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brenden3010
01-13-2005, 09:36 PM
Hi, I drive a WRX STi with 14k miles on it.

Reciently, my car has started to lose power sort of abruptly. I took it over to the Subaru dealership, and they told me im wrong, and it feels great. I explained that at higher rpms, it sounds like rocks are getting kicked up like in the passenger seat/footrest area, when there are no rocks. I mentioned misfiring, and they said im wrong, and its great. They gave it back, and it was still slow... slower than a normal WRX. I could barely redline 2nd it didnt have enough power. So the next day I brought it back, and said the same thing, and they told me they would look at it. I told them the codes were p0303 and p0304, but the cel turned off after I restarted. They said ok, and took the car back in. Next day I get the car back, and it is even worse, and now, I cant boost over 7 psi, but they told me it ran great, and its perfectly powered. So I figured, maybe I need to reset the ecu. So after doing so, I go to turn the car on, and then instead of the normal re re re re re it does before it starts, I get more of a Re re reee... re re reee.... re re reee... sound, and I'm like what the heck? So my boost stops hitting 7, and drops to 3 then stays around 3 psi. I bring it back in, no even able to redline first, and they agree'd, its down on power this time (finally).

They called, and said my warantee is voided because I had a different clamp on something. I said what the heck, I never modded the car, all I have is an aftermarket boost gauge. My dad confirmed this, and they said oh, and they'd find the problem. Long story short, my 1st cat broke apart into the second cat, causing a backup. They wont cover installation, which is close to 300 dollars, but will cover the Cat. They said I was modified, so it isnt under warantee, but they'll fix the clamps to make it warantable.

I call bull because I brought it in 2ce for misfiring, but they couldnt diagnose it even when I told them what it was, and they waited untill it got bad enough that it ruined my cat. A car that misfires puts gas on the superheated cat and it ignites, raising the temp too high. Anyways, Do I even stand a case? I dont want to pay 300 because they couldnt fix it the first time I bring it in. They still havent fixed the misfiring problem, as they have only took off the downpipe. What options do I have? They said I did it by adding fuel additives, but I only run 93 oct.

I need to know my options because I cant afford new cats every 100 miles because they refuse to fix the engine problem.

I'm going in to talk to them tomorrow.

I'm bone stock with a defi boost gauge.

If they are gonna call my warantee on non existant mods, im gonna turn the car in for a Cobra, because I cant afford to pay to play when I dont even get to play.

GLwagon
01-13-2005, 10:05 PM
What? how is any of this your fault??? $$$ out of pocket $0.00
Call 1-800-Subaru-3 & tell them it is BS!

brenden3010
01-13-2005, 10:08 PM
Well, they said since I had a few non subaru hose clamps, my car isnt under warantee. I call BS because I promise you a few non OEM clamps wont make the car run horrible, well, atleast where these clamps are located.

GLwagon
01-13-2005, 10:55 PM
Non-Subaru clamps
Why were they changed?

Do the clamps:
- function the same way
- have the same clamping force & ability
- go on hoses that are non-boost control related hoses????

just curious...

BOV lines, & various intake lines seems reasonable (for boost gauge)... Turbo & waste gate actuator line would sound fishy.

brenden3010
01-13-2005, 11:11 PM
Intake lines are what I know of. They also said an exhaust would void my warantee, which is not a good thing, but I dont have one... ive thought about it though...

GLwagon
01-13-2005, 11:18 PM
Is this car new or used...

New-
I'd find another Suby dealer, get a second opinion, & call 1-800-Subaru3...

jay25RS
01-13-2005, 11:19 PM
Get a new dealer...

brenden3010
01-13-2005, 11:26 PM
It was used with 4300 miles on it.

I have no dp on the car now. Can I tell them to let me take it and give me the parts when they come in so I can install, or will they say flat out no? And can they void my whole warantee for hose clamps not related to the problem?

Who is that 1800 subaru 3 number? Will a new aftermarket downpipe void my car warantee? Why are they being so stubborn about it? They tried to blame it on the gas doing this, when I explained it couldnt be because my cat wasnt poisoned, and then they said the cats were "goodwilled" from subaru. Goodwill the service, because I know its gonna happen a second time because it isnt fixed!!!! When it was not up to power the first time I took it in, it felt as though all timing was pulled. I was boosting 14.5 psi, but I wasnt accelerating as fast as I used to. The car also felt wierd and I stalled it the only 3 times in that period.

New2MeSuby
01-13-2005, 11:55 PM
subarus have extreamly crappy cats, the cat clogging and dying will cause a missfire to happen. i would say you should find another dealer because these ones seem like idiots. call subarus customer service and see what they say about a dealer refusing service because of a hose clamp. you should not pay a penny out of your pocket for this. cats are covered under a 8 year 80000mi warranty under federal emissions laws in all states.

brenden3010
01-14-2005, 12:14 AM
no matter the cause?

Opie
01-14-2005, 10:47 AM
Strange, we just replaced a inlet cat yesterday on a '04 White Sti under warranty. Car had re-occuring P0420 codes and sure enough when we took the old cat out the cat material was breaking up. This should be covered at 100% unless there is something else to the story, definitly call 1-800-SUBARU3 and start a case, the longer you wait the worse your chances.

timmah
01-14-2005, 02:30 PM
lovely to see subaru customer service being 110% again.

clamps void your warantee now? what about aftermarket zipties? gimme a break you morons.

RexyGirl
01-14-2005, 04:01 PM
If there are aftermarket clamps on the exhaust, someone had to put them there. The car does not come from the factory like that. That means someone has had the exhaust off for whatever reason. (Put factory back on, veh in accident??)

They can't just "void" the warranty for clamps. Aftermarket clamps mean something else is/was wrong........

brenden3010
01-14-2005, 09:54 PM
Sorry, clamps were not related to exhaust. They were on the vaccum hoses, like for a boost gauge or something.

finnRex
01-15-2005, 04:03 AM
Cat converter 8 year/80K miles. Find another dealer. You're in Houston, and there's plenty more dealerships that will help you down there.



Mika

Sublime5260
01-24-2005, 09:24 PM
bump.

muhon
01-25-2005, 12:46 PM
wow sorry to hear about that BS... yeah I think you should change the dealer that you go to.

wrxdrftr2002
03-15-2005, 12:51 PM
im having the same problem only i have mods done to my car and my warrenty is gone. would just taking out the cats and putting a down pipe on help this. one of my mods is a cat back exhaust and i just was wondering

wrXiconZ
03-15-2005, 04:53 PM
go get a catless uppipe and catless turboback, tell me if your wrx dosent feel more powerful afterwards.

snwman
03-15-2005, 11:30 PM
cats are covered for 8yrs 80k miles as another member stated, its some kinda federal standard, which should be covered.

burton1181
03-16-2005, 07:15 PM
I hate dealerships... to them nothings wrong uless your cars on fire... then its your fault somehow