HMT setup problems, rant, questions *UPDATE*
 

As some of you might remember I finished my turbo project on the 88 hatch about 2 months ago. At the time I had some problems with it only boosting 4psi. I checked the charge pipes and some of you told me to check the BOV, Greddy type s, as it could be too loose and leaking pressure. I did, but it was the same. After I bought my WRX I pretty much neglected the hatch until this past weekend, that I was trying again to get everything fixed.

First of all the battery was drained, don't know why, no problem, I put a battery charger and started working. I had new drill rotors, put those in. To make sure I had no leaks on my modified starion FMIC, I jb welded all the original welds that modified the end tanks. no problems so far.

I went in to try and turn on the car, I did, idleing like ----, FMU, but it turned on. The difference this time is that after about 10 seconds the car bogged and turned off. I did not accelerate or anything. I figure, well it's been sitting out here for a couple of months, so it is expected. I tried to turn it on again, it would crank but not fire, until the battery died again. I thought no biggie let me charge the battery a little more and it should be fine.

Now here comes the problem. I was going to lose the BOV a little bit more, because the last time I messed with it I screwed the adjusting screw all the way in, to hard. The BOV was not opening @4psi, so I'm thinking is just to tight. To adjust it, I need to take that first charge pipe out, because of the way the bov flange was welded, when I do, like a full glass of water comes out from inside the pipe. At this point I'm like WTF. How did water get into the charge pipes, and if there was water in there, did I hydrolocked the engine.

I took out my spark plugs, and there was no water in them or the cylinders, so I think I'm good there. But why would I have water inside the charge pipes. Damn. It has been raining for the pass like 4 days here in FL, pretty much no stop, but I don't think water should get inside the pipes, it was just sitting there. It was clear, clean rain water, so I know it did not come from the engine. I guess that explains why I had that big boost leak.

I'm using Homodepot couplings and raidator hoses. I'm pretty sure I'm leaking on the homodepot couplings. Hopefully it is not the FMIC.

This is more of a rant that a question, but Don't you think this is odd? Have any of you seen this before? Also can that be why the BOV was not opening? I'm guessing that by the time I left of the gas, boost would leak somewhere else and it did not create enough pressure to open the BOV.

Another quick question. Where does the vacuum line from the BOV should go, anywhere specific. I have it connected to the FPR.

Thanks in advance
David

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

Damn. Thats pretty crazy. Dont know why water would be in there. I guess give the motor some time to dry and give it another shot. If you shine a flashlight into the spark plug hole can you see water? About the bov it shouldnt open all the way tightened. You got to loosen it up. For 4psi I'm sure it dont need to be much tighten then all the way loose.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

No. that's the first thing I checked, no water inside the cylinders at all. Thank God. Good thing I didn't rev it when it started the one time, I would have probably suck all the water in. I'm positive it could be the Homodepot couplings. It was raining all day saturday and sunday, and I was working outside under about 5 feet of roof in front of my house, there was a lot of water bouncing around and the crapy couplings always had a gap between them and the pipe that you could see. I'm thinking the water was just running down the pipe and leaking inside thru that gap. I'm done with those, I want to get better silicone, couplings. Hopefully that'll solve everything. It is an IHI rhb5, and they are set stock to 8psi, so I am expecting a little more boost, when the leaks are fixed.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

the home depot couplings work fine so long as you have the right size

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

if water was able to leak between the coupling and the pipe, then it obviously wasn't water tight, which means it's not air tight either, which means that was prolly you problem to begin with ;)

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

exactly!

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

Just what I'm finding out. That's what I thought. I'm using 2" piping, and they are 2" couplings, but for some reason, they don't seem to seal right. I will try some other things to see If I can get them to work. I'm thinking of getting a 2" radiator hose. I need to 90 deg bends, or take them somewhere and get them welded.
Thanks for the replies
David

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

got any pictures of these couplings? i couldnt imagine they would leak, with out being obviously noticable.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

I don't have any good pictures of them showing the gap. Yesterday I took one side of the charge pipe that had 3 of those coupling, 3 connections. I opened a hose and started to run some water down the pipe, and shure enough after a little while, there was water inside. I ghetto fixed it by putting about an 1" duck tape strip at the end of the pipes to get the diameter from 2" to about 2-1/8", then redid the clamps and tried the water test again. Perfect no water got in.

Then I took out the intercooler and closed up one side and with my air compressor started checking for air leaks. Found a pretty big one, took out the jb weld, redid that end tank, and it's waiting home for me to put it in tonight.

Hopefully this will take care of the problems, will let you know.
David

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

did you check if there was water in the IM ?

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

Not really, haven't checked. I will tonight

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions "Update"
 

The IM is dry and clean, I checked and fixed all the leaks in the FMIC, put everything back together and now the car wil not turn on. It will crank, but it doesn't fire up. WTF. I took out a sparkplug, looks good, but there are some small bubbles of water in there. WTF. I check the oil in the pan, no water bubbles. If i got water in the cylinders it had not gone thru to the oil pan. But I don't see any water looking down into the cylinder. WTF ??? >:(
Is there something I can spray in there to get rid of the moisture? Is that why the car is not firing up? I don't think so. I think i'm not getting spark, but the car was running before I took out the FMIC and fixed the leaks. I did not touch anything else. ??? ???

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

You said the plugs look good, but is there spark?

Test for the 3 must-haves:
1. Air
2. Fuel
3. Spark

If theres no spark, I'd go to the distributor first. Check the cap for cracks. Might even spray it with Wire Dry. If its cracked and moisture gets in, it won't fire.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

get a hair dryer. take out the plugs and blast some nice hot air down there. 30 sec each cyl, plugs back in, turn the key.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

I know I got air. I can hear the main ralay clicking and fuel running to the engine. I'm wondering about spark, dizzy problems and such. Spark plugs are new. The wires are also new, but last night doing my last check I pulled one of the wires and pretty much broke it, but I tried a different one, still won't turn on.

The first day I was working on the car, Saturday, it was raining and I was working outside under about 6 feet of roof and the car from the windshield back was under the rain. I know there was a lot of rain drops falling everywhere in the engine bay, so that might have affected something in the distributor, I don't know. I'll check later
thanks
David

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

take the cap off the dist and check for moisture. hair dryer it and put it back on, and turn tha key.

good luck.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

wiggle the wiring harness, stand back scartch ur head then throw ur cresent wrench at it ;D
then i cartmen's voice"bad little honda then u wack it on the head"

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions
 

It was the cap, changed it and the car started no problems ;D ;D
But it is still only boosting like 3 or 4 pounds at like 4500rpm's >:( >:( >:( >:(
And my steel braided feed line is leaking at like the middle of the line, not in the fittings. It's like it broke inside somehow and I'm not sure the tubo is getting enough oil now. That just started happening now when the car started.
I have to do something about that oil line and something about boost. The little IHI RHb5 should be boosting at like 3000 rpms and stock should go to like 8psi. I'm getting maybe 3psi @ 4500rpms. I must have another big leak somewhere. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

EDIT: I also forgot, the BOV was too tight. I adjusted the screw and now it works, opens and vents air, but there'r hardly any air going out boosting 3psi ::), but hey it works. :)

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions *UPDATE*
 

lmao, if its not one thing its another.. good work.

Re:HMT setup problems, rant, questions *UPDATE*
 

Next thing, I'm going to check all of my charge pipes with soapy water to see If I see any leaks. Also I have an open downpipe so It's soo freaking loud I can hear any leaks. I want to finish that up and maybe I'll be able to hear something.