2002 wrx boost issues
 

IM getting quite frustrated with this. I took it into a shop before i moved into higher elevation, and had them fix all my leaks and install a perrin turbo inlet(mostly cause the other one was broken), and try to fix the problem. I got it back and it still only has 7 psi of boost. I bought an accessport kinda just to datalog and see if the stage 1 tune helped, but I got nothing. other than more accurate boost reading of 7.12 in 3rd gear at 4900 rpm. Never goes higher than that.

Funny thing is ive been looking around for hours and everyone with this problem seems to be a boost control problem, which they diagnosed by removing the line to the wastegate actuator and then they could build full boost (being careful of course). But when i removed mine, I didnt get any diffenent readings.

Why would i not be able to build boost when my actuator is not hooked up?

hi bud, removing the vac line from the actuator should have you boosting off the gauge. ive been having problems with my bugeye sti and this was the first stage of my investigations into why i was only getting 0.5 bar of boost. i took off the hose and had a quick drive round the block and the car took off like a rocket and boosted way past 1.5 bar on the defi gauge so i knew the car was boosting! you could try running a line from the compressor straight to the actuator and see if you get wastegate pressure. there is the possibility the wastegate is sticking/stuck so check that also. as ive just found out it really is a process of elimination with boosting issues. good luck with it m8.

Yeah that's what I'm trying to figure out why mine doesn't boost when I remove that line. It seem like how ever I route the lines nothing changes. When I took it to the shop the inspected the turbo and said it looked ok.

I was reading a little more last night and read about how a pre turbo exhaust leak could affect boost, but wouldn't I hear something if I had an exhaust leak?

Dump valve stuck open?

Think that would cause the 7psi? Cause I keep hearing something about wastegate spring pressure and how it happens from so many different things. But if the dump valve was stuck how would I fix?

Did more logging on my accessport and looked at wastegate duty cycle and the electronic part of that seems to be workin just fine, goes all the way from 0 to 100 percent. I just am not sure how to look or fix the wastegate being stuck

And about the dump valve. I had it off a month ago and it looked fully closed to me. I could push on it with my thumbs and get it to move somewhat, should it be easy to move? Because I really had to push hard to even get it to move. And if you happen to know. What does the small nipple on the top do? It's all hooked up but I've never figured out where it goes too

Bought a new dump valve anyways. Only 70 bucks can't hurt.

may be a problem with the boost solenoid? can you get a working one to swap out and check?

I don't think that the issue but maybe I'll buy another of those too, my roomate has a wrx but he won't let me touch anything under the hood. And he won't do it either.... Lammmme. Idk I have some money to try it out, I'll probably do that next if the bpv doesn't help. I can always sell them back on ebay

Fixed it! New downpipe and uppipe with new gaskets. I think the cats were messed up and clogging the flow. Pushing 16 psi now