Can someone help me figure out whats wrong with my car?

[red s13]

Iv been trying to pinpoint the problem I have with my car, but I can't come up with anything. At idle my car is fine, but when I hit boost my car feels like it's still NA. My boost gauge is reading 5psi of boost and at idle my vacume is reading about 25 and is very steady. I changed my spark plugs, coil, cap and rotor, and my MAF, but nothing worked. It kind of feels like my car is in a safe mode, but I don't understand why. My afr is about 14.9 crusing and about 11.8 wot and my timing is knocked back to 17 degrees. If anybody has answers or suggestions I would really appracate it. By the way I have a 93 dohc s13.

[wild_maxx]

have you pressurized the system and checked for boost leaks? sometimes there are tears in couplers that wont open up until there is some good pressure on them. give that a try. what are you using to monitor a/f ratio's? did you set the base timing with the tps unplugged?

[Import_Ant]

have you checked for boost leaks? I think your timing might have alot to do with your issue, stock timing should be at 20 BTDC. if you're running 91 and up octane gas you should be ok to advance your timing back to stock.

what trim is your turbo?

(edit) beaten by a split second!(edit)

[red s13]

I dont think I have a boost leak because when it hits 5psi it holds till i shift. I also thought your supposed to retard the timing once you turbo. Right now im useing a t3/t4 57 trim at stock boost(5psi),and im tunning with a s-afc2 and a lm-1.

[Import_Ant]

once you start getting around 250 hp~ or so you want to retard base timing if you dont have a BTM to retard it under boost or some other means of retarding timing. this is more of a safeguard against detonation though. for what you're running I believe it would be ok to run stock timing.

[red s13]

I thought that maybe the ecu was sensing a knock and setting my car in to a safe mode, but if you say that setting it back to 20 degrees might solve my problem im willing to try it. Thanks for the help I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

[srdrps13]

dude sounds like a boost leak... check all your piping make sure everything is on right.. if thats not it check your timing

[wild_maxx]

make sure your BOV is not opening when you open the TB

[red s13]

I thought that if the boost holds then that would rule out a boost leak, but just to be sure i'll double check. Does anyone else have any suggestions on what I should check? I really need to fix this problem im getting tired of driving my girl friends stock civic hatch.

[Craving4Boost]

check your timing again...you might have retarded to much

[red s13]

Thanks for everyones help, I just checked the timing and set it back to 20 degrees and it runs way better.

[wild_maxx]

HAH! its always the timing. that was my first damn problem as well.