17.04.2004: Saab 9-5 boost gauge install

We have a new home on Github! Go right ahead to bookmark and contribute... Or stay here if you like 2000's websites.

17.04.2004: Saab 9-5 boost gauge install

Home

[expand all] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 [index]

17.04.2004: Fuse boxes
Looking from the engine side, the access to one cluster is blocked by the strut tower and the fuse boxes are blocking the other. I pick the fuse boxes.

[..^ up ^..]

A turbocharged car without a boost gauge is no fun. It's not that you really need it, but knowing what's really happening with your engine helps a bit, and the pressure surges when you mash the pedal sure are entertaining.

My car was among those unfortunate Saabs that came without a boost gauge (not that the standard one is very useful though), and I long wanted to fix that. Here's a detailed (maybe too detailed) description of the installation process. (And I did wash the engine a couple of days after performing this work ;)

The measurements I'm getting from a 1999 Saab 9-5 2.3t with a low pressure turbo are: the vacuum is 18-20 Hg at idle, 15 Hg while driving, up to 24 Hg when coasting. With the stock engine the boost during the moderate acceleration settled around 5 psi, the highest I've seen at WOT is 9 psi. An ECU upgrade from BSR raised these numbers to 12-13 psi in second gear and 14-15 psi in third.