how do i tell if the intercooler needs replacing ?

[Suprasteve]

looking at it through the gap in the bumper it clearly has seen better days but stills looks in ok condition but then what do i know ?

 

apart from looking to see if the fins are broken/bent/damaged/missing what are the tell tale signs when driving ?

 

for example since the weather has heated up recently after driving it hard for a while the peak boost seems to reduce. Starts off hitting the desired 1.2 bar after a while its only hitting 1 bar and eventually down to 0.9bar. If i crank the boost up using the boost controller i can get it back up to over 1bar again but thought this wasn't such a good idea and stopped straight away.

 

The next day its fine again obviously once cooled down.

 

All pipes appear to be ok and apart from this the car is running great.

 

BTW i believe its still the standard 1994 factory one, my car has done apox 90k miles.

 

would you say its the intercooler or maybe something else ?

[wkdtime]

Ask it:D

 

 

Check the fins, if they're all flakey and bent....then you need a change.

 

Boost drops are common with the hot temps, it's also when your intercooler is working the hardest, if in doubt then just get it replaced, 90k plus miles it's pretty much due i say.

[Suprasteve]

Do you know a guide price on standard and modified ?

 

at BPU level is it necessary to have a front mounted intercooler ?

[jamesmark]

A new smic is £1000+ from Mr T iirc, from Miami Gt it is around £250 ish maybe more contact Andyhannah for exact price he also sell an uprated one for just over £400. Chris Wilson sells uprated ones for £600+ but they come up rarely.

 

On BPU there is no need what so ever for a FMIC it's probably pointless infact and only for show.

[Suprasteve]

cheers james