Engine starts and runs, but has little power and sounds rough

[mazda3guy]

Hello...

I recently picked up a (inexpensive) buick turbo that needed some TLC, and I am at a loss when it comes to turbos so I figured I would come to the experts ;-)

The car has a boost guage, which shows 20psi at idle (vaccum?) and the boost drops to 0 and starts building up to around 10psi when I get on it, but the turbo never 'kicks in' - you can hear something spooling up there, but you never feel an increase in power. This car has an electronic boost controller, which if it were stuck might explain both the lack of power and the car's rough sound (it sounds and runs like the carb is twice as large as it ought to be, although it seems 795cfm is standard for these motors?).

Here are some pictures of (what I believe) is the electronic boost controller:

http://www.scorpionsearch.com/images/eng_pics/IM004748.JPG
(stalk that connects to the turbo, electronic boost controller?)

http://www.scorpionsearch.com/images/eng_pics/im004750.jpg
(bulge with missing wire)

There is a sensor on the top of this cable stalk (1 wire goes into it), and the larger bulge further below has screw downs for two lines with only 1 brown line attached. My hypothesis is one of the wires, either ground of +12V (I haven't gotten out the volt meter yet) is missing from this bulge, preventing the car from getting any boost, which causes it to stumble and buck, causes it to run rich, and causes it to have no power.

That sounds well and good, despite the fact that I am only slightly sure of what I just said (I am at best a weekend wrench), has anyone else had a similar situation or seen a problem like this that is so easily explained? Does this idea sound on-target? I don't know anything about these Buicks, although I would very much like to learn. The car is a 1980 I believe.

Also, there is a black wire that isn't connected to anything, but has a screw down end connector and is marked like it is important. It is in the same region as the boost controller stalk (if that's what it is) but it isn't long enough to reach - here is a picture:

http://www.scorpionsearch.com/images/eng_pics/im004754.jpg
(black wire)

And on the other end of the flexible metal stalk there are two wires wire tied to it - one of them, a green wire, is dangling in the air although I couldn't find anything down there for it to connect to.

Here are pictures:
http://www.scorpionsearch.com/images/eng_pics/IM004756.JPG
(bottom front)

 

[KendallF]

Not too many people on here who're familiar with the early carbed turbo cars..

Your first two pics show a braided hose with a couple of hardware store plumbing fittings attached. The one wire sensor and "bulge" are the factory oil pressure idiot light switch and an aftermarket oil pressure gauge sending unit, respectively. Looks like they're both disconnected but they have nothing to do with the car's boost level, or lack thereof.

I don't know what the green wire is without a wiring diagram for the car. I suggest you visit a mechanic or buy a shop manual and start boning up...