WGA failure.. someone please enlighten me

[msp1986]

so ive heard alot about WGA failure on our cars but know nothing about it. What exactly does that mean.. what are some symptoms of it. forgive me i am a noob when it comes to MSPs.. also with the ATP WGA is it safe to run the 9 pounds that it runs from install?? someone please help

[greasemonkey524]

When the WG fails usually the diaphram tears and it doesn't stop building boost. Most of the time you'll hit fuel cut if that happens but it's wise to get a boost guage if you don't already have one. A good way to check to see if the WG is bad is to blow into the vacuum line going to the WG. If you can blow through that line without any resistance it is time for a new one. I myself have the ATP WG and with this warmer weather I'm not really seeing it sit at 9lbs anymore. It would be a good idea to have some supporting mods to run that boost but you might not get it using the ATP. Hope this helps you.

[bradboyd80]

I thought the ATP only ran 7psi? I noticed in your other thread you already have a boost gauge installed right? What's it showing while in boost? Any fluctuations or holding steady? And at what psi?

[Wagonbacker9]

adding a FMIC and/or opening up the exhaust (mostly downpipe and cats) will actually raise the boost on these cars without touching any sort of boost control. I got about an extra pound out of my car just putting in my relatively small fmic.

everything greasemonkey said about the WGA is accurate, however if your car doesn't cut fuel (if it is you'll KNOW.. its rather violent when it cuts fuel) you run a high risk of blowing your motor.

[msp1986]

see and thats what makes me unsure that my problem is wga failure. it seems to build to full boost by 3500 in every gear and sits anywhere from 5 to 7 depending on the gear. so with wga failure it would go higher than that, because sometimes my car does feel like its just hitting a wall ( reference my other post) which could be fuel cut??

[Wagonbacker9]

saw the other post, don't think its your WGA, you'd be overboosting if the WGA was bad. or you'd never be building full boost if the WG was stuck open

[bradboyd80]

Yeah, if your boost is holding steady at 5-7psi, then its definitely not wga failure.

[nullbyte]

when you WGA fails your car doesn't stop boosting. A WGA is what limited the amount of boost on your turbo. Without a WGA the turbo would just keeping boosting till something breaks :)


Really sounds like your issue is fuel cut. Clean your injectors and test for fuel pressure. If that doesn't help then thinking about getting some sort of fuel controller unit.

[msp1986]

I used seafoam an a fuel addativr to clean out the fuel system and injectors and that didn't help... Could it be a vacuum leak on one of the lines to something fuel related or even just as simple as cleaning the maf? I just don't understand why it happens only when it's hot..

[bradboyd80]

Mine does it a lot too so you aren't alone. Honestly the only thing I can think of that I haven't done yet is coils and wires. They go bad pretty often on our cars.

[Wagonbacker9]

you've done plugs recently, right? what'd you gap them to? what kinda plugs?

[bradboyd80]

you've done plugs recently, right? what'd you gap them to? what kinda plugs?

In his other thread he said he's using double platinums. Not sure what he gapped them at.

[Wagonbacker9]

if they're the Bosch Platnium +2's... get them the hell out of there. these cars don't respond well to ungapped plugs. if they aren't, I still recommend swaping out for NGK ZFR6F-11s, gap at .030

[msp1986]

they are champion double platinums, i just grabbed them at pepboys cause they pulled up in the system as a good oem replacement for turbo mazda. i havent gapped them yet i kinda forgot to actually but .030 is what i understand to be correct as far as the wga goes i can blow through it pretty easily but its still holding boost fine at 5 to 7

[Wagonbacker9]

they are champion double platinums, i just grabbed them at pepboys cause they pulled up in the system as a good oem replacement for turbo mazda. i havent gapped them yet i kinda forgot to actually but .030 is what i understand to be correct as far as the wga goes i can blow through it pretty easily but its still holding boost fine at 5 to 7

first, make sure you get the plugs gapped... wrong gap = bad news...

you're sure you have the line secured and there are no other exits than the WGA when you're blowing into the line? VERY strange that boost would be stead and WGA would be shot. What vacuum reading are you getting at idle?

