Check engine and traction control lights came on

[jml281]

I have a 2009 WRX. When I went to start it today, the CEL and traction control light came on solid. The cruise light started blinking. I shut it down but heard a fan still running, so I popped the hood and found this blower going until I disconnected the harness from it. The car is still driveable and I'm going to make an appointment to bring it into the dealer.

My question is, what is this blower and what does it do? It's to the right of the AC compressor, in front of the oil fill cap.

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[tazswing]

Search "air pump" and I think you will find what you want.

[knuckles27]

less than 24 hours after buying a used 2009 WRX the Check Engine Light came on with the traction control light and cruise is blinking. I brought it to the dealer (Subaru Dealer) and they said it was my SPT exhaust giving it a falso positive. They beleive the previous owner had an access port with a tune. They have ordered me a new access port and will re-tune my car next week (Nov 19th 2012). I will keep you posted. I will also look for a fan running under the hood tonight.

[the suicidal eggroll]

Does nobody get their codes read anymore?

Go to Autozone and tell us what the code is, we can't do anything until you do.

[AliBenn]

^^^^not unless its a freakin app on some smart phone.....face it. nobody, does **** unless its an instantaneous fix and/or gratifacation.........i really feel sorry for these people that have never gotten their hands dirty and just punch keys......

[omega145]

I had the same problem and it was first related to a blown intercooler and then a problem with either the TCM and/or Valve Body. Traded in the vehicle so wasnt able to find out what the direct relation was.

[knuckles27]

I did not think to get it coded myself since I brought it the Subaru dealer I bought it from. I will stop at an autozone tonight and have them code it out. I did not hear a fan as noted in the first post on this thread.

[NoGraffix]

not quite sure why your air pump continued running but like other people said unless you provide us with a code we can't even make an educated guess on what the issue is

[knuckles27]

Went to AutoZone last night. I left the ticket in my car but I am pretty sure the code was P0240 for the cat. This is right in line with the Subie dealer thing the SPT exhaust was causing a false positive. They are installing an Access Port and tuning the car on Monday.

[IA Performance]

Originally Posted by knuckles27

Went to AutoZone last night. I left the ticket in my car but I am pretty sure the code was P0240 for the cat. This is right in line with the Subie dealer thing the SPT exhaust was causing a false positive. They are installing an Access Port and tuning the car on Monday.

It sounds like the car has an aftermarket Downpipe since a catback SPT exhaust should not affect the p0420 Catalyst efficiency code. The AccessPORT will let them deactivate the light.

Food For Thought
Depending on your local emissions it may not be a bad idea to take it in for testing at Motor Vehicle to make sure it passes with the stock DP. This is in assumption the car has a stock DP with both cats in it. I failed Colorado emissions with an aftermarket DP and had to install a factory DP to pass. If your factory DP + AccessPORT Tune does not pass, then you are looking at a spendy bill to get it to pass. Better to act on it now, while the dealership is still held accountable, versus 12 months from now when emissions may be due and you are on your own financially.

Stephen@iaperformance.com

[IA Performance]

I found this gem while searching catalyst efficiency codes. I can't say I "love" the video, but he has some ideas that may work. Any how, it's worth sharing since it involves the p0420 code:

Fixing Bad Catalytic Converters With Inefficiency Code P0420 - YouTube

Fixing Bad Catalytic Converters With Inefficiency Code P0420 - YouTube

Stephen@iaperformance.com

[Psychoreo]

What the **** did I just watch?

[s2ktosti]

Originally Posted by AliBenn

^^^^not unless its a freakin app on some smart phone.....face it. nobody, does **** unless its an instantaneous fix and/or gratifacation.........i really feel sorry for these people that have never gotten their hands dirty and just punch keys......

Here you go, problem solved haha.

Amazon.com: Bluetooth Car Code Reader Compatible with Android / Droid / Torque: Automotive

Amazon.com: Bluetooth Car Code Reader Compatible with Android / Droid / Torque: Automotive

[knuckles27]

Originally Posted by IA Performance

It sounds like the car has an aftermarket Downpipe since a catback SPT exhaust should not affect the p0420 Catalyst efficiency code. The AccessPORT will let them deactivate the light.

Food For Thought
Depending on your local emissions it may not be a bad idea to take it in for testing at Motor Vehicle to make sure it passes with the stock DP. This is in assumption the car has a stock DP with both cats in it. I failed Colorado emissions with an aftermarket DP and had to install a factory DP to pass. If your factory DP + AccessPORT Tune does not pass, then you are looking at a spendy bill to get it to pass. Better to act on it now, while the dealership is still held accountable, versus 12 months from now when emissions may be due and you are on your own financially.

Stephen@iaperformance.com

Thanks IA. I think it does have an aftermarket DP. How can I tell? Pretty sure everything else is stock. I am checking out your website for new toys.

