Having SSQV Problems? look: - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

LOW DID · 10-19-2003, 02:50 PM

i did a search and found similar complaints about the ssqv and its flutter characteristic. but i think my situation is unique.

my setup
88 honda crx
-i have a zc motor 1.6l
-garrett TO3 turbo (small)
-im running 5-10psi
-the bov is about 12 inches from the throttle body
-the bov flutters at any boost level, at higher boost it just flutters louder
-i am very aware of the adjuster, and it makes little to no difference
-i have the purple spring/diapham thingy

i have tried these things to solve the problem (none helped)
-tried teeing off the brake booster line
-tried using a biggar sized line (3/8ths + clamps)
-makes the same noise with the vacuum line disconnected
-ive tried about 4 different vacuum sources
-im getting a good vacuum reading (22hg at idle)

i dont even get a little chirp, its just a big loud shutter, or flutter.
it sounds very much like surge, but im not positive.

hks desinged the bov wrong, there never should have been a spring in it.
i took the spring out and sealed it back up. no compressor surge any more, just a nice clean whoosh with an added high pitched whistle.

it sounds like this now
http://alltrac.net/media/HKS-SS.wav high boost
http://alltrac.net/media/hksSSBOV.mp3 low boost

a push type bov relys on vacuum to open up, but it is also opened by the pressure of the boost on the piston.

now... a pull type bov is closed by pressure on the piston, and therefore, when you let off the throttle after in full boost there is extra pressure pushing on the piston, thus making it hard to open as it is. and when you install a spring behind the vacuum diaphram you are adding ADDITIONAL pressure keeping the piston closed.

so the vacuum in the pull type situation has to fight off both boost pressure in the line as well as a spring.

do you know why i know the spring should not be there and the vacuum source is not strong enough in any car to open....the valve should be fully open at idle, because there is no pressure on the piston from boost and there is maximum vacuum right?
wrong, not even idle vacuum is strong enough to open that spring.

do you see what im saying?

but regardless of how my theory works or what you think is normal for this valve, i have why would it chatter and then make a nice clean whoosh with no spring? the chatter noise is either the valve stuck closed and is compressor surge or it is the valve slightly openging and then closing again, also causeing surge.

the fact is, even without the spring it seals under boost and is really responsive.
it also does a real good job of releasing boost in a big burst of air rather than a long chatter noise.

all i know is my bov works great now, and sounds incredible, it sounds like it should

johnyquest · 10-19-2003, 07:41 PM

dunno about everything you said, but i do know this: if the noise you hear is the same with /without the vaccum source connected, then all your hearing is compressor surge. If find it all kinda weird, though. We put an hks ssqv on my buddy's greddy civic and it does what it should.

good luck

LOW DID · 10-19-2003, 09:27 PM

the question i have for you is this:

the ssqv is closed at idle right?
now how is the vacuum suppost to open the valve after you let off the throttle if it cant even open the valve under full vacuum at idle?
in fact there would be even more resistance when you let off the gas because the boost would be putting pressure holding the diaphram closed.

trust me, the spring in the ssqv is all wrong, the reason i know this is for the simple fact that i took my spring out, and changed nothing else on my valve and it works now so i dunno what you can say about that?

Defi4nce · 10-19-2003, 11:01 PM

Did you ever put your hand infront of the BOV and rev the car?
Then repeat with the vacume source dissconnected?

Biff · 10-20-2003, 06:56 AM

So, you're saying that HKS's millions of dollars in research, and millions of units sold are ALL WRONG because you've been having difficulty with yours.

I installed mine in my GReddy turbo Civic, and it works exactly like it should. Several friends of mine have the same BOV, and it works exactly like it should for them as well.

LOW DID · 10-20-2003, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biff
So, you're saying that HKS's millions of dollars in research, and millions of units sold are ALL WRONG because you've been having difficulty with yours.

I installed mine in my GReddy turbo Civic, and it works exactly like it should. Several friends of mine have the same BOV, and it works exactly like it should for them as well.

first of all, whats up man, i live in winnipeg too.

second, how do you explain the high number of cases where the bov doesn't work right?
why would it work right on some cars and not others with the exact same hookup and vacuum pressures?
when i disconnected my vacuum line it made the same noise as it did with the spring in the bov.
when i took the spring out it was mint mint mint.

and you still havent answered any of my questions
the ssqv is closed at idle right?
now how is the vacuum suppost to open the valve after you let off the throttle if it cant even open the valve under full vacuum at idle?
in fact there would be even more resistance when you let off the gas because the boost would be putting pressure holding the diaphram closed.

