I recently got the car and the reson I got it for a good price is because the car had A LOT OF ISSUES. It wasn’t boosting AT ALL. It was undriveable. Previous owner used to drag race the car and was running high 11s at 1/4 mile. Then the car sat for about 2 years after it stopped boosting. A lot of mechanics tried to fix it but I think they made it worse.

B18C GSR stock with APR head studs
had a Turbonetics 54 Turbo now a EBay one.
P06 chipped ECU I don’t know what was use to tune it.
Greedy BOV
Turbonetics wastegate with 2 ports
3 port boost controller
big precision intercooler
runs on E85
Skunk2 intake manifold.
Walbro 255 fuel pump.
Blox FPR
Precision 1200 cc injectors


So far I fixed;

- wideband was dead > wiring and calibrating issues.
- BOV leaked badly > replaced
- vacuum leaks > fixed
- 3 way boost controller hoses unplugged > routed again
- Turbo has play > replaced
- engine harness plug pins at ECU worn and loose > rewired all of them to OBD1
- blocked fuel filter > replaced
- never got to operating temperature > replaced thermostat.
- bad battery terminals and bad grounds > replaced and made new grounds
- starter died > replaced
- shifter very loose and couldn’t find gears > replaced bushings and unbend shaft

The list is just the engine related stuff, I may be forgetting some things I did. After all
of that, car boosts at 4.5 PSI. Maybe I missed a leak somewhere because it runs lean when cruising and at idle when it warms up. Wideband shows 16.0 I did pressure tested the boost pipes but nothing.

My final guess at the moment is to check inside the intercooler for debri. It didn’t have a air filter or a mesh. Maybe it’s blocked. I’ll take a look tonight.

If if you guys have any other ideas let me know.

Removed intercooler and inspected, not blocked. I cleaned the inside with degreaser and water then pressure tested off the car. It’s all good. Pressure tested the rest of the system and found a few small leaks but nothing major (fixed small leaks) Still boosting at 4.5PSI.

Ill remove wastegate tonight to inspect.

I don’t drive the car every day, I just put a new EBay turbo and it also boosting at 4.5 psi. I only drive it when I fix something to see if it fixed it. It goes lean at idle when hot only or while cruising. When I load it, it gradually goes from 16 to 10. It’s fueling for boost under load but the boost is not there. The wideband is NOT connected to the ECM and there is no other O2. I asked my local tuner if they can do something and the response was, “Get a Hondata ECU for $800 and have us tune it for about $600, assuming the tune is the problem”

I have a S300 V1 but it does not have the OBD1 plugs, it has OBD2B which I’m running on my other car. I need to get a OBD1 to OBD2B harness to be able to use it.

If I don’t find anything wrong with the wastegate I’ll get the harness and I’ll have it tune but I have a feeling is not the tune.

i agree with you but everything needs to be working properly mechanically.

Removed wastegate hoses and drove car, 4.5 psi still. With a 10 psi spring mechanically it should boost all the way to 8-10PSI. Removed wastegate and found seal leaking. I’m cleaning the valve and the valve seat. Hopefully this is it.

I took it apart. LOL it has a 7PSI (white) spring with a big “spacer/shim” on it. I took the spacer out and it boosts at 3PSI. I’ll get another spring. Manifold leaking some exhaust at the gasket too.

Turbonetics turbo has the impeller loose but it was still boosting 4.5PSI. I thought it was bad because of the play it had but when I put the EBay turbo I realized it wasn’t the Turbonetics turbo. I found some oil in the intercooler when I took it off to inspect. Turbonetics was starting to leak oil but STILL boosting.

When I took the Turbonetics out, I noticed that the oil restrictor hole for the turbo was way too small for jornal bearing turbos. It had a 1mm restrictor. I drilled it to the size of oil feed hose. Maybe that’s why the Turbonetics Gad shaft play.

I have to put this diagnosis on hold for now until I find a good wastegate. I’ll post some pics of the car if you guys are interested. Keep in mind I got like this.

restrictors that small are for ball bearing turbos. Car does NOT have ball bearing turbo. It looked like a eBay restrictor. I don’t think it came with the Turbonetics turbo.

Speaking of ebay turbos, I do agree that brand turbos are better but this car is not my only car or “my baby” I have to take care of 4 cars and keeping them road worthy is very expensive even if I install the parts my self. I just spend $1,000 fixing my POS Passat. This turbo civic is just a toy.


I already put the perfect sticker on the hood. LOL