# 02 WRX: gutted up pipe, stuck waste gate? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921 "2009-01-07T17:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/1 "2009-01-07T17:55:26Z")
My buddy recently gutted his up-pipe and sometimes on hard down shifts it sounds like the waste gate gets stuck open, with all the boost going through the turbo and the car doesnt really move. Is this a common problem with wrx’s? If not, what could it be? Maybe a leaky/cracked wastegate diaphram? or a stuck valve? can you pb blast that? thanks ---
**Author:** ![Carnut](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carnut/32/7590_2.png) [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/2 "2009-01-07T20:27:52Z")
What does this stuck open wastegate sound like? Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Sansone](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sansone/32/4970_2.png) [@Sansone](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sansone)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/3 "2009-01-07T20:29:45Z")
limp mode? ---
**Author:** ![deebo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/deebo/32/5218_2.png) [@deebo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/deebo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/4 "2009-01-07T20:41:04Z")
why is he doing hard downshifts… its not a fuckin racecar ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/5 "2009-01-07T21:50:13Z")
he says it sounds like its boosting but nothing is happening. and i mean a hard down shift as in down shift from 4th to 3rd and accelerate, not like downshifting comming to a stop. its not limp mode because it will go away after a bit and only happens under load/acceleration ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/6 "2009-01-08T05:29:57Z")
Intermittent surging power, or just long spool time? Boost gauge in the car to monitor what it’s doing? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/7 "2009-01-08T05:32:55Z")
x2 what’s the boost gauge doing? ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/8 "2009-01-08T06:17:02Z")
a stuck-open wastegate would not build any boost. Would not sound like it is making anything either. A stuck closed wastegate will overboost, but the car isn’t moving so that’s not the case. If it sounds like it is making boost, it could be possible that the Re-Circulation Valve is stuck open and just dumping the air back out into the intake. hard to tell from your description to be honest. “with all the boost going through the turbo and the car doesnt really move.” Doesn’t really make any sense. ---
**Author:** ![sureshot007](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sureshot007/32/7345_2.png) [@sureshot007](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot007)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/9 "2009-01-08T06:17:13Z")
Is it worse than it was before? Or just not any better? Gutting the stock uppipe alone won’t net you too much, and if he didn’t get all the cat material out it is possible he damaged the turbo. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/10 "2009-01-08T08:05:33Z")
it only happens intermittently so i dont think the turbo is damaged, and i havent heard it so its hard to explain, sorry. yea, a stuck open wastegate wouldnt allow the turbo to spin, so its gotta be the bov then. pretty sure he has the greddy rs. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/11 "2009-01-08T08:22:41Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > it only happens intermittently so i dont think the turbo is damaged, and i havent heard it so its hard to explain, sorry. > > yea, a stuck open wastegate wouldnt allow the turbo to spin, so its gotta be the bov then. pretty sure he has the greddy rs. which are known to leak… ---
**Author:** ![sureshot007](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sureshot007/32/7345_2.png) [@sureshot007](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot007)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/12 "2009-01-08T08:23:25Z")
Here’s an idea - go check it out and then report back your findings. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/13 "2009-01-08T08:24:06Z")
I would start with swapping the BOV out for the stock re-circ valve ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/14 "2009-01-08T08:25:24Z")
IS IT MAKING BOOST OR NOT? did he replace the up-pipe gasket? The leak like a siv if you try and reuse them. I know, i’ve tried to do it. TWICE. Both times i had to re-do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/15 "2009-01-08T08:35:08Z")
If it’s intermittent check/clean the (Boost)Duty Control Solenoid on the front right strut tower. If it is sticking, it can cause the turbo to run off wastegate spring (Read: Really slow) and or variations in the amount boost being provided by the turbo (Surging power) as well. ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/02-wrx-gutted-up-pipe-stuck-waste-gate/60921/16 "2009-01-08T08:36:20Z")
> [@Bacon](#): > > If it’s intermittent check/clean the (Boost)Duty Control Solenoid on the front right strut tower. If it is sticking, it can cause the turbo to run off wastegate spring (Read: Really slow) and or variations in the amount boost being provided by the turbo (Surging power) as well. thank you, ill have him check that