First Impreza, 1 week in, and PROBLEMS!
Discussion
Hi All,
So, had the Impreza all of one week and having some issues….
Firstly, had several occasions of possible fuel surge/fuel cut. Only seems to really happen after right hand corners, so as advised in a comment on my Readers Cars thread assumed this to be fuel surge. However, still happens even when the tank is ¾ full. Also get pretty violent fuel cut if coming on boost directly after a corner/junction.
It also occasionally seems hesitant at times around 2-2.5k revs when in fourth or fifth gear, and changing down seems to help.
Secondly, last week, after a good hoon when I stopped the car it refused to start again for ten to fifteen minutes without running extremely rough at idle and cutting out. Again, seemed to be fuelling issue. Only done this once, and been fine since.
Lastly, this morning on the way to work this morning the car slowed and cut out when driving at a steady 65mph! It basically felt as if it ha ran out of petrol.Hadn’t just gone round a sharp corner to bring on fuel surge, didn’t feel like fuel cut, and wasn’t even on boost at the time! Pulled over, wouldn’t start so waited a few minutes and it was fine. Did this twice in the space of 2 miles and was ok after that.
As you can imagine I’m feeling pretty frustrated, and worried I’ve bought a lemon!
It’s a MY99 UK Turbo, and from what the seller told me the only mod it has is an uprated Sti fuel pump, along with an aftermarket backbox. He also said the car previous had a Hayward and Scott system but he took it off because it was far too loud.
Now I’m wondering if the car was previously mapped with this on and reverting to a standard system with aftermarket box has screwed the map/fuelling?? Could it be running dangerously lean? Or is it just a dodgy fuel pump?
I plan to take it to local specialist and have it checked over/re-mapped if necessary but any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated in the meantime!
So, had the Impreza all of one week and having some issues….
Firstly, had several occasions of possible fuel surge/fuel cut. Only seems to really happen after right hand corners, so as advised in a comment on my Readers Cars thread assumed this to be fuel surge. However, still happens even when the tank is ¾ full. Also get pretty violent fuel cut if coming on boost directly after a corner/junction.
It also occasionally seems hesitant at times around 2-2.5k revs when in fourth or fifth gear, and changing down seems to help.
Secondly, last week, after a good hoon when I stopped the car it refused to start again for ten to fifteen minutes without running extremely rough at idle and cutting out. Again, seemed to be fuelling issue. Only done this once, and been fine since.
Lastly, this morning on the way to work this morning the car slowed and cut out when driving at a steady 65mph! It basically felt as if it ha ran out of petrol.Hadn’t just gone round a sharp corner to bring on fuel surge, didn’t feel like fuel cut, and wasn’t even on boost at the time! Pulled over, wouldn’t start so waited a few minutes and it was fine. Did this twice in the space of 2 miles and was ok after that.
As you can imagine I’m feeling pretty frustrated, and worried I’ve bought a lemon!
It’s a MY99 UK Turbo, and from what the seller told me the only mod it has is an uprated Sti fuel pump, along with an aftermarket backbox. He also said the car previous had a Hayward and Scott system but he took it off because it was far too loud.
Now I’m wondering if the car was previously mapped with this on and reverting to a standard system with aftermarket box has screwed the map/fuelling?? Could it be running dangerously lean? Or is it just a dodgy fuel pump?
I plan to take it to local specialist and have it checked over/re-mapped if necessary but any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated in the meantime!
You aren't the only one Mike with issues after 1 week of MY99 ownership
I've got a couple of dodgy flat spots between 3000-4000 RPM in 4th and 5th gear. It's awful. I've cleaned the boost solenoid out but unsure what to do next
In 60'000 miles of Evo ownership I never had any little niggly issues like this.
I've got a couple of dodgy flat spots between 3000-4000 RPM in 4th and 5th gear. It's awful. I've cleaned the boost solenoid out but unsure what to do next
In 60'000 miles of Evo ownership I never had any little niggly issues like this.
Edited by *Kosta* on Tuesday 5th June 08:44
MAF sensor had crossed my mind too, but had ruled that out as have a receipt in the history folder for one from last year. But I suppose you never know! Going to have a look over the car tomorrow to check for any visible boost/vaccuum leaks etc too, so I'll add the fuel filter to the list.
