Urgent advice needed for WRX 300
Discussion
Recently at the complex where I keep my car I went to pick it up and outside one of the garages 3 or 4 down from mine was the remains of a torched Renault Clio. Prior to this the car was running fine but on the last couple of occasions the turbo does not seem to be spooling up as well and is peaking slightly less than previously (approx 0.2 bar). The turbo does not really seem to spool at all now in first gear. There has been decidedly more popping and banging from the exhaust. This evening when I got the car out for a run the engine warning light came on but after stopping and starting a couple of times and tightening some of the Jubilee clips under the bonnet this went out again.
The car is a modified WRX with an uprated turbo, straight through 3" exhaust system, decatted up-pipe, uprated, fuel pump, regulator and injectors and re-mapped to 347 bhp.
Anyone got any ideas as to whether this is likely to be a split pipe or whether I am looking at something a bit more serious?
Can anyone recommend anybody in the Essex area that could take a look at it for me?
Many thanks.
Jon
The car is a modified WRX with an uprated turbo, straight through 3" exhaust system, decatted up-pipe, uprated, fuel pump, regulator and injectors and re-mapped to 347 bhp.
Anyone got any ideas as to whether this is likely to be a split pipe or whether I am looking at something a bit more serious?
Can anyone recommend anybody in the Essex area that could take a look at it for me?
Many thanks.
Jon
Socr8s said:
Recently at the complex where I keep my car I went to pick it up and outside one of the garages 3 or 4 down from mine was the remains of a torched Renault Clio.
Forgive me if I'm missing something here but what has this got to do with your Impreza running rough? 
Huge bang and flame from the exhaust set the poor Clio alight?
Dirty sensors messing with the fuelling?
Have you had a look under the bonnet? Is your air filter dirty? Is the car covered in soot/dirt?
Can't see that it would be a split pipe, unless it's a real coincidence - or your car was very close to the burning car and suffered some heat damage (sounds improbable!)
Are you anywhere near Knowlsey and Paul at Xtreme Scoobies (Drakes Lane, Boreham)? www.xtremescoobies.co.uk
Hope you get it sorted,
Animal
Have you had a look under the bonnet? Is your air filter dirty? Is the car covered in soot/dirt?
Can't see that it would be a split pipe, unless it's a real coincidence - or your car was very close to the burning car and suffered some heat damage (sounds improbable!)
Are you anywhere near Knowlsey and Paul at Xtreme Scoobies (Drakes Lane, Boreham)? www.xtremescoobies.co.uk
Hope you get it sorted,
Animal
Yep had a look under the bonnet and really can't see an awful lot. The air filter looks pretty clean and I can't see any obvious leaks from the engine. The engine management light has now come back on and staying on, but have spoken to someone at Xtreme Scoobies and am going to drop it off there tomorrow.
I know V.8 Sti engines are well known for bullet proof reliability and being able to run silly amounts of power well over 400bhp all day long with no issues at all, and that's from the mouths of well respected tuners, but running a std internal WRX nearer 400bhp has got to be a real risk.
I appreciate you've seen WRX's over 400bhp on std internals but they're not known for running big power are they. The people i know running decent power on WRX's have either had a proper rebuild or stuffed an STi lump under the bonnet like i did.
I appreciate you've seen WRX's over 400bhp on std internals but they're not known for running big power are they. The people i know running decent power on WRX's have either had a proper rebuild or stuffed an STi lump under the bonnet like i did.
ScoobieWRX said:
I know V.8 Sti engines are well known for bullet proof reliability and being able to run silly amounts of power well over 400bhp all day long with no issues at all, and that's from the mouths of well respected tuners, but running a std internal WRX nearer 400bhp has got to be a real risk.
I appreciate you've seen WRX's over 400bhp on std internals but they're not known for running big power are they. The people i know running decent power on WRX's have either had a proper rebuild or stuffed an STi lump under the bonnet like i did.
The customers in question both know they are living on borrowed time with that sort of power I appreciate you've seen WRX's over 400bhp on std internals but they're not known for running big power are they. The people i know running decent power on WRX's have either had a proper rebuild or stuffed an STi lump under the bonnet like i did.
Agreed, sounds like text book boost leak to me, albeit a small one.
The Maf (mass air flow meter) will "measure" the air coming into the turbo and set the fueling from that. Because of a boost leak, not all of this air will reach the inlet (so less boost pressure and too much fuel).
Are you running an FMIC or the stock top mount?
The Maf (mass air flow meter) will "measure" the air coming into the turbo and set the fueling from that. Because of a boost leak, not all of this air will reach the inlet (so less boost pressure and too much fuel).
Are you running an FMIC or the stock top mount?
There are only 3 places you'll get a boost leak on a std newage scoob and that's either from the turbo to intercooler or intercooler to throttle body hoses. One other place could be where the air bypass valve is bolted to the intercooler, if that gasket has gone it's possible you could get a leak from there or possibly even losing boost through the air bypass valve if the spring load has weakened and it's actuating while you're on boost rather than when you lift off (off boost).
