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Old 12-14-2016, 08:25 PM   #1
dream
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Default No boost over 14psi

I'm going to attempt to make this long story short, so bare with me


I've been running the following setup for a little over a year tuned at 21psi with no issues:


2015 WRX
Catted TBE
Grimmspeed EBCS
TMIC & Chargepipe


When the Cobb FF kit came out, I decided to pull the trigger and order the kit and tune. Once I got the kit, I decided to do TGV and EGR deletes while I was in there, so my mods are as follows:

2015 WRX
Catted TBE
Grimmspeed EBCS
TMIC + Chargepipe
TGV & EGR Delete
Cobb FF Kit

Started the process of e-tuning and instantly thought the car felt laggy and had no power, but I just wrote it off as the tuner taking his time through the first couple maps, until we got the 5th revision and I was told to check for boost leaks as the car wasn't making boost. Great! So I brought my car to a local shop and had them do a boost leak test and they came up with nothing. I personally watched them perform the test and the system held positive pressure, no leaks.

I then took the car back to my mechanic to test the EBCS per Grimmspeeds advice and sure enough, the BCS was bad. GS was kind enough to give me a replacement free of charge. Got the new controller installed and the car instantly felt like it had more power and response, so I did a short pull and the car will still not go past 14psi.

I'm at a loss right now. Mechanic says no leak but my car wont boost over 14 psi. I even tested the new BCS myself and it tests out good.

Anybody have ANY ideas? I'm ready to roll it in the street and set it on fire
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Old 12-14-2016, 08:34 PM   #2
wroobie15
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I've read below a certain temperature the boost is lowered, but it shouldn't happen with a pro tune. Mines pro tuned and I live in buffalo but I haven't honestly done a pull in the winter with snow tires so I can't verify.
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Old 12-14-2016, 09:29 PM   #3
krovikan
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I think I have a similar issue. I have TBE and CAI with Cobb OTS tune. I should be hitting 20~ Psi but only get around 14... Did you have a Cobb tune prior to gettiing the FF setup?

My tuner is inexperienced with Cobb and i believe that the issue is that Cobb required the 'Secondary restrictor pill' to be removed. Cobb even provides instructions. I have not had a chance to attempt it but I know they do this on Evos. This is a link to the guide: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/08...ll-removal.pdf

Hope this helps
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Old 12-15-2016, 10:10 PM   #4
Miggy-Verlander
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krovikan View Post
I think I have a similar issue. I have TBE and CAI with Cobb OTS tune. I should be hitting 20~ Psi but only get around 14... Did you have a Cobb tune prior to gettiing the FF setup?

My tuner is inexperienced with Cobb and i believe that the issue is that Cobb required the 'Secondary restrictor pill' to be removed. Cobb even provides instructions. I have not had a chance to attempt it but I know they do this on Evos. This is a link to the guide: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/08...ll-removal.pdf

Hope this helps
If you have an aftermarket EBCS then it came with new tubing that doesnt have a pill in it. Removing the pill is only for factory the factory ebcs.
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Old 12-14-2016, 09:32 PM   #5
dream
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I did have a pro-tune prior to installing the FF kit with no issues. The tuner I'm using now has tuned hundreds of Subaru's so I don't think the tune is the issue.
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Old 12-14-2016, 10:07 PM   #6
slicky
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May be because you were tuned for a bad boost controller. Now that you have a new unit in place, send the tunner a log and have him update for a correctly functioning unit. This is my educated guess.
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Old 12-14-2016, 10:09 PM   #7
dream
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slicky View Post
May be because you were tuned for a bad boost controller. Now that you have a new unit in place, send the tunner a log and have him update for a correctly functioning unit. This is my educated guess.
Yep I did that just waiting to hear back from the tuner but I'm preparing for him to say it's a mechanical issues.
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Old 12-15-2016, 02:02 AM   #8
atov
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slicky View Post
May be because you were tuned for a bad boost controller. Now that you have a new unit in place, send the tunner a log and have him update for a correctly functioning unit. This is my educated guess.
+1

I think you should send new logs, to get the new revision ...and upload it.

Btw, try re-uploading the last tune ... wild guess
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Old 12-15-2016, 11:06 AM   #9
gordon_2456
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Ive been etuned 3 times by 2 different tuners, neither of the tuners have disabled the compensation tables (these are what limit boost in winter since the air is denser). 1st tune was catless dp only (Bren), 2nd tune was catless turboback (Bren), 3rd was turboback, intake, tgvd, egrd, chargepipe, and ebcs (Torqued Performance). They seem to have modified them to not be as restrictive as original, but they still limit boost (stock it would limit to about 11-12psi, all three of my tunes would hit close to 13-14psi in 10-35 degree weather. During summer I hit about 18psi on 91 oct.
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Old 12-15-2016, 11:40 AM   #10
playslikepage71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slicky View Post
May be because you were tuned for a bad boost controller. Now that you have a new unit in place, send the tunner a log and have him update for a correctly functioning unit. This is my educated guess.
Someone get this man a Nobel prize, or at least TIME man of the year.
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Old 12-15-2016, 12:39 AM   #11
jvallepu
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Same thing is happening to me. I drop like 5 psi in winter and as soon as it gets warmer the boost comes back. I am also pro tuned.
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Old 12-15-2016, 11:44 AM   #12
DrJibletz
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gordon_2456 View Post
Ive been etuned 3 times by 2 different tuners, neither of the tuners have disabled the compensation tables (these are what limit boost in winter since the air is denser). 1st tune was catless dp only (Bren), 2nd tune was catless turboback (Bren), 3rd was turboback, intake, tgvd, egrd, chargepipe, and ebcs (Torqued Performance). They seem to have modified them to not be as restrictive as original, but they still limit boost (stock it would limit to about 11-12psi, all three of my tunes would hit close to 13-14psi in 10-35 degree weather. During summer I hit about 18psi on 91 oct.
^^ This. It's been below zero pretty consistently for the last week in the Twin Cities, my guess is it's related to temperature.
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Old 12-15-2016, 12:28 PM   #13
simpleJ
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Why not post a log comparing target boost and actual manifold pressure instead of assuming your car/the tune is broken?


