Okay, I have pretty much worked out that my boost issue is controller or solenoid related. I get just .78-.8BAR boost. Hoses are all pretty much leak free, one small leak that's not of consequence- I'm on spring boost at this point.

I went back through the settings on the Profec with a tutorial, found some goofy stuff that I cannot explain the source of, but once "sane" still no additional boost.

Here's my thought process... Get a Mityvac and apply pressure to the hose going into the EBC, head to engine, listen for solenoid merrily clicking with the key on. Alternately, remove wiring from solenoid, apply 12volts, listen for click. I am pretty certain (heh) that the solenoid will not click from the front pressure or I would be home free, I'm hoping it clicks with direct voltage applied.

This all began shortly after some work had been done under the car, fingers crossed something accessible got snipped. IF I get no clicking when pressure applied up front but DO when voltage is directly applied I'll check for shorts to ground from rear with front unplugged (open). I'll check for continuity on the wires as well, probably by applying voltage (9volt bat FTW!) up front and checking for power at the back on a meter.

In all of this I am hoping to find either a dead solenoid or tweaked wiring, fingers crossed it's just wiring. I didn't install this but it was done cleanly from the little I can see, I'm not sure how it was routed forward so any tips are appreciated. Nice that this valve appears to fail "open", hopefully the valve isn't trashed. Profec just uses a solenoid and not a stepper right?

Anyone see issues with the "plan"?

This is a Profec B Spec II box...

 

If yo need a valve to check I have an extra one...

 

Thanks Markski, I appreciate the offer. Lemme' see what my tests find, it sounds like applying power right to it isn't too big a deal. I hadn't thought about it maybe locking up, glad if that's the case that it locked OPEN and not closed! Usually these things pulse pretty good so it woul dbe odd but stranger things have happened. I don't yet have a 9volt handy but I might just run a jumper to it from the bat term in back. Not going to work on it tonight but soon, I'm dying to get this working again! Costs on replacement solenoids are a bit crazy, I really liked the cheap $30 GM solenoid I used to use with my AEM - perfect boost control, per gear pressure, rock stable. I haven't had to deal with a standalone EBC in so many years...

 

Same thing happened to me a while back. I even bought a new unit. With the new solenoid and a new head unit.... it didn't solve it. It was the wiring that ran under the car to the solenoid. The guibo joint had chaffed it up. Once I repaired the wires.... all was good.

 

Uh boy, fingers crossed this isn't run UNDER the car (not my install) but I guess that's VERY possible! I should have at least checked it for continuity to ground tonight but I got home late and grumpy

 

Profec's are weird. Sometimes the solenoids bomb out after some time. Not sure why. I had the same problem Steve is talking about at the Mile. I would spike at 1.51, but after video, saw the EBC would only hold 1.3bar. I am going to switch out the Greddy solenoid with this universal solenoid we sell to see if it holds more consistent. We have used these in the past on EVO and STIs just not on this application yet. Definitely not the electronics or wiring.

 

Please keep us posted Dan. I'm looking for a solution asap.

 

my car is in pieces getting a millenium falcon update LOL. But will be happy to send one to you or others to give a try and feedback.

 

Absolutely worth a shot to see where it gets us. Let me know what you need from my end.

 

Dan have you ever looked at the GM solenoids? The ones used on the Tyhoon and Scyclone trucks? I used one of thsoe with my AEM and an external W/G and it was ROCK solid to a bit over 2BAR. I used it such that pressure was applied on top of the W/G diaphragm and then applied under to pop it. Been awhile so hard to explain but it WORKED and was cheap!

Now for the weird news.... I applied voltage to the solenoid - CLICK! Snapped loudly. Checked the harness for short to ground, nothing. Unplugged the harness from the controller, jumped both pins, tested for continuity in the engine bay - yup got it! Unplugged jumper, no more continuity.

