Re:

[Ralph Poplawsky <ralphp@cellport.com>]

Linus:  Thanks, I will take your advice and call Ned.  I was actually close
to one of his chip upgrades about a year ago, but I spoke to a guy in Denver
who did it and was underwhelmed.  Ned says that at high altitude there is a
boost limit to keep the turbo from spinning itself into oblivion due to the
lack of air resistance.  This may limit the gains we can see with only a
chip upgrade.  The recommended upgrade seems to be the turbo and manifold
change as well.  But, I'll look for your previous posting in the archives.
Ralph Poplawsky

At 03:54 PM 7/31/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Ralph--
>
>call Ned Ritchie, Intended Acceleration, 360-754-1411.  if you haven't
>already.  He has some kind of knowledge base on a computer (in addition to
>the one in his head) and may be able to help you diagnose this as well.
>(when you're done, if you haven't already, buy his stage iii chip upgrade
>for your car--you'll be amazed.  look for my post in the archives from
>about August 96 about me missing dinner :).
>
>See if you can find a good (non-dealer) mechanic who can "time" the
>cams--since you've seen this behaviour before and it was traced to cam
>timing, there's a strong possibility it is as before.  BTW, $250 to replace
>the O2 sensor is *really* excessive--the correct part at either a chain or
>import part store should cost $125 (retail) and it is all of 15 minute to
>change it--that's $500/hour for the dealer price!
>
>A couple things you've probably already checked:  intercooler inlet and
>outlet hoses (they crack), vacuum signal hose for the turbo bypass valve
>(if still in the original routing, it cracks from excess heat in next to
>the wastegate;  also, this hose is a bit too short as delivered from the
>factory, so it will kink where it comes off the throttle body).  
>
>HTH
>--Linus
>'91 200q 20v IAiii
>
>At 09:27 AM 7/31/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>Can anyone help me?  My '91 200TQ 20V has acceleration loss and the dealer
>>may own my house before it is fixed.  The symptom is as follows.  The car
>>runs like a top up to about 1/2 to 2/3 throttle.  After that there is
>>intermittent power loss varying from a 'missing' feeling to cutting in and
>>out to stumbling along and hardly accelerating.  If I back off on the
>>throttle when this happens, the engine smooths out and acceleration actually
>>increases.  The problem appears to be worse in hot weather.  The boost gauge
>>reads full boost.  Repeated acceleration runs sometimes result in temporary
>>improvement.
>>
>>Some background:  Several years ago, there was a similar problem, but with
>>boost loss.  The dealer spent $5000 (in warranty) swapping parts to no
>>avail, and finally figured out (from the factory) that the cam timing was
>>slightly off, the computer was sensing too much advance and shutting down
>>boost.  The current problem began after the 60K mile service at which time
>>the dealer replaced the timing belt.  I don't know if the current problem is
>>related to cam timing or the 60K service, but I'm suspicious.  
>>So far, my dealer has charged me $250 for a new O2 sensor which has not
>>fixed the problem.  He wants the car back to 'go further' but can't really
>>say what that means. The owner of the dealer suggested that the regional
>>service rep would be in, so why not have him look at it.  So, I gave him the
>>information and later heard from the dealers' service department that he had
>>nothing to say about it because he is only interested in 'in-warranty'
>>vehicles. 
>>
>>If anybody has had this problem, or has any good advice. I would be very
>>grateful.   
>>
>>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>* linus toy                       email:  linust@mindspring.com      *
>* mercer island, wa                                                  *
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>