'96 2.0L turbo low boost compared to '94?

christhekiwi · Post by **christhekiwi** » 02 Oct 2011, 17:54

I have a 1996 2.0L turbo and a 1994 2.4L turbo. As you would expect these are quite different cars to drive. The main difference is torque off the line with the '94 pulling like a trooper.

I have noticed that the little turbo boost gauge on the '94 normally sits on about half way once running, where as the '96 sits way down near the baseline.

Is this normal or adjustable? The '96 is a bit of a slug off the line in comparison.

P.S While doing the TB on this car i found both cam gears off by a tooth so i'm wondering if someone has been playing with the wasteg-ate or TCV too?

Any suggestions?

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 03 Oct 2011, 02:54

Are you talking about a 2.3 turbo? The 2.4's don't have boost gauges. By "halfway" do you mean in the centre of the gauge, or halfway into the white (boost) side? My 94 850 T5 (B5234T) boost gauge shows about 80% into the white when you give it some lolly. It feels about right too. Is your 2.0 labelled 'Turbo' or 'T5'? If the engine is a B5204T2 it will boost lower as this is a 180hp engine, the B5204T3 is high boost and 166kw(223hp)

christhekiwi · Post by **christhekiwi** » 03 Oct 2011, 03:34

Hi Marco, yes a 2.3 Turbo. The 2.0L is a T5. I would love to get more bottom end out of the 2,0L. Any ideas?

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Oct 2011, 09:45

I think the 2.3 has pretty gutless bottom-end power, so that 2.0 must be a real slug.

You can try a turn or two shorter on the wastegate actuator rod on the turbo. Make sure that all of your vacuum lines are in good shape, and that your turbo hoses are all in good shape.

The get-up-and-go off the line is pretty much done without any assistance from the turbo, though. That means you need an engine with good top-end strength still. A compression test would give you an idea of how it fairs still in this age. A Seafoam treatment definitely helped me get back a little pep from a stop, and dramatically improved how smoothly it accelerates now.

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 03 Oct 2011, 19:10

The 2.0l T5 allegedly has the same power and torque as the 2.3, I don't remember at what rpm though! you should have nearly full boost by 2300-2500rpm, if not you may, as I do with the V70, have a Vacuum leak or BCS fault. I have found a proper boost/vacuum gauge to be very helpful in diagnosing the turbo control system.