over tighten a T-Bolt clamp, cause a flat spot on the aluminum pipe which in turn becomes an air leak.
The problem with most worm clamps is that they are poor quality. Good ones hold up and actually have an overlap of almost 50% of the circle
-
That could well be the problem but where to find good quality worm clamps? That and if I have a flat spot it's not going away. The DDM couplings are fairly rigid. Might go back to the OEM couplers or maybe to a good silicone coupler.
-
It's also possible after six years the rubber it's self has started to degrade. Causing some small leaks as the rubber dries out would not be unusual.
-
The rubber connectors there were the (silicone?) connectors that DDM supplied with the charge tubes. I still have the stock ones and if I have further issues I'll look at it again. It's so easy to check for leaks I'm going to make it a yearly thing.
-
Also don't forget about vibration, weather and heat/cool cycles. All of these can cause fatigue in tbolts metals over 6 years.
-
I've never understood why GM put T-clamps on the passenger side, and worm clamps everywhere else. I do know that it's always the factory worm clamps that fail though.
-
I'm going to look for new couplings for the intercooler, something with a little flex. The straight ones that DDM supplied with the charge tubes are pretty stiff and from my experience don't seem to handle the movement or vibration from the engine very well. As I see it, the engine moves, the intercooler doesn't. Something has to give as Kelu said.
-
I'm going to look for new couplings for the intercooler, something with a little flex. The straight ones that DDM supplied with the charge tubes are pretty stiff and from my experience don't seem to handle the movement or vibration from the engine very well. As I see it, the engine moves, the intercooler doesn't. Something has to give as Kelu said.
In not sure if worry too much. You have zero problems for 6 years. If you test again before packing the car away for winter and have problems, then I'd be worried.
-
Something has to give as Kelu said.
I was expecting GJ, not your TBots :worms:
I remember when I did my first tune with Westers, I had a custom throttle body pipe and it was going out a lot, went to my local tuner and he explained that tbolts won't work either. All his hyper tuned cars with boost 40-55psi are using worm claps (high quality) it was the shape and especially lips or a way to keep worm clamp in place and not slip.
-
I have space, we may have to talk next year. I just can't house anybody but tenting would be possible.
Wartie! Wartie! Wartie!
I have space, but Wartie has the better garage set up. I have housing if I get my act together, but I'm 40 mins from Wartie.
-
Okay, dare I say it...
Looks like GJ was on his game this time. In 2011 Denise and I drove out east and did a tour of the east coast including the Cabot Trail.
I had an issue coming out of Peggy's Cove where the car backfired badly, belched a big cloud of black smoke and turned on the check engine light, it was flashing. Had many misfires in a short period of time. After immediately going to the closest dealer, the car was scanned and they claimed the issue must have been bad gas. The car has NEVER done that since that day.
The other day I assumed that the issue I had were bad clamps. Oh they were loose, very loose and I know that boost leaks are the bane of any turbo charged engine. I was convinced that the leaks I had fixed were the root of my problems and the reason the car ran like crap last weekend.
Coming home last weekend I make it home with nearly an empty tank of gas, maybe 1/8 of a tank.
Drove to the gas station this morning and floored it on the way, it ran like crap again. It coughed and sputtered, complained all the way to the gas station while under full boost. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
I filled up, as I usually do with Shell hi-test, ran the car for a few miles and set her free! Hammered the pedal and under full boost the car took off, my baby was back!!! Running like a champ.
If you are even driving off the 81 between the thousand island US/Canada border crossing and Syracuse NY and have the urge to go to a Mobil gas station off the HWY. DON'T DO IT. The place has a parking lot that is partly gravel, has a restaurant in the back and looks a little shady. I sure as hell won't make that mistake again.
Oh and for the record, I DO want to get some good gear clamps just the same.
But Steven was right...
-
But Steven was right...
Who's that, Bob? :D
Glad to hear that your problems are gone :thumbs: always nice to read about a happy ending :lol:
-
The 4C, Buell and FocusRS only get Shell 93 Octane.
The Escapes get whatever as they are flex fuel comparable and performance doesn't matter.
