Installing a Boost controller

Thejdizzler · Oct 4th, 2019, 12:14

Hi all, sorry if this is a stupid question, I have just purchased an MBC and boost gauge. Planning on fitting it this weekend, I have read the very good write up on how to fit these. Question is - the boost controller has a connection for the hose but it also has an electrical connector. I was under the impression I only need to for the hose but do I also need to connect it up electronically for it to work?

Clan · Oct 4th, 2019, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thejdizzler

Hi all, sorry if this is a stupid question, I have just purchased an MBC and boost gauge. Planning on fitting it this weekend, I have read the very good write up on how to fit these. Question is - the boost controller has a connection for the hose but it also has an electrical connector. I was under the impression I only need to for the hose but do I also need to connect it up electronically for it to work?

That is the light to illuminate the gauge :-)

MiniNinjaRob · Oct 4th, 2019, 13:01

You say it has a connection for the boost controller - do you mean boost gauge?
If its just the gauge then yes it will probably be just for illumination (which you will want!) but if its an all in one boost controller it might be powering more stuff - but they would probably have more connections than that anyway.

Thejdizzler · Oct 4th, 2019, 17:31

Ok I’ve got another silly question. I have had a look under the bonnet. Where I am thinking I need to pass the hose through the firewall- it seems very difficult to access. There is another hose already going through above what I believe are access points but the jubilee clip on it is twisted so I can’t seem to get a screwdriver on it. I think I have an angled screwdriver which may work. Am I correct in my thinking or am I barking up the wrong tree?

TonyS9 · Oct 5th, 2019, 15:41

What is the car? 'Turbo' models normally have a boost guage, you can just T into that pipe.

Thejdizzler · Oct 5th, 2019, 16:44

I’ve managed to find the access for the boost gauge -I’ve been out for a drive and the gauge registers 20 on the vacuum side when idling, it goes down under acceleration to zero but no positive boost pressure. The car is a 940 LPT. Is the boost gauge not working, could the turbo just be turned down not to generate boost or could it be an issue with the turbo. Should I try adjust the existing waste gate or fit the MBC and turn it down to begin with to see if it generates some boost and just go from there?

TonyS9 · Oct 5th, 2019, 16:51

What do you mean you 'found access'? what have you connected it to?

You should be getting 4.5psi on the gauge from about 2500rpm.

If the car feels very slow you might not be getting boost, or you might have tapped into a accessory vacumm line with a 1 way valve in it.

Thejdizzler · Oct 5th, 2019, 17:13

I found the hose which lets you feed cables through the firewall. I think I have connected it to vacuum by mistake. Just need a male tail adapter now to connect it to the correct part of the manifold- not that anywhere seems to sell the right size adapter!

360beast · Oct 5th, 2019, 19:34

You need to attach it to a part of the inlet manifold, on the lpt there is a blanking plug which on the hpt will have a nipple for the boost gauge vacuum line to attach to. You will need to buy one (Dave will know the thread for said part I'm sure). The manual boost controller needs to be put inline between the nipple on the compressor housing of the turbo and the wastegate.

It should read 3.5psi as a low pressure turbo and 7psi as a high pressure turbo, if it reads zero check the split pin that goes through the arm of the wastegate and the actuator hasn't rotten/fallen out causing the wastegate arm to fall off, this means the turbo can't build up any pressure. I have found this had happened on my breaker and my mates 940 and people have mentioned it before so it would appear to be a common problem.

Here is a photo of what I mean to help explain it a bit better.

2019-10-05_05-51-37 by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE

TonyS9 · Oct 5th, 2019, 20:36

You just want to connect the gauge to the inlet manifold. As a temporary measure you can swap out the dump valve line (line that goes to the turbo from the manifold) and go without dumping (it will take a little longer to depressurise before it will idle).

Oct 4th, 2019, 13:01	#3
MiniNinjaRob Master Member Last Online: Dec 2nd, 2022 12:14 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: West Yorkshire	You say it has a connection for the boost controller - do you mean boost gauge? If its just the gauge then yes it will probably be just for illumination (which you will want!) but if its an all in one boost controller it might be powering more stuff - but they would probably have more connections than that anyway. __________________ The Millennium Volcon - 1997 940CD HPT Estate Millennium Volcon NOW FOR SALE HERE

Oct 4th, 2019, 17:31	#4
Thejdizzler Junior Member Last Online: Sep 5th, 2023 21:04 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Leeds	Ok I’ve got another silly question. I have had a look under the bonnet. Where I am thinking I need to pass the hose through the firewall- it seems very difficult to access. There is another hose already going through above what I believe are access points but the jubilee clip on it is twisted so I can’t seem to get a screwdriver on it. I think I have an angled screwdriver which may work. Am I correct in my thinking or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Oct 5th, 2019, 15:41	#5
TonyS9 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 21:44 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Holywood	What is the car? 'Turbo' models normally have a boost guage, you can just T into that pipe.

Oct 5th, 2019, 16:44	#6
Thejdizzler Junior Member Last Online: Sep 5th, 2023 21:04 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Leeds	I’ve managed to find the access for the boost gauge -I’ve been out for a drive and the gauge registers 20 on the vacuum side when idling, it goes down under acceleration to zero but no positive boost pressure. The car is a 940 LPT. Is the boost gauge not working, could the turbo just be turned down not to generate boost or could it be an issue with the turbo. Should I try adjust the existing waste gate or fit the MBC and turn it down to begin with to see if it generates some boost and just go from there?

Oct 5th, 2019, 16:51	#7
TonyS9 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 21:44 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Holywood	What do you mean you 'found access'? what have you connected it to? You should be getting 4.5psi on the gauge from about 2500rpm. If the car feels very slow you might not be getting boost, or you might have tapped into a accessory vacumm line with a 1 way valve in it.

Oct 5th, 2019, 17:13	#8
Thejdizzler Junior Member Last Online: Sep 5th, 2023 21:04 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Leeds	I found the hose which lets you feed cables through the firewall. I think I have connected it to vacuum by mistake. Just need a male tail adapter now to connect it to the correct part of the manifold- not that anywhere seems to sell the right size adapter!

Oct 5th, 2019, 19:34	#9
360beast Go redblock or go home Last Online: Today 07:53 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: UK	You need to attach it to a part of the inlet manifold, on the lpt there is a blanking plug which on the hpt will have a nipple for the boost gauge vacuum line to attach to. You will need to buy one (Dave will know the thread for said part I'm sure). The manual boost controller needs to be put inline between the nipple on the compressor housing of the turbo and the wastegate. It should read 3.5psi as a low pressure turbo and 7psi as a high pressure turbo, if it reads zero check the split pin that goes through the arm of the wastegate and the actuator hasn't rotten/fallen out causing the wastegate arm to fall off, this means the turbo can't build up any pressure. I have found this had happened on my breaker and my mates 940 and people have mentioned it before so it would appear to be a common problem. Here is a photo of what I mean to help explain it a bit better. 2019-10-05_05-51-37 by Luke Ryland - Flickr2BBcode LITE

Oct 5th, 2019, 20:36	#10
TonyS9 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 9th, 2024 21:44 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Holywood	You just want to connect the gauge to the inlet manifold. As a temporary measure you can swap out the dump valve line (line that goes to the turbo from the manifold) and go without dumping (it will take a little longer to depressurise before it will idle).

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