If there are no leaks from any of those check the vacuum hoses going from the turbo to the boost control solenoid. A tiny split or hole in one of those will affect boost bigtime. Take the pipes apart and spray some brake cleaner down them to make sure said pipes and the pill restrictor in the T-pipe are clear, do the same for the boost control solenoid, spray some in there while it's operating (put the car into test mode by connecting the two green connectors together under the dash and just having the ignition on, that then cycles the solenoid making it click, you'll know when you're in test mode because the radiator fans start cycling), and spray some into the wastegate actuator diaphragm as well.
If you're still getting issues then it may well be the turbo uppipe that's leaking, common issue with WRX's. Are you getting any whiffs of unburnt fuel in the cabin? If so the uppipe will be leaking at the center join and also losing you precious boost. Potentially the cat in the oem uppipe could have collapsed causing a blockage, that in itself could break apart and send shards of cat material into the turbo causing you big issues (like needing a new turbo) and huge loss of boost, therefore replace the catted OEM uppipe with a decat slip jointed uppipe like the type Zen Performance sell, very good pipe. I don't see the point of that catted pipe as there are already two other cats after the turbo anyway and you only need one of those to get through the MOT emissions test (STi's don't have a catted uppipe as standard), plus it really stifles performance.
HTH
If there are no leaks from any of those check the vacuum hoses going from the turbo to the boost control solenoid. A tiny split or hole in one of those will affect boost bigtime. Take the pipes apart and spray some brake cleaner down them to make sure said pipes and the pill restrictor in the T-pipe are clear, do the same for the boost control solenoid, spray some in there while it's operating (put the car into test mode by connecting the two green connectors together under the dash and just having the ignition on, that then cycles the solenoid making it click, you'll know when you're in test mode because the radiator fans start cycling), and spray some into the wastegate actuator diaphragm as well.
If you're still getting issues then it may well be the turbo uppipe that's leaking, common issue with WRX's. Are you getting any whiffs of unburnt fuel in the cabin? If so the uppipe will be leaking at the center join and also losing you precious boost. Potentially the cat in the oem uppipe could have collapsed causing a blockage, that in itself could break apart and send shards of cat material into the turbo causing you big issues (like needing a new turbo) and huge loss of boost, therefore replace the catted OEM uppipe with a decat slip jointed uppipe like the type Zen Performance sell, very good pipe. I don't see the point of that catted pipe as there are already two other cats after the turbo anyway and you only need one of those to get through the MOT emissions test (STi's don't have a catted uppipe as standard), plus it really stifles performance.
HTH
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Thursday 28th May 08:40
Looks like there were various leaks that have now been plugged by Xtreme. Most of these seem to be related more to the intercooler pipes where apparently the jubilee clips had loosened. The engine warning light seemed to be related to oxygen sensor and has now gone out again apparently. A new sensor has not been suggested as the garage reckon this could have been upset by the various leaks and they have reset the ECU and advised to see what happens.
I already have a decat uppipe which was fitted at the same time as the front-mounted intercooler and that was only about 18 months ago.
Am going to pick the car up tomorrow so I will see how she feels.
I already have a decat uppipe which was fitted at the same time as the front-mounted intercooler and that was only about 18 months ago.
Am going to pick the car up tomorrow so I will see how she feels.
Socr8s said:
Looks like there were various leaks that have now been plugged by Xtreme. Most of these seem to be related more to the intercooler pipes where apparently the jubilee clips had loosened. The engine warning light seemed to be related to oxygen sensor and has now gone out again apparently. A new sensor has not been suggested as the garage reckon this could have been upset by the various leaks and they have reset the ECU and advised to see what happens.
I already have a decat uppipe which was fitted at the same time as the front-mounted intercooler and that was only about 18 months ago.
Am going to pick the car up tomorrow so I will see how she feels.
Cool. I recommend replacing the jubilee clips with Mikalor clamps. Much much better at clamping and they dont loosen up. I kept getting my hoses poping off under boost with the sI already have a decat uppipe which was fitted at the same time as the front-mounted intercooler and that was only about 18 months ago.
Am going to pick the car up tomorrow so I will see how she feels.
tty jubilee clips.Mikalor clamps are super strong but maybe a bit too super srong as they are srong enough to hold exhaust pipes together and they have been know to crush the odd induction/turbo pipe with over tightening, great clamps though and look really good in stainless steel.
My choice would be a constant tension Murray Clamp. http://www.sfsperformance.co.uk/hose_clamps.asp Tried and tested by WRC teams. Good enough for me. HTH
My choice would be a constant tension Murray Clamp. http://www.sfsperformance.co.uk/hose_clamps.asp Tried and tested by WRC teams. Good enough for me. HTH
ScoobieWRX said:
Mikalor clamps are super strong but maybe a bit too super srong as they are srong enough to hold exhaust pipes together and they have been know to crush the odd induction/turbo pipe with over tightening, great clamps though and look really good in stainless steel.
My choice would be a constant tension Murray Clamp. http://www.sfsperformance.co.uk/hose_clamps.asp Tried and tested by WRC teams. Good enough for me. HTH
Haha yeah they can be pain, but they do look great, and 1.2bar is never blowing the pipes off now! My choice would be a constant tension Murray Clamp. http://www.sfsperformance.co.uk/hose_clamps.asp Tried and tested by WRC teams. Good enough for me. HTH
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