2zz Turbo Lift Problems

[Gaz2405]

Hi All,

I seek to be having issues with the lift on my 2zz turbo.

It's running an ECU Master EMU Black and I'm mapping it myself.

The problem:

Lift activates, this is verified by the change in exhaust note and I've check the solenoid is working using the software on the ECU.

What does happen though is the car loses a significant portion of power when in lift.

So much so that staying on the small cam presents better performance to the red line.

So far I've checked and changed the lift bolts and oil screen clean.

It's as if the car is being held back/strangled.

I'm thinking it could be that my 2.5" exhaust is too restrictive or the 2 years using it on my 1zz turbo it's potentially damaged/blocked the cat.

My AfR's and timing are in range and shouldn't be causing the issue.

Any suggestions?

[rusty0273]

Sounds similar to an issue I had and the sports cat was found to have a large chunk from the center blown out and jammed further up the exhaust, restricting flow at high revs. In my setup, you could take a lambda sensor out and see into the Cat to diagnose it.

[Gaz2405]

I'm hoping that's the issue.

I've fabbed up a quick 3" system with a single resonator to see if that works before getting a new system built.

I know the 2zz's can be very temperamental with breathing both exhaust and inlet side, it can be inlet as its forced induction, so pinning my hopes on this.

[JB21]

Hows the battery? Mine had exactly the same issue recently where lift felt very weak on cross over and turned out to be a weak battery.

[Gaz2405]

Hows the battery? Mine had exactly the same issue recently where lift felt very weak on cross over and turned out to be a weak battery.

Wow battery is a weird one, I'll check the logs but I'm sure battery voltage was spot on.

[Gaz2405]

Ok so managed to get to the bottom of this.

There may have been loud shouts of "yes thank feck"

In the end after checking

Lift bolts
OCV
Battery
Bigger exhaust


The only thing I was left to play with was the cam angle in the ECu.

I had it set at 587, I swept it up 10 degrees and it got worse.

So swept it down 10 and it got better.

Another 10 even better.

Eventually settled on 565 iirc.

So checking all the other bits would be fine on a standard ECU.

But having so much adjustability on the EMU black is a blessing and a curse!