[ellclover]

ive been thinking for a while that my mini cooper s 2002 52 reg wasnt as fast as it should be so i fitted a boost gauge to see what it boosted and it only boost 6 psi and that is it all the way to the red line. can anyone tell me what it could possibly be thanks elliot

[MINI-Morgan]

Belt slipping big time, boost leak somewhere probably the intercooler, bypass valve shockingly adjusted or the boost gauge is plumbed wrong?

You need a nice pulley on there too.... it will run nice at 16-18psi

[ellclover]

hi there well if im honest with you i only checked boost because i was fitting a new pulley today.

ive put on a 15% reduced pulley with a cooper s works belt of 1374mm so its definently not slipping now ive tried cable tying the bypass valve both ways and on one way it felt the same and the other way it didnt run at all

im now running 10psi of boost with the new pulley which is still really low the boost gauge is fine because it has been in a friends car reading correctly and the pipe has only been run through my window as a temp so that is fine. the car feels alot better now but i think it could be even better again

cheers

[MINI-Morgan]

How much does the gauge read at idle?

Didnt run at all?? You mean no boost at all? It doesnt matter if you cable tie it shut if its not adjusted correctly as you are still pulling against the same grub screw. Wind it out half to one full turn and see if it makes any difference.

Have you double checked the intercooler clamps? Sometimes the rubber actually splits where it bends and isnt obvious.

[ellclover]

i will try that tommorow after work! but surely that would been that it has only been boosting low since new? i will look for a leak and see what i can see. ive had a few turbo cars which i was just getting used to fault finding with and now this super charger is a totally different game. thanks for your help i will let you no how i go on.

cheers

[ellclover]

well this weekend ive took the car to pieces and still cant find a leak. ive been using gas leak spray and looking for bubbles, but nothing. ive had my throttle body off and by pass valve, and even adjusted the bypass valve to make it close tighter! still nothing any other ideas?????

please help cheers

[MINI-Morgan]

Did you cleck the intercooler seals like I suggested? I changed back to stock intercooler and had a major leak caused by this myself......

[ellclover]

yes the intercooler seals are fine ive even checked them with gas leak spray to see if there was any bubbling and nothing! could the charger be on its way out?

[MINI-Morgan]

Gas leak stray? Fairy liquid but 40times more expensive? I'd be amased if it will tell you anything being too light for the air flow that you would experience.

Does the boost go up as you open the throttle but it reaches a point (6psi) and then drops a bit again and you can hear a blowing sound?

I hope you are testing with your foot flat to the floor as this cant be tested on a drive way very easily.

Also are you seeing negative between -8 and -14psi at idle? (if I have converted that correct.... I always work in absolute pressure instead)

[MINI-Morgan]

Just thinking and really there is only so many places it can be.

1) Bypass valve and connections
2) Blocked inlet track e.g. filter
3) Supercharger seal
4) Intercooler seals
5) Manifold seals
6) vaccumm hose from supercharger
7) Vaccum hose from the intercooler clam

Since its failing to reach 10psi im betting on being one of 1,2,4,6 or 7.

Leak chasing for boost pressure isnt easy when you cant be looking while its at full boost unless you have a rolling road.

Or the leak is your boost gauge!

[ellclover]

can i just say thanks for your help upto yet, because you are the only person who has replied
1)i have checked the bypass valve and put new jubilees on the connections that is fine
2)i have a newish k&n on so i dont think its that
3)how would i know if it was this?
4)intercooler boots are sealed perfect im sure of this
5) one of the last things i would like to be checking really lol
6) where is this??
7) and again where is this?

the car has done nearly 90k so am i wrong in saying in could be the charger???

thanks again morgan for your help!

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by ellclover (original)

can i just say thanks for your help upto yet, because you are the only person who has replied
1)i have checked the bypass valve and put new jubilees on the connections that is fine
2)i have a newish k&n on so i dont think its that
3)how would i know if it was this?
4)intercooler boots are sealed perfect im sure of this
5) one of the last things i would like to be checking really lol
6) where is this??
7) and again where is this?

the car has done nearly 90k so am i wrong in saying in could be the charger???

thanks again morgan for your help!

3) Just check all the bolts are done up firmly
6) is shown in the first image
7) shown is second image

It could we be the charger but just suprising if it is....