stuck/worn boost control solenoid? Disassembly Possible?

vica153 · Post by **vica153** » Thu May 28, 2009 12:17 am

I got the urge to test my stock BCS to see if it really was broken. Its been out of the loop for atleast 4 years, so I cleaned it with carb cleaner and compressed air. It clicked when tested with 12v.

The first few times I get into boost it spikes to 15+ psi like the wastegate is welded shut.

After a few spikes the ECU realizes something is wrong and just drops it down to the 6psi wastegate pressure. So atleast that portion of the solenoid is working.

I reset the ECU just to see if starting from scratch would help it learn to control boost again, but nothing changed although I didn't really give it much time to learn.

From my searching its seems very common for the stock BCS to stop working correctly. Has anyone ever successfully taken it apart and/or cleaned it with good results?

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Thu May 28, 2009 12:32 am

Hmmmmm... I am sure alot of guys just decided to run MBC. I honestly prefer the ECU controlling my boost. With mine I just filled a bunch of hoses going to the solenoid with seafoa and left it. Seems to work fine.

I wonder if the BCS from a like 02+ subaru works?

93forestpearl · Post by **93forestpearl** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:03 am

The SS BCS is a better unit than a WRX one. The WRX BCS is limited in it's range, and will have a different response than yours. I wouldn't consider it since you can't adjust your boost map like you can with a newer turbo car.

I have an extra stock SS BCS here that worked well for me with my GT2871R up to 23psi. I'd let it go for a small fee.

vica153 · Post by **vica153** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:05 am

So you're still using your stock BCS? Were you having issues that the seafoam fixed?

Yeah I kinda want to get it working so if I get a revtronics chip I can see how it controls boost differently.

Lol seafoam, fixer of all problems. I may try soaking it in seafoam before I think about busting it open.

Has anyone ever broken one of them open to see what is getting stuck or worn out?

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:19 am

To be honest it was probably fine to begin with but I figured some seafoam where it connects to the wastegate actuator mainly and any other hoses I could access I filled with seafoam thinking it would help lube seals and make things seal better.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:50 am

Are you sure you have the hoses hooked up correctly?

Solenoids don't typically break unless they have been misused/abused or you have excessively high duty cycles.

vica153 · Post by **vica153** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:04 am

Crap, I got half way thru writing a "yeah its hooked up right, i looked at that diagram" post, but then decided to check it. Somehow in between looking at the diagram on my computer and walking outside I mixed them up in my head.

Hopefully running the wastegate/compressor hoses backwards doesn't break it.

Update in 45min.

Legacy777 wrote:Are you sure you have the hoses hooked up correctly?

Solenoids don't typically break unless they have been misused/abused or you have excessively high duty cycles.

vica153 · Post by **vica153** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:34 am

Legacy777, Crusader Against the Stupid, triumphs yet again.

The BCS works much better when you hook it up correctly.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:56 am

Glad to hear it was an easy fix.

Yeah the BCS works much better when it can bleed boost off correctly

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stuck/worn boost control solenoid? Disassembly Possible?

stuck/worn boost control solenoid? Disassembly Possible?