Darkness Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Just how accurate is the turbo boost guage on the dash? I just take it for granted that the thing is reading incorrectly. The needle gets pretty darn close to +15 when I am winding the engine out. I undestand that the stock boost pressure is much less. Since the guy I purchased it from has stopped returning emails, I do not know if he has upgraded the system. Is there a way to visually tell if the chip has been changed? Should I be looking for something else, or just figure the guage is incorrect? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 nearly every turbocharged or supercharged car I've ridden in/driven the factory gauage has been off by a few pounds. --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no1kicker Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 The gauge is inaccurate. Look at the ECM, under some plastic on the pass side underhood. There should be tape on teh ECM cover, if it says void anywhere the cover has been opened, probably to change the chip. If not, it's the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff M Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Good chance it has been chip'd. Boost gauge is pretty good up until you get past 5 or 6 psi (best I can recall, been w while since I seen that low of boost ). Does it have an upgraded air filter clamped to the turbo or? To check the chip just pull off the big black plastic cover in the engine bay over on the passenger's side, lift up on the 2 clips on top of it, pull out this black cover to see the ECM box scewed down to the side of the strut tower, three 10mm nuts, yank the ECM box out, flip it over and remove the four 1/4" screws, lift off the cover and look at the Blue MEMCAL (chip most call it) and in one of the windows on that MEMCAL will be some writing, either numbers or something else, let us know what you find!!?? Back to work!! Jeff M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboGTU Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 I have a Turbo Grand Am boost/Tach guage that I am going to remove the boost guage from to put on the GTU to make it stock looking. However..everone says they are off. I see an adjustment trimmer on the boost guage PCboard. Maybe I could mess with that to read high boost accurately. Or run my other 2bar map for boost guage only to keep the map signal to ecm strong. If you were wondering...the boost guage is not connected to the ECM in any way or form. Its its own stand alone ...just taps to the map sensor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkness Posted September 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Going to pull the ECM out tonight when I get home and take a look. I'll let you know what I found. Originally, the car came with the standard airbox. I recently threw a cone filter on it, but this hasn't changed the boost guage reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90TGP Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Just get an Autometer Z-Series boost gauge. I run the Z-Series in my TGP, and they are very close to stock looking. I put in a red bulb I got from autozone, and it lights up just like the cluster lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1badtgp Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Mines accurate plus or minus about 15-20psi....lol Get a nice VDO boost gauge, cheap insurance for future modding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboGTU Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Yea, its better to have a high quality mechanical boost guage. I've been using a mechanical boost/vac guage myself. I want to put the factory boost guage cuz I just want to. On the Pillar pod..im already putting the A/F ratio, Trans temp, fuel pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkness Posted September 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Damn.. it was dark and rainy when I got home from work last night, so I am going to try and take a look tonight if the weather is any better. At least I can check if it has been chipped. Not a real big deal, but I don't want to spend money on upgrades which might already be there. I will start putting extra gauges in after I put the correct size tires on the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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