Mac Solenoid wont hold boost

[CarlosSpiceyWiener]

RAD!! That's the best simple write up I've seen. Sticky :?:

I shall start at the beginning and go from there.

Now, the only question I have is what should we be using to read boost levels? The MAP and what SMan says, or the boost gauge?

I ask because we thought this may have something to do with why it wasn't activating, my MAP reads lower than the gauge. (Speed Factory 4 bar MAP, and Auto-meter mech boost)

[locash]

The map sensor that the ecu sees is the important one. If the two read significantly different, find out why before going too far.

[CarlosSpiceyWiener]

The map sensor that the ecu sees is the important one. If the two read significantly different, find out why before going too far.

It's correct, says 4 in SMan and 7 on the gauge, oh the joys of tuning at a Mile High.

[CarlosSpiceyWiener]

So, we got it working, and since most people vanish when they "fix" something I am doing the opposite and posting that it indeed works now.

Going off LoCash's instructions was a huge launching point. We're expected to install something that has a VERY high level of difficulty, play with settings and get it to work. That's just stupid. Dyno tuning is expensive, street tuning is dangerous and illegal. So why isn't there a TEST MODE for this addition to the S300.

If LoCash hadn't posted how to test this I'm not sure I would have gotten it. People. TEST TEST TEST your MAC! Don't just assume that EVERYTHING you did to this point will work going off your buddy's settings. We were unable to get the solenoid to activate with the 0 kPa setting and SMan doesn't like negative values in that field, key on engine off I'm at -29.5 psi at my altitude. We used 0 bar and closed the program, when it opened it had saved that as -14.7 psi, then you can change the value to -29, bug much....

Anyway, once we got the ECM to output from the PWM we could test both frequency and duty with a Fluke meter, the exact values are NOT what SMan says, but they are close. With signal out we hooked up the solenoid and no buzzing, or so we thought, it's VERY VERY quiet, we used a mechanics stethoscope and verified functionality. Once everything was hooked back up we went on to tuning duty cycles.

NOW, this part is VERY important and I eluded to it once, what your pretty blinky "I have a turbo car" boost gauge says on your dash doesn't mean shit. Altitude made my MAP read 4psi while the gauge said 7psi, which is correct, but if you base your tune off that nothing is going to change, no matter what duty cycles you put in, it will never see that pressure and will never activate.

With an activation pressure of three we finally got the boost to change at 30%, then went up 10% each time, recording % vs. boost. Now on to tune the boost by gear.

Thanks for the help, hope this helps more people in the future!

[duncan]

First off I would like to thank you for updating with your info after you fixed your problem. I wish more people did that, more often.

Altitude made my MAP read 4psi while the gauge said 7psi, which is correct, but if you base your tune off that nothing is going to change, no matter what duty cycles you put in, it will never see that pressure and will never activate.

Which one is the correct one, I didn't follow? 4psi or the 7psi? and can you explain a little more in depth.

Also what was your Solenoid Frequency % set at? (Hz) And have you messed with changing that and what it does to effect your percentages, and control, of your boost duty cycle?

[monchiy2k]

sticky, come on....very helpful....