I want to get an EcuTeK reflash, APS TBE, APS BOV, and possibly an UpPipe. Will this stuff void my warranty on the other parts in the car? Obviously it doesnt cover aftermarket, but I don't want an ecu reflash to void the warranty on my tranny, per say.

Warranty issues are unpredictable, but IMHO anything that increases engine power would offer the dealer an opportunity to say it caused the tranny failure and hence no warranty.

leecea's right; I wouldn't plan on making any powertrain warranty claims with the reflash or uppipe, and probably with the TBE.

the dealer would not know if you have an ecu flash... The other visual mods would be what you should be concerned about.

I would think that you should be fine with those mods, BUT I would leave off the BOV if I were you.. Best to keep things as stock-looking as possible under the hood. If they ever look under there, it will be the first thing they notice...

I wouldn't think you would be hassled about an exhaust...
Or for an Uppipe (Just get a JDM WRX one since it looks identical to the stocker, but without the cat).

Yeah but without the BOV wouldn't the increased PSI propose a bigger problem? I think the BOV would help me keep the warranty cause it would decrease the likelyhood of damage.

If you care about your warranty dont touch the car. If you are like me and some others and dont care then start modding the car. ecu reflash if you get that done you should be fine. but after that everything else like the uppipe, tbe, and etc they will void it. Unless you have a cool subaru dealer by you and they dont care what you do to the car and still will warranty it.

the dealer would not know if you have an ecu flash...
While that's true today, apparently Subaru is introducing some equipment that will allow some reflashes to be detected.
Most likely you won't be needing any warranty service anyway; however, if warranty coverage is important to you, research your mods carefully -- you may have to choose between modding and warranty.

My advice would be to go with an Accessport so you can flash your ecu back to stock if you have to take it to the dealership. An up pipe and downpipe will be blamed for any problems in the drivetrain and engine. An upipe would be hard to hide since you usually remove an egt sensor with aftermarket units. This isnt the "right" thing to do but if you are somewhat handy with a wrench become familiar with removing and installing a downpipe if you want to be in the stage 2 range. Oh and have a nice supply of dp gaskets. :D

Yeah but without the BOV wouldn't the increased PSI propose a bigger problem? I think the BOV would help me keep the warranty cause it would decrease the likelyhood of damage.

The stock BPV on the car is good for around 20PSI of boost.

If you want to run more boost, then look into eitther doing the CRUSH trick on the stock BPV, or look into picking up a JDM STi one, which will handle more boost.

I went back to mine on my car (I had an aftermarket one) , and no leakage occurs... And I am running a much bigger turbo than stock, fmic, etc, laying down over 300whp.


Armand1 - Yes, Subaru introduced some new technology with the newer ecu's to detect reflashes, but you have to look at things this way...

Before the dealer will think to check if you have a reflash, the other mods on the car will tip them off to deny warranty(ie: aftermarket turbo, FMIC, aftermarket injectors, aftermarket BOV, etc).

The stock computer will handle simple mods like the ones the original poster wantes to perform without resorting to a reflash. It is when heavy mods are performed that a reflash is really needed, and it is THOSE mods that will cause the dealer to raise the flag, before they would even think to go check the ecu to see if it was flashed in the first place....


I think the best thing to do is to go to a dealer, and have a talk with them about acceptable "accessories" ;)

An upipe would be hard to hide since you usually remove an egt sensor with aftermarket units.

If the stock up pipe is gutted, nobody looking at the car is any wiser ;)

Also, if your really handy, you can always swap out the down pipe and cat back before you take it to the dealership. Obviously, the uppipe is harder. I weigh it as 3 hours compared to a voided warranty issue on a tranny. Worth it to me.
This goes for any aftermarket parts. All you need is tools. Kinda sh!**? way of doing business, but it will save you some loot, then you can get more parts....

Be careful. I was denied warranty work with a boost controller, blow off valve, and catback exhaust.

... a boost controller, blow off valve, and catback exhaust.
I bet the boost controller was their major issue.

yes blow off valve causes tranny failures all the time according to subaru
but if you think about it, it does, statically because people who put one on are more likely to destroy their tranny

"flame suit on"

yes blow off valve causes tranny failures all the time according to subaru
but if you think about it, it does, statically because people who put one on are more likely to destroy their tranny

"flame suit on"
:lol:
statistically subaru trannys suck and must be babied. Subaru trannys come pre-assembled with a blow-up valve. ;)

not necessarily
my friends roommate is a HARDCORE gvr4 guy, and my friend is a hardcore subaru guy

both admit that any awd tranny isnt going to hold up to hardcore abuse
if you look at the GOOD drivers on this board, some have stock trannys running 350whp through them
theres some people like drac9 who has around that much on a stock rs tranny

youve just got to know what youre doing

yes blow off valve causes tranny failures all the time according to subaru
but if you think about it, it does, statically because people who put one on are more likely to destroy their tranny

"flame suit on"

This is exactly right. I have done no drivetrain mods, but a dealer will see my suspension mods and shift light and immediatly label me as a car abuser or performance oriented driver, depending on their mood. Either way, I am more likely to have done things that stress the tranny, wheel bearings, etc, etc and my warranty will be questioned. I don't like it, because I try to take good care of my car, but I think anyone who does any mods should face the fact that they may be paying the repair bills themselves.

yuppp