I have a 03 with 15,500 miles. It has a Autometer boost gauge, when the car boosts up the needle is not staying straight and bouncing between 1 and 2 psi bars. It also is haveing some major lagging spurts in mid range. I took it in and the dealer cant find anything wrong with it. I was wondering if the lag was from my 9.5lbs flywheel or wastegate flutter, or shot turbo?

Thanks,
Nick

 

The flywheel should reduce lag somewhat. If your wastegate is shot though, that definitely needs to be fixed.

 

What does the car feel like when the needle is bouncing around? If the needle is accurate you should feel some significant jerking around with power coming and going like that. Is that what you mean by "major lagging spurts"? If your butt-dyno is sensing a pretty smooth ride (please don't take that outta context), I'd start wondering if its the gauge that's having issues. If you are really feeling this, I'd have to agree with BAN SUVS. This doesn't sound like your losing boost from the compressors-side but turbine drive and that most likely would happen at the wastegate.


jason

 

My car did this a couple of times - I reset the ECU and it smoothed out again fine.

 

Like i will have the turbo goin and the RPM's at about the same spot like 4500 and the car will lag and then I will have to give it more power to keep at that same speed I was doin at 4500. Also under full acceleration I can feel some major lag, like the car isnt putting out 100% of its power. Calling another Subaru dealer today.

Nick

 

I'd try the reset. Have you done any engine-related mods? Grounding could help some. If you really want answers see if you can get some data logging done.

It sounds like you might be having the classic "hesitation" problem. I had this, and it was the RPM needle that would get all erratic. It wasn't lag though, like a loss of power that I felt I had to compensate for. It was like it stuttered in higher revs, but did keep climbing. I did th grounding mod and it helped some. But then I went to the local dealership and they did some magic with my ECU and it was fine.

jason

 

Found out the people that installed my boost gauge put it in the wrong area and it is leaking. If you want it done right you gotta do it yourself. Kicking myself in the a*s for that one. Thanks for your help though, and I am going to reset the car anyhoo for safety.

Nick