[AliBenn]

Originally Posted by s2ktosti

Here you go, problem solved haha.

Amazon.com: Bluetooth Car Code Reader Compatible with Android / Droid / Torque: Automotive

should of known!!!

someone needs to post a pix of all those fat people with a monitor in front of their faces from the movie WALL-E.

[jml281]

Thanks, you guys gave me the answer to my question, it's the secondary air pump. The dealer wanted an arm and a leg to fix it, so I fixed it my way. Walked over to the sales floor and found a 2013 STi looking for a new home.

[knuckles27]

Originally Posted by jml281

Thanks, you guys gave me the answer to my question, it's the secondary air pump. The dealer wanted an arm and a leg to fix it, so I fixed it my way. Walked over to the sales floor and found a 2013 STi looking for a new home.

not fair

[IA Performance]

Originally Posted by knuckles27

Thanks IA. I think it does have an aftermarket DP. How can I tell? Pretty sure everything else is stock. I am checking out your website for new toys.

To verify if it has an aftermarket down pipe you should be able to do so with a quick visual. The key thing will be to determine if it is Catless or Catted. Catless is a 3" pipe the whole way through whereas a catted version will have a bulge at some point on the DP (most likely underneath the car).

Here is an example of what your stock one should look like, as well as an aftermarket catted version.

Depending on your local emissions standards, you may or may not pass with an aftermarket pipe. This was never a concern of mine while living in AZ, but a quick fail in Colorado opened my eyes a pinch. I now sport the stock DP on our shop Forester XT.

[knuckles27]

thanks again IA. The bottom DP is virtually identical to mine. I will post back net week after my car is tuned.

[NoGraffix]

Originally Posted by knuckles27

Went to AutoZone last night. I left the ticket in my car but I am pretty sure the code was P0240 for the cat. This is right in line with the Subie dealer thing the SPT exhaust was causing a false positive. They are installing an Access Port and tuning the car on Monday.

IA you continued to mention the cat code P0420 but the OP posted P0240 which if I remember is a wastegate code for over boosting. This sounds like an issue of either a poor tune, no tune for an aftermarket downpipe, or possibly a failing bcs. Either way I just wanted to point out the little confusion on which code was referenced.

[IA Performance]

NoGraffix - No mistake on my end nor your end. JML281's code reference is a bit vague. There is reference to the Cat as well as p0240. P0420 is for Catalyst Efficiency, which seemed to make the most sense given the details in post 1 and 9. A p0240 code would most likely of experienced fuel cut from over boosting. Fuel cut is quite dramatic, and usually freaks people out, yet no mention of it. I ran with the p0420 idea since p0240 symptoms were not mentioned. I could be wrong, but I do know the difference of the 2 codes.

The big question is: what does the little piece of paper on JML281's dash say

I left the ticket in my car but I am pretty sure the code was P0240 for the cat

Stephen@iaperformance.com

[SubeizRippin]

Originally Posted by jml281

I have a 2009 WRX. When I went to start it today, the CEL and traction control light came on solid. The cruise light started blinking. I shut it down but heard a fan still running, so I popped the hood and found this blower going until I disconnected the harness from it. The car is still driveable and I'm going to make an appointment to bring it into the dealer.

My question is, what is this blower and what does it do? It's to the right of the AC compressor, in front of the oil fill cap.

I had the same lights on my 2011 WRX and it was a loose map sensor. Try looking at that and plug it in tight.

[the suicidal eggroll]

Originally Posted by SubeizRippin

I had the same lights on my 2011 WRX and it was a loose map sensor. Try looking at that and plug it in tight.

Those lights come on for any CEL, of which there are literally hundreds. There's about a 99.9% chance that your solution has nothing at all to do with the OP's problem.

[knuckles27]

Okay. I have had my car back for 7 days. Since the car has a turbo back exhaust they gave me a Cobb Access Port and did a stage 2 93 Octane tune. The car has ran great and I can notice the difference. It is much faster. MPG has only gone down 1.5 MPG to about 21. Car also passed CT emissions. \

[NoGraffix]

Originally Posted by IA Performance

NoGraffix - No mistake on my end nor your end. JML281's code reference is a bit vague. There is reference to the Cat as well as p0240. P0420 is for Catalyst Efficiency, which seemed to make the most sense given the details in post 1 and 9. A p0240 code would most likely of experienced fuel cut from over boosting. Fuel cut is quite dramatic, and usually freaks people out, yet no mention of it. I ran with the p0420 idea since p0240 symptoms were not mentioned. I could be wrong, but I do know the difference of the 2 codes.

The big question is: what does the little piece of paper on JML281's dash say



Stephen@iaperformance.com

You are correct, until the OP can verify the actual code no one will be able to help. Fuel cut due to overboosting is quite dramatic and pretty unmistakable. There is more then enough info here to help the OP be the code 240 or 420