At cold start up my vac pump pully does not spin , the belt sqeels for about 20 seconds then the pully starts spinning. This is my 1st diesel and im new to the boost controler. I went on the Heath website and checked them out. Does the boost controler replace the vac pump? From reading other treads , I think you take your old vac pump off and throw it away. Put a smaller belt on and install boost controler. Am I right? Is it that easy or is there other stuff I have to do? By the way I have an F engine.

if you are going to get a manual boost controller i would get a boost gauge first. I would not drive the truck until the vac pump was pulled off. It is almost seized and you dont want it to go when you are driving as you wont have any power steerin or water pump as it chews up the belt when it goes. You can search for manual boost controller on this site it will give you an idea how to build your own. I bought my first one from heath but being in canada it took over a month to get here, so now i just make my own.

Could I just take off the vac pump and get a smaller belt. That way I could drive it until I get gauges and boost controler?

Does the vacuum pump work once it starts spinning? Measure the vacuum where the line connects to the WG solenoind. If it works (and by extension, the turbo), the main concern is how hard on the belt is that first 20 seconds? If it doesn't, then you will have an inop turbo, and by extension, high EGT, which is not good either.

I'd check the pump first.

I don't have a vacuum gauge yet but you can hear the turbo spool up and down. The wear on the belt is minimal. I need to drive this truck to work tuesday so I have to do something tomarrow!

o by the way I get trouble code 236 once and awile on the highway and usually stays on until I get home and shut the truck off.

I have just installed the Heath Turbo Master last week. You can install it without a gauge. The instructions give you a measurement to keep you from overboosting the engine. So far it has worked great in my truck. I still need to get a new belt so that I can remove the vacuum pump.

Best thing to do is call Bill and talk to him, he can reassure you about the whole install and how the truck will run afterwards.

if you're heath tm is anything like my homemade tm, someone or something help you. reason being you have no idea what kind of boost you are making instructions or not without a guage to tell u..... when i first took my truck out after doing a home made tm i hit 18lbs. now i run it at 10 max thanx 2 the guage.......... Ed

I set my TM spring length to just over 2" and have 8 psi max.


I would still get a gauge but over boost should trigger a code on a stock chip if everything is working right, I think.

This is not something to guess at. Your engine is at stake.

The other thing is that you will pull more boost pressure when loaded , heck even in a good headwind without a load Ill pull more boost pressure. So the gage is a valuable tool .

Could I just take off the vac pump and get a smaller belt. That way I could drive it until I get gauges and boost controler?


Inoperable turbo will essentially make yer truck doggy, maybe to the point where a geo metro could beat you in a drag race, haha. Without boost from the turbo expect the truck to feel helpless, smoke alot of black smoke, and high egt's I think.Also without boost you probably shouldnt try to tow much because the horsepower just wont be there.

I ordered heath's turbo master today. I also ordered a boost and pyro gauge from egauges. I'll keep driving the truck until the parts come in and hopefuly the vac pump will last a little wile longer. On my way home from work tomarrow I'll stop and get a smaller belt autozone part #4061000 and keep the belt and some tools in the truck in case the belt snaps I could fix it an the road. Thanks everyone for your help Happy New Year and I'll let you know how the install goes.

Well its all done ! Last week I put a boost and pyro gauge in. Today I got my turbo master in the mail and installed it. I got rid of the vac pump and put a shorter belt on #4061000 and it fit perfect. Thanks to you guys installation was a breeze no suprizes. I really like the gauges and turbo master and highly recomend the upgrade. The truck runs excellent and its nice knowing what the engine is doing. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!