Possible stuck wastegate?

[clan]

I've noticed that since I got my elan last week the boost gauge doesn't go above 0.4, it still feels very quick though, but as I've never driven one before then I've nothing to compare it against. Does this sound like a stuck wastegate?

[Enright]

Normally because the wastegate is sprung shut, that's the position it siezes in.
When that happens, the performance becomes ballistic and totally uncontollable, with the boost flying right off the scale.
Then as a safety feature the ECU cuts the fuel (it's VERY abrupt!), engages limp-home mode for a while and sets the engine check light off.

If it never goes above 0.4 then that MIGHT indicate a wastegate that's stuck open, but I've not come across one that's done that before.

I believe that the standard ECU map boosts to 0.65 in short bursts, but like you say, the car is so rapid and the boost guage is so far out of your line of sight, that you can't really keep your eye on it while accelerating hard.

Can I suggest that you just get used to your new car's delights (and limitations - i.e. brakes) in standard trim for a while? I would be the same about wanting to know that everything is simply working correctly, so if you can find one to compare with then so much the better. But it all sounds pretty ok to me.

[clan]

Normally because the wastegate is sprung shut, that's the position it siezes in.
When that happens, the performance becomes ballistic and totally uncontollable, with the boost flying right off the scale.
Then as a safety feature the ECU cuts the fuel (it's VERY abrupt!), engages limp-home mode for a while and sets the engine check light off.

If it never goes above 0.4 then that MIGHT indicate a wastegate that's stuck open, but I've not come across one that's done that before.

I believe that the standard ECU map boosts to 0.65 in short bursts, but like you say, the car is so rapid and the boost guage is so far out of your line of sight, that you can't really keep your eye on it while accelerating hard.

Can I suggest that you just get used to your new car's delights (and limitations - i.e. brakes) in standard trim for a while? I would be the same about wanting to know that everything is simply working correctly, so if you can find one to compare with then so much the better. But it all sounds pretty ok to me.

I'm going to get the car booked in for a service shortly and I was hoping to get a list of things that didn't seem 100% right for my mechanic to have a look at. I have limited my quick bursts so far to 2nd gear and keeping one eye on the gauge at around 4000 revs it quickly gets to just below the 0.5 mark but stays there, but as I said I am not at all disappointed in the performance, its sounds like one to add to my long term list

[ailwyn]

The boost gauge is notoriously iffy, mine at full boost reads 0.75 max, but the ECU and different (accurate) air pressure gauge tell me I'm running 0.9.

The fist thing you should do (if you haven't already) is get an Elanscan Cable from Geoff and hook the ECU up to a laptop.

Ailwyn

[clan]

The boost gauge is notoriously iffy, mine at full boost reads 0.75 max, but the ECU and different (accurate) air pressure gauge tell me I'm running 0.9.

The fist thing you should do (if you haven't already) is get an Elanscan Cable from Geoff and hook the ECU up to a laptop.

Ailwyn

I did consider that the guage might not be too accurate, so thats good to know. The Elanscan cable is high on my shopping list although I've got a bit of reading to do before I know what I can do with it.

[Rambo]

If it never goes above 0.4 then that MIGHT indicate a wastegate that's stuck open, but I've not come across one that's done that before

Mine did that when I first got it Neil. Felt like a fast GTi but nothing special until it was sorted.

For info Clan2UK, a quick trip to Kenny Broon's in Paisley/Hillington (0141-8826757) sorted the problem. Nice bloke, knows his stuff on Elan's and thoroughly recommendable. Quite a few of us (me, Scott, Stevo, AB2CV etc...) have used KB for servicing, MOT's etc....

[Rambo]

If it never goes above 0.4 then that MIGHT indicate a wastegate that's stuck open, but I've not come across one that's done that before

Mine did that when I first got it Neil. Felt like a fast GTi but nothing special until it was sorted.

For info Clan2UK, a quick trip to Kenny Broon's in Paisley/Hillington (0141-8826757) sorted the problem. Nice bloke, knows his stuff on Elan's and thoroughly recommendable. Quite a few of us (me, Scott, Stevo, AB2CV etc...) have used KB for servicing, MOT's etc....

[clan]

If it never goes above 0.4 then that MIGHT indicate a wastegate that's stuck open, but I've not come across one that's done that before

Mine did that when I first got it Neil. Felt like a fast GTi but nothing special until it was sorted.

For info Clan2UK, a quick trip to Kenny Broon's in Paisley/Hillington (0141-8826757) sorted the problem. Nice bloke, knows his stuff on Elan's and thoroughly recommendable. Quite a few of us (me, Scott, Stevo, AB2CV etc...) have used KB for servicing, MOT's etc....

I'll take a note of the mechanics number just incase, because I'm planning on using the mechanic who used to build my engines and prepare my car when I used to do Sprints and Hillclimbs in the distant past. I'm not sure how much he knows about elans but I'll find out soon.