[bradboyd80]

Yeah, that's definitely weird that you can blow through the wga, but its holding boost...(boom07)

[msp1986]

*update*
i chamged out the plugs to NGK Single Platinums and gapped them at .030. theres not too much difference and the problem persists... my vacuum reads about 15 to 20 at idle but keep in mind i am in colorado. and as for the wga maybe i should change it out anyway? and the vacuum lines are almost all brand new

[Wagonbacker9]

15-20 still sounds low. the vac reading is between the IM and atmosphere, so regardless of altitude it shouldn't change.. unless I'm misapplying boyle's law... for the 60 bucks or so that an ATP will cost you, in my mind its worth it to rule it out... it may just be that the WGA is giving you a vac leak which is throwing things off bad enough to be weird, but when boost builds its still opening the WG... idk, its a stretch, but stranger things have happened.

either way I say pick up an ATP and give her a shot.

[msp1986]

i think ill give the atp a try as long as it wont blow my motor running more boost than factory

[Wagonbacker9]

atp is the same boost setting as stock. the forge is adjustable/rebuildable.

[mazdaspeedp]

yeah i got an atp and it runs good always boosts too 5psi but my plastic pipes are shitty and it still dosent pull very good

[msp1986]

I kind of had an epiphany with all of this... Could it be a crack or leak in the intake manifold.. Kind of explains the loss of power when hot the wga acting fine and boosting full yet still hitting a wall all the loudness from under the hood that sounds like an exhaust leak but no carbon or evidence of leaks anywhere in the exhaust, turbo Mani or turbo. the sound goes back to normal after warm up. Also running lower vac than normal but no evidence of vac leaks anywhere? Thoughts anyone? What does this look like? Symptoms? How to fix? And how to tell/ where to look for a crack/ leak? I also haven't cleaned the maf yet.. Could this be it too?

[bradboyd80]

It never hurts to clean the maf; cleaner will only run you like $3 at a parts store. Have you thoroughly inspected the mani? There could be cracks on the back side that you aren't seeing. Check the bolts too. With all the vibration, they could be loose allowing a small exhaust leak. To check for cracks or leaks in the pipes and hoses that you can't see, try spraying carb cleaner on the intercooler pipes and vacuum lines (one at a time though) while the car is running. If there is a small crack somewhere, the carb cleaner will be sucked in and cause the car to stumble for a sec.

[msp1986]

I've narrowed it down to a bad intake manifold gasket. Ita answers all my questions and explains almost everything.. Thoughts?

[Wagonbacker9]

vac leak? do I get a cookie!? lol

[msp1986]

yes you can have a cookie if you want one... anyways my thought is that a leaky intake manifold or gasket is causing not only the car to feel like its not reacting to boost at all after its hot, but also my vac leak. now if only the damn thing wasnt such a bitch to get to. any ideas on costs to get to it and get it fixed and also if a smoke test will show me the leak? this may be the pot of gold at the end of my msp nightmare rainbow

[Wagonbacker9]

wait... i'm confused... I think you're jumping to a conclusion... did you locate a leak there or are you guessing?

a smoke test will locate any leak... if you can see it... or spray carb cleaner in the area... if the idle doesn't change.... keep looking.

[mazdaspeedp]

yeah i say its more likely the intercooler and pipeing than the intake but idunno im gonna replace my pipes soon

[NathanR]

i think ill give the atp a try as long as it wont blow my motor running more boost than factory
I've got a complete exhaust, cai, and the atp wga and i'm at 9.6lbs of boost (peak)

[msp1986]

What's safe as far as boost to run? Sorry if this has been addressed but I'm unsure and will a cai and catback be sufficient?

[Wagonbacker9]

10 lbs is the limit. there are some of these cars that for whatever reason hold 12 without grenading, but the common logic is that over 10psi you're really asking for trouble, (without supporting mods, and especially a tune).

[msp1986]

Ok so here's the verdict... Just got the car back from Mazda WGA is failing hardcore and three exhaust Mani bolts were extremely loose. Also got to ride in a new Nissan GT-R it was insane like literally perfection in a car.. Sooooo where can I get that ATP wastegate???

[Wagonbacker9]

protegegarage.com carries it, i believe.

[bradboyd80]

or *************.com