I have an 04 STI which I paid 3/4 of cash down when I got the thing. Love the car (except for the paint). Anyhow, my mods are simple spt intake and hks exhaust, nothing fancy. I got a CEL light a couple days ago took it in and they said they did a software update. Now they want to charge me $85 to pick up the car. I have an extended warranty that I paid for. They say it's not covered by the extended warrantty cause theres no broken component with a part number. They never told me of any freaking software updates when I bought the thing. This is the 3rd time i have gotten the CEL light with some bs software update crap line. The first CEL was when it was bone stock. This really pisses me off. What the hell did I buy the extended warranty for? PS: BIG VALLEY SUBARU IS THE WORST SUBARU DEALER. I didn't buy my car there but I've been there twice and they are a Dodge Subaru combo. I don't know if that's why the suck but every time I have gone there I have left with a bad taste in my mouth.

get an OBDII scanner

i second the OBDII...or even an V1.0 AP if you have the case and want the Stg. 2 power...which i believe you will like

-CHRIS

find another dealer cause i would never treat a customer like that or make him pay. i want the extended warranty to pay as a tech.

ECM reflash is covered 8/80.

This is ridicuolus - please contact SOA and notify them the dealer is charging you for a free update

ECM reflash is covered 8/80.

Ditto....you need to tell them to look up their bulletins....

And what software update is there for the STi???? (Am I missing something??)

what is this 8/80 you speak of?

what is this 8/80 you speak of?

federal mandated emissions, which the ECU is part of. that one the dealer will have a VERY hard time denying.

so what do I say to them when I go to pick up the car. I mean, is there something that says they have to cover ECU flashing? what is 8/80? a law code?

The ECU falls under the federal emissions warranty, which means it is a warranty that the government mandates, not Subaru (persay)

Any upgrades that go with the ECU fall under that warranty. The ECU has to be federal compliant for 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

I will see if I can find the bulletin and wording....(I had to prove this to the Mazda warranty clerk)

well you are right about the extended warranty being complete bs, cash that in while you can!

well you are right about the extended warranty being complete bs, cash that in while you can!

Depends on who the extended warranty is thru. If it is an aftermarket warranty (Not SAS), they usually don't cover things like this, or they know that it is Subaru's responsibility. If it is an SAS contact, they know that it would be covered under the 8/80 warranty. Or, they didn't even call them at all.

Is the $85 for the diag? what was the code? is your warranty powertrain? if you threw a cel and it had nothing to do with a warrantiable part they probably will charge u for a diag. i bought my first wrx from big valley. had a horrible experiance there and took my services to santa monica subaru. u should give a try. there not too far from big valley.

I know from first hand experience dealing with extended service contracts (i'm a subaru service advisor) *ducks* that reflashes are not covered since they are program updates and not an actual failed part. So yes the place that checked this out for you is correct on that. Now why its not being done under the 8/80... you need to ask them.

what is this 8/80 you speak of?
Federal law, as said before. It was also in my 07 WRX owners manuel. You might want to look.

Ditto....you need to tell them to look up their bulletins....

And what software update is there for the STi???? (Am I missing something??)

There was a flash file for the 04 STi for hesitation/pinging on acceleration.

Without the code though it is hard to say if the re-flash will fix it (not bloody likely)

There was a flash file for the 04 STi for hesitation/pinging on acceleration.

Without the code though it is hard to say if the re-flash will fix it (not bloody likely)

Why can't I find anything on reprogramming on subaru? It used to be under the service heading (even the tech line says so) and it is no longer there. I KNOW it used to be there and it even said that reflashing/reprogramming/updating (whatever youwant to call it) is covered 8/80. When I want to find it, I can't

Oh, and thanks for the info on the Sti...we haven't come across one yet.

my dealer sucks more than your dealer does!! they serviced my car and didn't plug in #4's coil pack in all the way. it rattled loose and #4 went completely dead while i was driving it. when confronted, they said... "my bad"

i could have told u big valley sucks monkey butt hairs. my friend got dicked around there so he didnt buy his car from the guy. the guy said he didnt need a business card when we asked for one. pft. anyways dunno about your problem, but gl with resolving it.