Hi guys. We'll see if I can get a better response here, than the 'zine.

I just installed a cheap boost gauge bought from a small performance shop. I have had my car (2002 1.8TQM) for a couple months. As far as I know, it has never been chipped/flashed. Only mods, other than aesthetic at this point, are Forge DV (green spring) and engine mount. I will more than likely add giac, K04-15, 225 TT's, ER fmic, neuspeed catback in the next few weeks.

At idle, I get a boost reading of -18-20...which I believe is normal. Under normal acceleration I go +0-5 psi. Stomp down on the throttle and it's typical stock-feeling acceleration, but the gauge spikes to 20+ psi.

Question: Is my cheap boost gauge giving me false readings, or is there a chance the car is chipped/flashed and I have not known it? Haven't driven any other Audi's to compare to. What are the chances that my car is already chipped, without me knowing it? I've read it's a night/day difference. I figure if it were chipped and putting 20+ psi, it would be snappin' my neck quick...but it's not. Hopefully just a cheap gauge.

What do you guys think? And yes, I probably should have searched longer and yes, it's probably a stupid question with an obvious answer...but I'd still like an educated opinion, without getting raped. Thanks.

 

I don't have the 1.8T and I own the B5, so I am no expert, but I would guess that the car is chipped.

A chipped A4 is not going to be 'neck snapping quick'. Stock A4 1.8T is ~150 hp. The chip gives around 50hp maybe. At 200 hp, the car isn't going to be all that fast, especially being as heavy as it is. The stock 4cyl A4 is slow. There is a big difference with the chip, but it makes it less slow, not really fast.

The stock turbo doesn't get even close to 20 psi I thought. A chip would also explain the new DV as this is a necessary upgrade with the chip install to handle the increased boost pressure.

Even though the guage is pretty cheap, how cheap could it be? A pressure guage isn't the most complicated mechanism. It should be in the ball park.

 

ummm if its not chippepd you shouldnt be hitting 20psi. if your not chipped and hitting that much boost then you are running lean and thats bad. find out why you are over boosting so much.

 

Rats. Well, I tried contacting the previous owner, so we'll see what he has to say. If it is chipped, then this is a damn slow car stock. Here I was in love because I thought the little 1.8T stock, was a pretty snappy little car. Besides that, I was really looking forward to getting the giac flash.

If it is not, then I may also have a problem. Either bad gauge, or lean engine. If I was constantly running lean, are there any obvious symptoms? I don't have a diagnostics setup yet (will soon).

 

Another note...I thought a DV would limit the amount of boost into the system. Isn't the Forge 007 w/ green spring supposed to hold up to 16psi and "divert" the rest?

****, I have so much to learn. I've always driven NA cars in the past.

 

it sounds like your car is chipped, otherwise you would be going into a safe mode, getting a cel, and the car would be very slow.

 

Even with it chipped I don't think it goes over 16-17 psi

 

If you car is chipped it would need a new DV, and if its chipped you should be running anywhere between 12-14 PSI, not 20. i would suggest taking back that boost gauge, and getting another one, and see if you getting the same readings and your lean. I would search though for cars that are running lean, and see if there hitting 20 PSI Stock.

 

I've been driving the car attentively now for 2 days and have a correction.

It looks as though the peak pressure is holding right around 16 psi. It doesn't feel 16 psi fast. Another thought, could this be a DV problem? If I cannot get ahold of the previous owner, is there any simple way of determining if the car is chipped? I know to check out the ecu, but how about if it is flashed?

 

i bet your chipped if your hitting 16psi. the only way a dv would limit the amout of boost into the system is if it was failing and opening under load. this is why you get a new one when you get chipped becuase the stock on tends to fail under increased boost levels. the dv shouldnt open when you hit a certian boost level but instead when you get off the gas or shift. then the dv will pop open and release the charge air. the reason you have one is to prevent compressor surge, to much surge and you will kill your turbo