turbo on the SE

nbse2 · Postby **nbse2** » Sun May 13, 2012 8:28 pm

I am a bit puzzled with my SE. Normally, the turbo kicks in with a bit of a hit with a corresponding quick spike of the revs. However of late it drives almost like a non-turbo. It appears to rev out ok, but its almost like the turbo is just not kicking in. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and if so what the fix was.

How could you check if the turbo is operating as it should?

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun May 13, 2012 8:34 pm

Do you have a boost guage?

Dann

nbse2 · Postby **nbse2** » Sun May 13, 2012 8:42 pm

no boost gauge. Should have mentioned is a stock SE with no mechanical modifications whatsoever.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun May 13, 2012 8:45 pm

Get a boost gauge and report results.

Dann

nbse2 · Postby **nbse2** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:31 pm

any recommendations on a decent boost gauge that I can get?

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sun May 13, 2012 11:00 pm

nbse2 wrote:any recommendations on a decent boost gauge that I can get?

Get a SpeedHut boost gauge and mount it where Mazda SHOULD have installed it - in the "dummy" oil pressure gauge location.

See http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=41091&start=79 and http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=41091&start=111

They are expensive but are one of the few that you can fit into the instrument cluster without cutting up the rear printed circuit, and you can customise their font, colour and put your own text or logo on them (I chose "MAZDASPEED").

The SE was designed to feel like a small 6 cylinder engine and the turbo is quite small - in stock form I never got the same adrenaline rushing boost as I got from my beloved 1982 Mitsubishi JA Starion (subsequent modz fixed that).

Sean · Postby **Sean** » Sun May 20, 2012 1:35 pm

If you are just looking to find if you have a boost leak (what Dann was pointing to) the quality and permanency of the gauge don't really matter.

A stock SE makes very little boost, all you want to see is the response of it coming onto boost.

The issue is likely a leak somewhere in the system, so all the forced air from the turbo is going somehwere other than into your engine.

If you're at all technically minded, I'd run over the whole intake system from turbo to manifold and check for loose pipes and or hose clamps. 15 minutes doing this might save you the trouble of finding a boost gauge.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sun May 20, 2012 4:01 pm

I second all the comments regards a loose connection. Check all the clamps along the induction system and try tightening a few.

nbse2 · Postby **nbse2** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:52 pm

Could not work it out for myself so took it to an independent mazda specialists. On checking the air filter element discovered that it had the filter for a standard NB and not the one for the SE fitted. I was advised that while you can fit the std element, the engines just don't breath right.

I actually noticed that the car was just not right after my last dealer service in Jan of this year where the air filter element was replaced as part of the last service - as indicated on the invoice. The performance after that service was just lifeless.

The element has now been replaced with the right one and the car drives much better now.

I'll take it with both Mazda and Tom Kerr . One dealer that I will beware of and never ever associate with in any shape of form. So there you go! :evil: