Took my car out for a run on the 405 and just got back... Looked at my turbo with heat shield and could see a glow under it...

Your AFR reading and timing seems good...

I believe my AFR, timing, and condition of engine is good so
I think its normal...

I know my friends RX7 turbo glows red when he comes over at night... My friend's Honda does too...

I know a clogged cat can do that too though...

So I don't think its abnormal for it to glow as long as it cools down with the turbo timer... Mine is back to normal already...

But since you had to turn the distributor so much, I'd definitely check how the Haltech is suppose to work and hook up all the sensors before your next run especially 1 for TB... temp going to Haltech would be way different...

 

So are you maxed out on adjustment for distributor?

Maybe can try another timing gun...

you jumped TE1 & E1?

How does Haltch deal with timing?

 

Yes I pretty much maxed out the distributor to set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC. I can advance it maybe a degree or 2 before its maxed.

I tried 2 different timing lights, same result.

I just remembered something, when adjusting base timing I'm supposed to "lock the timing" in the Haltech when setting base timing and then unlocking when I'm done. Maybe that would have something to do with it. I deleted the factory Diag. port since I don't need it with the Haltech, locking the timing in the Haltech would do the same as jumping the diag. pins when setting the timing.

I'm going to redo the base timing after I get the IAT bung welded on to my cold pipe and install the IAT. I need to wire up the wideband to the Haltech too, then I can datalog everything and see exactly what it's doing.

I have no cat on the car, and it has a 3 inch downpipe and Berk exhaust.

I've seen turbos glow before but only after hard pulls, it doesn't seem right that it glows from just cruising. If thats the case, wouldn't it get even hotter if I actually pushed it? It's already hot enough to discolor and harden the turbo blanket.

 

Yes I pretty much maxed out the distributor to set the timing to 10 degrees BTDC. I can advance it maybe a degree or 2 before its maxed.

I tried 2 different timing lights, same result.

I just remembered something, when adjusting base timing I'm supposed to "lock the timing" in the Haltech when setting base timing and then unlocking when I'm done. Maybe that would have something to do with it. I deleted the factory Diag. port since I don't need it with the Haltech, locking the timing in the Haltech would do the same as jumping the diag. pins when setting the timing.

I'm going to redo the base timing after I get the IAT bung welded on to my cold pipe and install the IAT. I need to wire up the wideband to the Haltech too, then I can datalog everything and see exactly what it's doing.

I have no cat on the car, and it has a 3 inch downpipe and Berk exhaust.

I've seen turbos glow before but only after hard pulls, it doesn't seem right that it glows from just cruising. If thats the case, wouldn't it get even hotter if I actually pushed it? It's already hot enough to discolor and harden the turbo blanket.

That would do it. You can also post up a screenshot of the ignition timing map that haltech gave you. It should be pretty obvious if there is too much timing in the cruise range by looking at it.

 

I guess when you check out the timing base map setup for the haltech it might change... hope that's the case...

My turbo heat shield has definitely changed colors... I just got it a week ago...

I want to get some type of EGT setup next to see how hot the exhaust is actually getting...

My friends tell me their turbos glow on just normal highway driving... I'm just not sure to what extent... I just know they glow even with normal driving... I've seen it when we meet up and park our cars...

But my MR2's turbo was glowing after a normal cruise on the frwy tonight; so I'm not sure...Not as bright as my friends but I still see a glow...
But my readings, temps, and the way the car runs is great...

Let us know when you figure it out... I want to go standalone soon myself and learn...:thumbup

 

Here's a shot of the timing table.

 

I don't think you have enough timing in the cruise range. This is the timing map for the 3sgte from DIYAutotune and has a fair bit more timing. Proper ignition timing has a lot to do with egt's.

However, I would first set your base timing correctly see if that helps.

 

Great info... Much easier to read the graphs from the earlier Haltech software... Hope you get the base timing map figured out... Looks like a fun ride...

 

Here is a blog of a Miata guy dealing with this exact same issue.

http://megamiata.blogspot.co.il/

 

Thanks for all the info guys, as soon as I get a chance to readjust the timing and install the IAT I will report back with what happens.

 

Just to be sure...

line up the crank pulley and cam gear marks again and check #1 piston for TDC... Theres a possibility the inner ring of dampner (crank) moved some while the outer ring with timing mark stayed in place from wear and tear...

Informed from other forum...

 

So I finally had time to tinker around with the car again. I uploaded a new map where I plugged in timing numbers from a Supra base map. I tweaked the numbers a little more, took it for a spin, no more glowing turbo!! The timing was definitely the issue! More specifically the timing around the cruising areas of the map (2000rpm to 3500rpm). The timing numbers from my MR2 base map were in the mid 20's when they should have been in the upper 30's to low 40's.

I still need to mess around with the triggers to see if that will fix the distributor/base timing issue but I'm glad the glowing turbo problem has been fixed.

Btw I checked the mechanical timing of the cams and crank with a dial gauge and an extension into Cyl 1 and the timing was dead on, thankfully... It would have been a pain to take off the belt and realign everything.

Thank you guys for all the help!!

 

Ok that's good news and a good reference for the future when I get my standalone...

So you don't have any glow at all now?

Wondering why I have a glow cruising the 405... granted I have to go up a slight incline for 5 + miles but not boosting; but my MR2 seems like it's running really good right now... all temps, AFR readings are where they should be... Going to add the EGT gauge soon...

Thanks for the update...

 

That's correct, no glow at all. Granted I didn't push it too much, I still hit 7psi and actually drove it twice as long as I did before (when I had the glowing issue) and it doesn't glow at all.

What all do you have done to your car?

Here's a vid I got of it shooting a fireball when I first got it running :smile:
https://youtu.be/HIjG6w6KdJY

And I finally finished painting the piping and wiring everything up. I need to wash everything down but the bay is pretty much done. My TRD rear strut bar is off getting powder coated.

 

The A2W setup fits nice in the bay... Looking clean!!!:thumbup

It's a very dark orange glow, not bright... After turbo timer kicks off; it's already back to normal...

I was going to get 3rd gen electronics till I priced out all the parts... It was getting to the point that I can get a standalone saving alittle more money so that's what I'm saving for atm...

Maybe it's the 5+ mile incline to get to my place... The RX7 turbo glows alot... He swore he wasn't pushing it...Way brighter than my housing...

I think I'm ok?

 

Also what is the intake temp with your A2W setup?

 

I think you're right, that sounds normal for a long incline. When my turbo was glowing, it was BRIGHT orange and it would glow like that after flat land cruising at 65 mph for literally 5 to 7 minutes of driving.

A2W is not done yet. When I get some time I need to fix a hole that's in my heat exchanger that was caused by a rock or something on the road. I didn't even get to fill the system yet before it happened I hope I have some time tomorrow night to braze it and fill the system. I would be doing that right now if my GF wasn't going to murder me. She's already annoyed that I'm on the forums all the time and not watching freakin Vampire Diaries with her, lmao.

 

Hahaha sounds like the same with the old lady...

Sucks about the damage, but it looks like you'll be able to take care of that so I'm sure it'll be running hard soon...