Good gas does matter. Your clamps would have been causing your STFTs to be all over the place, so fixing that was worth the effort.
-
all T-Bolt clamps have a flat spot in the circumference where as worm clamps provide 100% 360 degree pressure. If you aren't careful, it's very easy to over tighten a T-Bolt clamp, cause a flat spot on the aluminum pipe which in turn becomes an air leak.
Wow, this is news to me, and I have to wonder how many sets of DDM t bolt clamps have been sold over the years because it was a given when someone mentioned leaks to suggest to buy t bolt clamps. I purchases a set several years ago but never felt the need to install them because I so rarely get into boost situations. Still replacing the OEMs w/higher quality worm clamps still sounds prudent.
2012 vid, recommends Aba hose clamps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1yK32BFGs
http://www.normaamericasds.com/brand/aba
ABA was founded in Sweden in 1896. ABA products are available in many types and standards, to deliver the highest possible clamping-force and tightening and breaking torque in every situation. ABA is one of the few manufacturers in its field with extensive in-house system-testing facilities. ABA products use the highest quality steel. Using specially produced tubes, we press our iconic blue ABA Original worm-drive housings into their final form in one single step, to achieve a jointless housing of optimal strength.
-
Wow, this is news to me, and I have to wonder how many sets of DDM t bolt clamps have been sold over the years because it was a given when someone mentioned leaks to suggest to buy t bolt clamps.
Well the key point in Elff's statement is "overtighten". The T-bolt has a compression spring. You should never tighten to the point that the spring is fully compressed.
Again, note that the factory used t-bolts on the passenger side.
-
The factory clamps have springs but DDMs and many others do not.
-
GJ was right.
-
The factory clamps have springs but DDMs and many others do not.
Well dayyum, you're right. I just went out to my car to check. I didn't recall that.
-
GJ was right.
Just a lucky guess. :D
-
Just a lucky guess. :D
Do steal my glory!!!!!!
-
Thanks, good call though that's for sure. Thought I'd nailed it with the leaks. Still not running 100%, more like 99% but I'm sure there is still a little bit of bad gas in there yet. I have some Techron that I'll dump in next fill up, forgot I had it actually.
-
elff: FocusRS??? I junst find out about the Alfa, now you are saying FocusRS, damn ... I envy you ...
GJ: you need some glory? :D
-
and I still have the Buell.
Check the other post. I will await the hate mail.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
Check the other post. I will await the hate mail.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hate mail? You are waiting something like this in your mail??? :lol:
[attachimg=1]
And you know I'm not talking about the kid :D
-
You found one to bring over for Elff, excellent.
-
I am buying a flamethrower
-
Little David with hair isn't afraid of that thing.
-
Critterman: not sure if you know, elff is scared about that sunflower doll from background :D
elff: you realize those bags were our luggage for US, right?
SA: Actually he likes it, now I train him to use it on elffs :D would be an epic video hairy David chasing around hairless David with that doll :D
-
SA: Actually he likes it, now I train him to use it on elffs :D would be an epic video hairy David chasing around hairless David with that doll :D
This needs to happen!!!!!
-
We've really drifted this thread, good job everyone!
-
Oh I knew Kelu, and I think we should all get together when you give it to him.
SA, what was this thread about anyway?
-
SA, what was this thread about anyway?
Something about Bob having Prostate problems, I think :huh:
-
Something about Bob having Prostate problems, I think :huh:
Yeah he just needed to tighten his clamps because his hose was getting soft.
Oh and GJ gave him bad gas, don't ask.
-
I'm just enjoying the show, after all the car's running great! :lol:
-
I'm just enjoying the show, after all the car's running great! :lol:
Because GJ was right!
-
Alas, yes, you were right.... :(
:rofl:
-
This needs to happen!!!!!
I let you to do the arrangements :D
We've really drifted this thread, good job everyone!
After so many years, Kappa Drift Team is still a pro team ... way to go gentlemen
Oh I knew Kelu, and I think we should all get together when you give it to him.
I would be more than happy :D who doesn't love to see a little devil being scared away by a toddler? :D