*In respect to mtxgalant who is/was experiencing the same thing*

My setup:
TRD Supercharger
Forge 007 BPV-using red spring
NST 9.5 PSI pulley
Gatorback V-belt as suggested by Simplyscion(thanks!)
Everything else stock

My story:
On Saturday, March 25th I had the TRD Supercharger installed along with the other parts mentioned above. The dealership I had it installed at did not have the reflash tool and I was forced to postpone the reflash itself to the following Tuesday as I knew it was indeed driveable without it. After installation, double-check, warm up, re-check, etc., it was time for a test drive. I was soon to discover that the car ABSOLUTELY ripped! I had to hold on tight with both hands to control the steering wheel. Awesome!
During the course of the following Sunday I noticed that the car was just beginning to lose some power. It was such a small difference that I chalked it up to myself getting used to it. The following Monday I experienced more of the same but this time it was even more apparent. I had the tech who did the install and the initial test drive take the car for another spin. He agreed. There was indeed, at this point, a SEVERE powerloss. The next day I had the reflash done hoping for a cure or positive results. No go. The car was overall much more smooth but at this point felt close to stock in regards to power. Till today, I've been doing random checks for leaks, loose hoses, drips, etc. I've tried to be patient, wondering if the ECU just need to time to "learn."

My question:
Why? What could cause this? I also noticed that I was guzzling gas even during casual driving. After trading a PM with mtxgalant, who is using a similar setup and took similar steps during the install, I learned that his solution was e-manage. Based on his dyno numbers, he said he had sizeable gains but still nowhere near what some of you guys are doing. From ~178 hp to ~205 hp. So any suggestions? Is my belt still slipping? Do I need to change springs? Does it take more time? I was hoping to find a simpler solution for the both of us and any other lurkers experiencing something similar.
Thanks in advance.

 

sounds like your MAF sensor might be bad, especially if you are guzzling gas. Have you checked the air/fuel ratio? I wouldn't be surprised if you were running extremely rich. a bad sensor could send way too much gas to the engine which would result in both a powerloss and a huge decrease in MPG.

Also, check for any boost leaks, they are a common and most of the time easy fixes.

 

Thank you for the input. I'll check both.

 

actually while running, remove the dip stick and see how much pressurized gas flows out. I am willing to bet without the reflash you cracked some ringlands.

 

I didnt wanna be the one to say that

 

just watching. The reflash is a must!!

 

how soon after must the reflash be done?...i don't wanna jack the thread or anything but i just won the TRD supercharger on ebay...from a certain company use might know...(ZPI)...it comes with everything but i gotta get the reflash done myself...and i figure i can get it done at my job cause i work at a lexus dealer...but how quickly do i have to do it?...

 

before you even drive it

 

EXACTLY, Why risk something for a few days of driving?

 

Yep, I mean if you drive it and never get on it at all then it would be fine, but who in there right mind would drive a supercharged car and not get on it. Send the ecm to trd sparks, have them flash it and away ya go.

 

Yes I had the same problem as Wyatt is now having. I had no boost leaks, nothing was wrong mechanically cuz we took it apart 3 times and put it back together. It was the ECU and the reflash. Ringlands are fine and dandy, so stop trying to scare the man. I was running extremely rich as he is now. I was in 10.0 AFR, and now after E-manage I am 11.8-11.9. I was puttin down 178whp and 152wtq, now after my e-manage tune, i am at 202whp,184wtq on a dyno dynamics, which is around 215-220whp on a dyno jet which is the numbers EVERYONE has ben putting up. Dyno DYNAMICS give resistence as u go up in horsepower, therefore they yield 5-10% less numbers than dyno jets. If you don't believe me ask Kenny at ZPI or Mike at NST. They will concure with the dyno readings. Anyhow, I had alittle communications with my e-manage software during my tune so the guy could only adjust AF. My pressure sensor wasnt able to come up and my map trace. Thats my story. Let you guys know how the 12 psi pulley, new injectors, and new tune with the new software i acquired goes!

 

Oh AND I had my ECU reflashed TWICE!! problem still occurred.

 

The first thing that popped into my mind regards the reflash and you driving the car on the stock computer. The computer is able to handle the 6 lbs of boost that the supercharger puts out no problem. However, due to the fact that you are running more boost and you did it without reflashing, that could be your problem. Hopefully, e-manage will cure the problem and you didn't screw up something in your engine while running it under relitively high boost on the stock computer. Good luck.

 

Not tryin to scare him, simply asked him to check it out. I would not ask if it has not happened many times before.

 

WHYYY did u put upgrades on the sc b4 reflash?
WHYYY did the dealer let u leave with it if they couldnt reflash it?
WHYYY didnt u get a rental car from them till your car was right?

 

watching

 

Alright! I thought this was a dead topic. Thank you all for the input. I will perform desertheat's suggestion today and see what happens.

 

I'll tell you exactly what the problem is.... And i know im 100% correct, trust me. Your Belt is slipping on the charger pulley, you are loosing boost. The GatorBack belt is a good belt, but does not grip well at all. Not good for supercharger applications. I had the same problem with my car, i saw a drop in boost on my gauge 2 days after putting the Gatorback belt on. My team-mate also had the exact same problem with his Celica with the Greddy charger. He had the GatorBack belt, then put a Comptech belt on (softer rubber) and got all his boost back. I use a Dayco belt, it is a cheap belt, but is soft, grips well.

 

oh, one more thing.. don't worry about the driving around for a few days without the reflash, the knock sensor will pull back the timing way before detonation occurs, no harm done.

 

Belts not a problem. I have a boost guage and when i had the problem i was getting all my 9 pounds of boost. Its the reflash, i'm telling u. I thought i was the only one in the world with this problem and now wyatt is having it.