Biff · 10-20-2003, 10:19 AM

Another Winnipegger on the board? Word.

Anyway, damn if I know why the inner workings with the spring and whatnot aren't working out for you. I'm simply saying that it's a very popular BOV, and the design hasn't changed in several years, cuz it has never needed changing. And like I said, I know of a few people with it installed, unmodified, and it works perfectly fine, including myself.

LOW DID · 10-20-2003, 10:27 AM

yeah, ive heard of it working on most cars and failing on a few.
the reason i have to remove the spring is because no one can tell me why it never worked before.
regardless, the post is just here to offer a solution for the other people running the ssqv with flutter.

i even posted my problem on the hksusa website and no one could tell me why it wasn't working right.

also, i have heard of people having problems with surge at low boost. some people will get that nice chirp at full boost but if they only partial boost they get some chatter.
i dont even get chatter at low boost.
at low boost i get a nice chhhhhhhh, like when you open a shaken pop bottle cap slowly.

and at 9psi on my tiny turbo i get that high pitched bark.

im just saying what is the purpose of the spring, and if hks made the design so good, why does it work better with parts taken out?

hawjdude · 10-20-2003, 01:24 PM

My hks ssqbov works great and has that nice clean sound.

LOW DID · 10-20-2003, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hawjdude
My hks ssqbov works great and has that nice clean sound.

im happy for you, but im not talking about the cases where the bov works, i myself know of lots that work just fine im just saying that there is cases where people have problems just as i had.

eghybrid · 10-23-2003, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LOW DID
im happy for you, but im not talking about the cases where the bov works, i myself know of lots that work just fine im just saying that there is cases where people have problems just as i had.

HKS has this to say...

All,
HKS USA does not recommended taking apart the SSQV's in anyway. Nor does HKS sell any type of rebuild parts, kits, etc for the SSQV's. The only available parts for sale are the C-Clips, O-rings, flanges, recirc fittings and vacuum filters.

At HKS USA, we have not had too many SSQV's that are found to be defective. In fact of all the SSQV's that have been returned to us for inspection, 99.2% have been found not to have any problems.
However, there are possibilities of problems when WRONG information is given to the end-users in regards to the adjustment bolt on the back of the valve. The bolt is preset at the factory in Japan. It is ONLY to be adjusted if there is a leak at idle. If the adjustment bolt is tightened too much, there will be little room for the valves to open and make an attempt to relieve pressure.

On the subject of taking the valve apart:

THE ONLY TIME AN SSQV SHOULD BE TAKEN APART IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO REPLACE OR REMOVE THE CENTER EMBLEM OR ADD A RECIRCULATION FITTING.

The diapragm inside of the SSQV CANNOT be replaced. It is preassembled as one unit. Making an attempt to remove the diaphragm WILL bend the aluminum valve, Damaging it. HKS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY if it has been tampered with.

Please note that all valves do not sound the same on all cars. MR2's and Eclipses for example are considerably louder than Supras, Skylines, and Subaru's in the blow off valve decibel contests.

If you feel that you are having problems with your HKS SSQV, try changing the vacuum source, some work better than others. If your valve is still covered under the HKS 1 year warranty, and you feel that the valve is truly defective, take it back to the Authorized HKS Dealer that you purchased it from and they will send it in to us for inspection.
Please note that for the best possible service before and after sales of HKS Products, we highly recommend that any HKS products be purchased through our Authorized HKS Dealers, http://www.hksusa.com/dealers/.

Thanks,
HKS USA

LOW DID · 10-23-2003, 11:56 PM

that doesn't tell me shit.
why did you even post that?

all they said is they dont recommend taking the valve apart, thats just the same as a honda dealer saying dont change the timing belt yourself, bring it to us....
big suprise...

again, why did you post this?
im not saying the valve is defective, im saying it has a shitty design.
you will never get a straight answer or explaination from hks themselves, they will just give you the copied and pasted bullshit reply that they give everyone.

if you have a point, please explain

Defi4nce · 10-24-2003, 12:03 AM

Shitty design? Thats a false statement.

Did you ever put you hand infront of the valve and rev the car?
Then repeat with the vacume source dissconnected?

LOW DID · 10-24-2003, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Defi4nce
Shitty design? Thats a false statement.

Did you ever put you hand infront of the valve and rev the car?
Then repeat with the vacume source dissconnected?

actually when the spring was still in my valve i would get the same sound from the valve whether the vacuum line was connected or not.
CH CH CHC HCCH CHC CH CHCH
compressor surge man.

and if that is a false statement why cant you prove it to be false

ive sent my own letter to hks and ill keep you people posted on the results