Well I finally found the source of all my problems.

crunchymilk55 · #1 07-30-2006, 09:28 PM

Well this weekend I finally got to hook the car up to an air compressor to try and find the mystery leak. Reviewing my logs showed symptoms of heat soak or a boost leak. I knew I couldn't be heatsoaking this massive thing, but I couldn't find the boost leak using a 12 volt compressor. Well we fill 'er up and boost starts falling again, but we still can't find it. When I walked to the other side of the car, I felt air pushing against my leg, wtf? I run my hands through the intercooler and voila, it's fucked. At least 3 of the bars are not sealed whatsoever. They're completely loose. The intercooler leaks air like no other. Since it is the 3 bars almost all the way across, it's definitely not because I hit some rocks or something, it has to be a manufacturing defect. This is why the car wouldn't hold a tune, why the ECU's estimated a/f was different that the real a/f, and why knock events up top were happening.

We'll see how Slowboy handles this. I had to email them proof of it leaking, and they still haven't responded back yet. I have a feeling I'm going to have to really got on to them about giving me a new one. They even admitted they've had a few come back because of the manufacturing defect (Kevin, wasn't yours messed up too?), but I bought mine about a year ago, so it's going to be tough. We'll see how it goes, but I'm hoping for the best. Here are some pics (spraying soapy water on the leak makes it bubble up shows where it's leaking). I'm hoping they'll take care of it right, this is my daily, can't afford the downtime of sending it in. If they take care of this, my faith in Slowboy will be renewed.

vwracer14 · #2 07-30-2006, 09:49 PM

that'll do it

Thor06 · #3 07-30-2006, 09:49 PM

That blows man. I hope everything works out for you.

Blackcrow64 · #4 07-30-2006, 10:04 PM

Suckyness for being a SBR FMIC... I wonder if my XS Power one is gonna leak like that. lol

NateS · #5 07-30-2006, 10:21 PM

Damn that sucks man. Ironic thing is that you were always on us about trying to go for the no namers and save some money. I guess this proves that even the big companies fuck up sometimes. Anyway man I feel you on the daily driver mine is my daily driver too and this blown hg is killing me. I hope it all works out for you. BTW, if you still have your smic couldn't you just hook that up if they make you ship it out?

crunchymilk55 · #6 07-30-2006, 10:50 PM

Yep, definitely ironic. It does show that everybody fucks up. Trying to make the smic fit again with the piping I have would be impossible.

AbsoluteGTR · #7 07-30-2006, 10:51 PM

Life is a bitch...I would raise hell if they didnt give me a new one, but then again yours is a year old...that will be the major obstacle that will be need to overcome....GL

Thor06 · #8 07-30-2006, 11:21 PM

They should be ok about it. A little OT but this sorta pertains to this topic: I think I figured out what I am going to do FMIC wise on my car. Think I am going to buy an eBay core and test it out, you know air temp drops and that. Then comes the name brand. I think I am going to do some half way extensive testing and see if I see if they are really worth the money or not. Would you by chance happen to know the before/after temps from your SBR FMIC?

crunchymilk55 · #9 07-30-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor06

They should be ok about it. A little OT but this sorta pertains to this topic: I think I figured out what I am going to do FMIC wise on my car. Think I am going to buy an eBay core and test it out, you know air temp drops and that. Then comes the name brand. I think I am going to do some half way extensive testing and see if I see if they are really worth the money or not. Would you by chance happen to know the before/after temps from your SBR FMIC?

you can't get air temps after the intercooler unless it's a custom probe setup. The MAS measures air temps before the turbo. Only way to judge is by knock reduction.

clipsekid99 · #10 07-31-2006, 12:10 AM

Man, that's aweful that you AND Kevin both had problems with the SBR fmic. Hope you get it all squared away man.

Thor06 · #11 07-31-2006, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchymilk55

you can't get air temps after the intercooler unless it's a custom probe setup. The MAS measures air temps before the turbo. Only way to judge is by knock reduction.

Yup, I know. My buddy had a sorta "two stage" intake probe dealy. It was a guage with a switch and two temp probes, one basically right after the turbo, one a few inches before the TB. The switch would switch between the sensors. I am definately going to get one something like that, but with one right before and right after the IC on the IC pipes. Just curious as to if you had one or any way of taking the temp.

crunchymilk55 · #12 07-31-2006, 01:09 AM

It would definitely be a good project.

blk_srt · #13 07-31-2006, 02:08 AM

Well I'll tell you that I couldnt be ahppier with my ebay core. That sucks but at least you didnt cw lol

Decipha · #14 07-31-2006, 02:25 AM

i thought for sure when i read the title this was going to be a grand prix thread

MexRocket · #15 07-31-2006, 03:11 AM

.... that is a lot of bugs on your fmic... lol how long have you had the core? and did it come with a warranty, because if it has been say a year... and it has been fine, they don't have to replace it at all... they coulda have said that you did that by hitting something running 30 psi lol, what you gonna if you have to ship it out

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