Sure it does.

You have less RPM and the engine works harder to maintain the lower speed. If you didn't have a supercharger to compensate with boost, your trans would downshift and bring RPM'* back up.

You are getting as bad as me with this whole..what should the boost read. Wanna buy a new gauge installed in a trim panel to ensure what yours reads

I was thinking of (eventually) getting a secondary boost gauge, along with a couple others. I never really paid much attention to my boost gauge before. Now I'm noticing this 'problem' and it'* been going on for a while (since I was at your place last). I don't even know how long it'* been this way. I do get full boost at WOT most times, depending on where in the gears I decide to mash the gas. Car drives fine otherwise.

I still haven't disconnected the elbow from the BCS and plugged it. But isn't that to test if I'm getting FULL boost? Because I know I am. :?

My brake pads are in dire need of changing, and my struts sound like Rice Krispies when I go over bumps. I have to focus on those first I guess.

Pete, that can also isolate a possible vacuum leak from the BCS back to the SC.

I'm checking this out today. I'm basically looking to see if my boost gauge hangs around 0 still? I hope I don't have any more hidden vac leaks anywhere. The EGR tube is the only one I know of. Jim had a hell of a time getting the vacuum problem fixed on this engine. I hope it'* not coming back to haunt me.

Bill, I didn't check this today, but I noticed and remembered after looking at the vac line to the driver'* side of the BCS, that it is slightly pinched in the middle. It'* been that way since the original vac lines were rotting and were replaced. You said it was an "elbow" but was it originally a literal "elbow" piece that was there?

I know Boosty has/had this issue with the same vac line. I don't know how much a slightly pinched line would affect anything, but I want to fix it somehow with a new line sometime. I was actually thinking of finding some kind of elbow piece that would fit.

Have you checked your fuel trims? I remember when my first mini AFC pooped out, it went real lean, so much that the PCM could not compensate and the cruise would open the throttle up more to get more air in to request even more fuel to make enough power. Thus the higher boost at cruising speeds.

Something to think about.

I haven't checked my fuel trims. I don't have a scantool unfrotunately. The only thing I have checked regarding fuel is the pressure, and it'* ridiculously high (54psi at idle I believe). Could be restriction in the return line or the FPR. You've got me thinking though...

I was driving home last night, I put cruise control on for the first time ever (I fixed it Sunday) and with cruise on at 64mph, my boost gauge was moving around on it'* own. I'll have to study it more closely before I jump to conclusions, because for the most part it held at -5.

I do have a vac leak and am sure I'm running lean. My EGR tube has a large crack in it. I can hear the hissing of the air at the tube when the hood is open, it'* that noticeable. I'm really wondering if replacing this would solve some of my issues (I have one coming to me).

Pete, boost-hunting in cruise is normal. The PCM varies boost rather than RPM. Cruising at -5 is pretty typical as well.

Yes, your EGR tube could have alot to do with it. At least in the sense that if the PCM knows you're lean, it'* going to pull timing, and possibly boost as well.

I believe that is what is happening (PCM pulling boost) but it doesn't do it all the time. Last night on the way home I was very heavy on the gas around 90 and the car just didn't have full power (I didn't check the boost gauge to see if it was up to potential because I was concentrating on the road).

Thanks for clearing up the cruise thing. It has never worked (someone disconnected the wire harness inside the steering column! ) so I didn't know what the boost gauge was supposed to act like with it on.

I'm not driving the Bonne until Friday and I will see how she drives and check out that boost test then.

Thanks Bill for the phone calls. I lubed up the BCA, disconnected the top line trying to make it not go down all the way. Out of at least 40 times trying, it extended 100% every time. And I'm very unsuccesful in finding any vac leaks besides the EGR tube.

Hopefully the EGR tube I ordered will arrive asap, and we'll see how things improve from there. If nothing else improves I think I'll go with a new CAT anyways, since it is original from my knowledge. It could very well explain my intermittent power loss issues.

This is what I need to do:

EGR tube
replace vac line from BCA to BCS (elbow)
Hi-Flow CAT

EDIT: I also used some gasket maker (thermostat/waterpump) between the egr tube flange and bracket, in hopes of sealing the hole. We'll see how that works until I get the new tube.