So WTF?! I looked over the settings. Peak boost it saw was .78BAR last pull. The SET is set low like 25% or so, it ought to mod boost some at least! The SET GAIN is at 1BAR. As I understand it <cough> it should keep the line to the W/G closed or perhaps pulse the solenoid (?) and then begin trying to assert control at the 1BAR point. GAIN is at 30%. I THINK these settings are sane based on what is in the manual and the tutorial up to. Playing with the buttons with the lid up I hear a click or two coming from the solenoid. <sigh> What are others running for settings?

So the wiring and the solenoid APPEAR to be okay. That leaves programming and my head unit. I will hopefully have a Mityvac here soon that I can use to apply pressure to the sensor in the head unit. I will then observe the solenoid, which I'll likely hear it's so loud, and try to figure out where the issue is. <sigh> I admit I'm pretty tempted to slap a manual valve in there or just leave the W/G lines open for a single pull so I can see if it will boost past .8BAR to rule out the W/Gs themselves. I looked and saw no issues with the control rods at least. When the MityVac gets here it may get used to test those as well. Argh! At least I'm not going to have to chase wiring

 

Okay, thought I'd posted this but lost it.... I believe we have resolution or at least a smoking gun!

Got a Mityvac today from eBay. Came complete with coolant inside of it - grr! Anyway, used that to pressurize the sensor on my Greddy EBC. Sure enough as I applied boost the reading went up. And up. And up! I heard NOTHING from the solenoid. I twiddled *****, I flipped switches, I did all sorts of things to include pushing boost past the set warning point where it began to scream and beep. No joy from Mr. Solenoid! I even put my hand on it, nadda. Booo!

It would appear the the Greddy head unit has checked out. I guess as failure modes go this one is not so bad.. Methinks something in the driver circuitry blew, I'll have a friend examine it soon.

So, it seems that sometime after I picked up the car the unit died. I know it was working when I test drove and I am pretty sure it was honking fine after. I had issues driving it home from Indiana and ended up at a small shop where we were unable to fix it. I had to leave it a few days and they fixed it for me by fabbing a part. Afterwards when I'd gotten it home I noticed it was slower and finally noticed the boost. Hrm!

I have to admit that despite these guys being AWESOME to me, bending over backwards, and in the end saving me a pile of cash I did have a suspicion that perhaps this unit was swapped on me when I found this. However I recalled ONE thing - the peak boost reading. The reading when I was going through it the other night was EXACTLY the correct boost Tim and I saw when I test drove the car. Now it is possible to recreate that with a Mityvac but come on, these guys were cool, they saved me cash, they bent over backwards, and I trusted them - I think this is a clear indication that this was simply MORE bad luck on that trip! My car had issues with a clutch line, one of the rear wheels got lightly curbed, and it seems my EBC died - to top it off I finally got home with the car and got dumped by the woman I thought I was going to marry. So, wow it's nice to have turned a corner on all that crappy luck!

So, who sells Greddy Profec B Spec II the cheapest? Seems I need one and will have spare solenoid - d'oh!

P.S. Hope all of this drama helps someone else troubleshoot theirs down the road....

 

Wow man ive went through some bad luck last year, and lost a woman that i did marry *shrug* so keep your head up and realise do what makes you happy enjoy your car and keep the tires turning. wheels boost controls etc its all material. when i picked my car up on the drive home i lost my oil pressure sending unit and i about **** the bed at 70mph when i watched my oil pressure guage hit 0 i was like OMFG NO!!!!! slowed down looked for oil no sign i was idling and the pressure came back up hit full pressure and back down i was like MFr!! scared me to death!

anyways glad you foound the issue without spending a fortune somewhere and still not finding it.

William

 

Yes William it is probably a oil sending unit,not very expensive & easy fix.

 

paulie akram fixed it long time ago just sharing experiences dealership even paid for it =)

 

Meh the woman thing is done and I'm sure she regrets it too. I hope that the rest of the issues will be done soon too. I've gotten used to this power level, time to get the power back! :-)

Now then - a shopping I go!

Edit: Okay, Vivid looks to be THE cheapest unless I want to get shady on eBay. MANY of the eBay guys look to be selling head unit only for nearly the cost of a complete system! One guy is even splitting hose\solenoids and head units seperately and probably making a mint! Sheesh... Vivid has them on sale right now and coopuns too ;-)