no run after head gasket change

[BrianO]

this has to be mechanical.. vac line some how... it gets to about 6 and right when it's suppose to open it fluctuates pretty bad.. sounds like a vac leak to me and it leaks right about that psi.

[NY eric]

That sounds too familar. Do me a favor and check your spark plug wires for burn through.

[BrianO]

really.. ok I'll do that. they are practically brand new from you. runs great until 6psi then it slugs a bit.

[NavySVO]

Does it cut out, buck, surge, bog, lack of power, act like it is dying?

Try to be as desciptive as posible.

Is the wastegate hooked up to the actuator and the clip didn't come off during the removal/install?

Also, if you can get a controllable air source, see if the wastegate actuator is stroking fully and that it doesn't have a leak.

[BrianO]

it's sluggish and the boost guage bounces around starting at 6psi.

surge, lack of power..could all be the same feeling. I didn't touch anything on the turbo during removal/install, but it's possible something got whacked.

the boost guage sort of acts like a rev limiter..once it hits 6psi it bounces off.

[NY eric]

I doubt it is the turbo. It sounds like (I know I cant hear anything over the web) ignition, either TFI or wires fried. I spent weeks chasing a similar issue to find out one of the spark plug boots got melted by the header. anytime I jumped on it it would start arcing off he header. another customer (who will remain nameless) called me out so I drove 4 hrs to trouble shoot a similar issue fing me up and down because I sold him bad parts. I come to find out after changing the wires, plugs, cap, and rotor the TFI was acting up intermitantly. Just food for thought. Also check you grounds especially the orange wire on the turbo and the strap from the engine to the firewall.

[josea1952]

Does it sound like what happened to my car? Look at the Head pandemic thread. I went through a lot of crap to find out that the ks was pulling mad timing. It can be really frustrating.

[BrianO]

verified grounds are good.
I have the heat protectors on all the plug boots since the turbo is so dang close. I put those on with the new wires.

it's possible I have a bad plug too.. they are new ones. I'll check all that is suggested and go back to the old plugs too and see how she runs.

has to be something simple. It drives great otherwise.

[BrianO]

I never replaced the ks, but I can unplug it and check that as well.

[josea1952]

Whats your gap at.

[BrianO]

.034 is what the plugs come at and I don't change them.

[BrianO]

I have extra plugs, wires, and vac lines at the house.. I'll check them all.

[BrianO]

I inspected the vac line, only one, and it was good. I inspected the plug wires and those look good. I put the other plugs back in. I also checked the vam hose as well.

all the plug boots were good, they have the heat protectors on them.
I'll find out next time I drive it.

[SVOeric]

.034 is what the plugs come at and I don't change them.

that's a WEEEE bit on the wide side, generally go with .30 on mine.
also, I've never bought a plug that wasn't gaped at like .40 out of the box.

[lonewolf]

that's a WEEEE bit on the wide side, generally go with .30 on mine.
also, I've never bought a plug that wasn't gaped at like .40 out of the box.

I'm not so sure that's true, I'm at .044 and don't miss a bet.