I'd flash back to the initial etune map myself. The first you were sent
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Old 12-15-2016, 12:39 PM   #14
tegxsi
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^^Need logs...
leaky BPV? wastegate stuck open?

Last edited by tegxsi; 12-15-2016 at 01:08 PM.
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Old 12-15-2016, 02:06 PM   #15
dream
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Just as I suspected, tuner says there is still a leak somewhere. I'd flash back to the old map to test but that map was tuned on the old rom (pre-2015 wrx ECU recall) so that map will no longer work.

Going to dig into it tonight and hopefully find the issue.
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Old 12-15-2016, 11:21 PM   #16
playslikepage71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dream View Post
Just as I suspected, tuner says there is still a leak somewhere. I'd flash back to the old map to test but that map was tuned on the old rom (pre-2015 wrx ECU recall) so that map will no longer work.

Going to dig into it tonight and hopefully find the issue.
It's possible that your pressure line to the EBCS or wastegate is leaking and its not an actual boost leak that affects the charge. Sounds more likely, actually. A large leak in the manifold (turbo is spun for more PSI than its reading) would probably make the car run like ass, because it will be super rich.
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Old 12-16-2016, 10:26 AM   #17
dream
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Quote:
Originally Posted by playslikepage71 View Post
It's possible that your pressure line to the EBCS or wastegate is leaking and its not an actual boost leak that affects the charge. Sounds more likely, actually. A large leak in the manifold (turbo is spun for more PSI than its reading) would probably make the car run like ass, because it will be super rich.
You talking about the line that goes from the bcs to the nipple on the turbo compressor housing? Either way, I put a whole new bcs along with lines on 2 days ago so I know all of those hoses are tight with zip ties holding them on.

Took everything off last night and reinstalled and saaaaaaame issue. The car boosts right to 14.5-ish psi and will not go over that. 2 tuners are now telling me a leak, so looks like I need to bring it somewhere where they can smoke test it.
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Old 12-16-2016, 01:52 PM   #18
tegxsi
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If it's not a external leak but an internal leak within a closed system then look check stuff like the BPV and WGA arm.

Is it slow to spool up to 14psi?
Probe the EBCS connections and see if you are getting a signal from the ECU. This might be tricky though...maybe have someone hookup a DMM while someone inside hold down the throttle with LC activated. Or simply touch the EBCS and see if it's clicking.
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Old 12-17-2016, 12:14 AM   #19
dream
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Got it figured out - had something to do with the tune/accessport. All is well!

Last edited by dream; 12-17-2016 at 01:02 AM.
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Old 12-17-2016, 11:35 AM   #20
WeakSauce2.5i
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dream, please elaborate about what exactly was wrong.
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Old 12-18-2016, 12:04 PM   #21
dream
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeakSauce2.5i View Post
dream, please elaborate about what exactly was wrong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by humpthebobcat View Post
It was the temperature/compensation tables
The tuner sent a new map and boost was now working again (a little too much boost to be honest); that's about all I know at this point.

Last edited by dream; 12-18-2016 at 12:13 PM.
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Old 12-17-2016, 03:34 PM   #22
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It was the temperature/compensation tables
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Old 12-17-2016, 10:40 PM   #23
Vinny G
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Slighlly unrelated, yet completely related, when I had my Volvo C30, I had a turbo control valve which is much the same as the ECBS. My car was registering 17psi on the boost gauge and after I sold it, I finally told people what it had done. They said that on the tune I was on it should have been 20-21psi and that the TCV upgrade actually caused it to run less boost. On the forum, they said that the fix for that is "crushing" the valve. Defeats the purpose of upgrading if you ask me, but that may be related to your issue.

Good luck
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Old 02-22-2024, 01:02 AM   #24
not_sad
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Dream I know this was a long time ago but why didn't you give more info on how the issue was solved? Why not ask your tuner what the issue was or what they did differently on the new map? I'm having a similar issue and it sucks.
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Old 02-23-2024, 02:41 PM   #25
X49
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Quote:
Originally Posted by not_sad View Post
Dream I know this was a long time ago but why didn't you give more info on how the issue was solved? Why not ask your tuner what the issue was or what they did differently on the new map? I'm having a similar issue and it sucks.
Chances are his IAT compensation for boost and WGDC were just too conservative.

Boost is supposed to be lower in colder weather, since it takes less boost to achieve the same airflow. 19 psi in warm weather might equate to 14 psi in freezing weather. To determine if your boost is actually too low, you need to look at mass airflow, not boost.

The COBB OTS tunes and most conservative tuners will target airflow in the 220-240 g/s range at 6k+ rpm, since this is the safe limit of the stock turbo. If your engine is flowing a lot less than this, or less than it normally does in warmer weather, then either the IAT boost or IAT WGDC compensation tables (or both) need to be tweaked.

If you upload a log to datazap and link it here, I can take a look at it.
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