Can't believe I forgot to mention it, but yes the CEL did come on once for about a minute the other day (although not while it was misbehaving?!). It hasn't come back on since. I've done about 350 miles in the car overall.
Really hoping it's just a mapping or MAF issue and not about to go POP!
Really hoping it's just a mapping or MAF issue and not about to go POP!
paulmoonraker said:
I would question the fuel pump. The reason - why would you do this mod unless you was doing a bunch of other stuff and mapping. Its probably not been fitted right, or was already dodgy...
That was pretty much my thinking as well. With an uprated pump and full Hayward and Scott I'd assume the owner at the time would have had it mapped.....5paul5 said:
Fuel filter maybe ?
Exactly what i was thinking. 
Also have a look at the fuel pump filter bag in the tank. Might be blocked or broken/torn allowing all the crap in the tank to get as far as your fuel filter blocking that up.
Take a day to check plugs, state of HT leads, fit new fuel filter etc... Flat spots and so on can be remapped out or sorted with new plugs and a quick service. Make sure you're running 99RON all the time, engine sensors can be checked by plugging into your OBD port with a laptop and appropriate software and cable.
I wouldn't be to miffed by it all because it could be just one issue causing a multitude of problems.
If the car wasn't maintained properly before you got hold of it i wouldn't be surprised if there are some issues. That can happen to any car, not just Imprezas.
Roll your sleeves and and get mucky.
themike888 said:
Thanks for the input guys. ScoobieWRX, I was hoping you'd see this thread! I'll check all that stuff over tomorrow, and report back.
Also though, with regard to 99RON fuel; being a UK car it should be fine on regular, right?.......
You should run an Impreza on the best fuel you can find. In the UK it's 99RON from either Shell or Tesco. Also though, with regard to 99RON fuel; being a UK car it should be fine on regular, right?.......
Let me give you an example. There is a chap on here that has an 05 Legacy, normally aspirated UK car. It was knocking like mad under load at low to mid range rpms, and he wanted a remap. I suggested before a remap he runs the car on 99RON as he was running on 95RON. After running the car to empty, filling with 99RON and a reset which i did for him as he wasn't to far away, and the car is knocking significantly less.
Turbo impreza are even more prone to knock than normally aspirated if they are not running 99RON regardless of UK or JDM, and they need to be remapped properly to stop them knocking completely. Unfortunately Subaru tend to factory map their cars for the UK too lean and with too much ignition advance to get them through emissions regulations. We had the same nonsense more recently with the hatchback cars again due to emissions regs and that's while they are being run on 99RON.
You should be running your car on 99RON. It's not worth seeing your motor damaged or go bang for the extra few pence per litre 99RON costs.
OP I hope you get this sorted, your car is a stunner and I'm sad to hear it's sickly. The fuel pump is definitely worth investigating as ScoobieWRX said, and I'd consider cleaning the MAF with some MAF cleaner too.
Definitely read the error codes though, I think Subarus let you read them off little flashing lights, whereas some other brands force you to have software and OBD reader stuff. That should hopefully point you in the right direction.
A boost leak is not an impossibility, but if it were leaking I'd have expected it to be flat as a witches tit when the boost was meant to come on, and the problem would likely be consistently recurrent.
Definitely read the error codes though, I think Subarus let you read them off little flashing lights, whereas some other brands force you to have software and OBD reader stuff. That should hopefully point you in the right direction.
A boost leak is not an impossibility, but if it were leaking I'd have expected it to be flat as a witches tit when the boost was meant to come on, and the problem would likely be consistently recurrent.
Ok guys, read the fault codes just now (cheers xxgomxx), and it threw up-
22- knock sensor
23- Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit
32- Oxygen Sensor
Given what some have suggested being the fuel filter and/or pump, (and the more I think about it the more it seems clearly like a fuelling issue), could any of these be the root cause? My worry now being that I could be looking at a combination of several problems!?
22- knock sensor
23- Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit
32- Oxygen Sensor
Given what some have suggested being the fuel filter and/or pump, (and the more I think about it the more it seems clearly like a fuelling issue), could any of these be the root cause? My worry now being that I could be looking at a combination of several problems!?
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