Lurching at high RPM

On hotter days, right when my turbo should start spinning, I get a violent lurching/jerking/stuttering motion. Cold days, it’ll do it about .5-1 second after I hear my turbo start. I’ve also noticed that my fuel pump has started to whine a bit. Think that could be the problem?

1989 180sx SR20DET

Any suggestions would be great.

Update. Lurching has pretty much stopped, but now I’m getting zero boost from my turbo. I can still hear it spinning but there is no increase in power at all. Any ideas?

Check ur vacuum lines?

the lurching you described, does it feel like your power hits a brick wall for a second? might be fuel cut (injectors hit max duty and ecu cuts fuel and spark completely to avoid running lean and melting a piston).

I checked all the lines that I could see, and everything looked fine to me, but I’m far from a mechanic.

And it does feel like the power hitting a brick wall, but not just for a second. The only way I can start accelerating again when it happens is shifting.

sounds like u have exhaust leeak

that sounds a lot like fuel cut… which usually only happens if you’re boosting too much, or have a huge boost leak causing you to run ultra-rich past the point the injectors can supply. have you done a boost leak test on it? its a good thing to do even if it isn’t the source of the problem. you can make a tester with about 10 dollars in parts from RONA and a tire valve from canadian tire.

you strap this onto the turbo inlet and hook up an air compressor or bike pump and start pumping. listen for hisses, and/or spray soapy water (windex etc works) on every possible leak point.

I can’t see the picture but I googled it and I think I’ve got the idea. Is it better to detach the pipe from the inlet and just test directly on the turbo or does it matter?

I made one and attached it directly to the compressor inlet.

Ok the picture’s working for me now. When I googled it I found one that attached a pressure gauge to a second gutted valve stem from the cap. From the tutorial I think it was just to determine whether it was working or not. I’m guessing that as long as you build the tester right and attach it securely it isn’t really necessary though is it?

http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2243455#post2243455
This was the tutorial thing I found.

yeah, you want to put it directly on the turbo inlet.

Although the pressure gauge isnt neccesary, it is helpful in making sure you dont over pressurize the system.

dont have to worrie about over pressuring the system. Max would be like 25 lbs and piped can take much more than that.

Your problem sounds like your actuator clip fell off the ex side of your turbo and its just not actuating. Its the rod deal, you cant miss it! Give that a cheak!

you can just have someone look at the boost gauge… assuming there is one

you can just have someone look at the boost gauge… assuming there is one[/quote]

Unless you have the throttle body open you will not see a reading on the guage.

No boost gauge anyways. Buuut I did another look over to see if there was anything visible and it looks like my fan got a bit too close to one of my hoses (the one feeding into the engine) and there’s a nice slice in it.

Any ideas where to get a replacement?

Question about that hose… Right after I found the hole I took it to NAPA to try and get a replacement, and they said I’d have to go straight through the dealer for it.

Is that true? Wouldn’t I just need a hose rated for the kind of pressure it needs to take? I have no idea how much pressure that is though…