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Old 03-21-2008, 09:55 PM   #1
bradsti
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Default PROBLEM WITH MY WRX STI - please help me

hi guys would u be able to help me with a problem i have with my wrx sti 97. i know u didnt receive the early sti's but all your comments will still link up if it were a 2004 etc.

ok my car has an idling problem. everytime i start the car cold it has a decent idle about 1000rpm until it warms up then when i approach lights or a stop sign the revs drop to the 100rpm mark then raises to about 800rpm OR cuts out completely. the rev's flucuate often. it has its standard air intake box. its been backfiring lately also just little ones from time to time.

just wondering if u guys could put your finger on the problem for me so i know where to look because i have no ideas at the moment.

please help me i cant use my car!
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Old 03-21-2008, 09:59 PM   #2
Boostinbildo
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By any chance do you have an atmospheric bov installed on the car?
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Old 03-21-2008, 10:01 PM   #3
TRBO_BXR
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sounds like lost vacuum. hit the brakes, it drops fast your losing vacuum and taking more away with pedal pressure.

good one too^^^
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Old 03-22-2008, 12:02 AM   #4
Web Foot STi
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Do you have a vacuum/boost gage? If not there are inexpensive ugly tool box ones you can hook up to see if it's a vacuum problem. (I've had one for 30 years)

False air is another potential problem. Get a can of starter fluid and spray the outside of the intake hoses. If the revs rise then you have a leak.

The USDM STi has a drive by wire throttle and for cold starts the ECU just cracks the butterfly for fast idle. Cold it's ~1500 rpm. I don't know how your STi does this. Warm my car idles at about 700 rpm.
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Old 03-22-2008, 12:58 AM   #5
93 type RA
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just check your blow off valve, chances are its leaking
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Old 03-22-2008, 10:07 AM   #6
weasel936
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if you have some throttle body cleaner or even carb. cleaner, let the engine warm up and spray around the intake manifold and see if you idle changes. sometimes when the engine warms up and ur intake gaskets are not sealing right it will cause a vacuum leak.


Rey
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Old 03-23-2008, 07:28 PM   #7
bradsti
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Default problems with my sti

i dont know much about bov's but i know that it is a large thing that directly hooks up to my intercooler and has a selectable / rotatable bov attachment which has diff size holes to suit how loud ya want it.
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Old 03-23-2008, 07:30 PM   #8
AlxSti
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yeah.. sounds like it leaking somewhere.. or maybe the idle air control valve (IACV) or FIACV.. check for coolant/vaccume leaks.. or maybe just try to adjust the BOV.
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Old 03-23-2008, 09:18 PM   #9
bradsti
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very good suggestions ty and yes i do have a boost gauge. how am i supposed to check for vacuum leaks? i mean negative pressure is kind of hard to check
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Old 03-23-2008, 09:20 PM   #10
hypoxvi
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with a hand held vacuum pump/gauge.
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:40 PM   #11
Rickyh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bradsti View Post
i dont know much about bov's but i know that it is a large thing that directly hooks up to my intercooler and has a selectable / rotatable bov attachment which has diff size holes to suit how loud ya want it.
Does it look like this?



Apexi twin chamber bov. I have one on my car. If this is what you have, it is most likely stuck open. You need to take it off, clean it and lube it. I got the exact same symptoms as you are describing when mine got stuck open before.
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:44 PM   #12
bradsti
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yes thats the one! youve done well. ill check it now and get back to you! thanks!
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Old 03-24-2008, 02:00 AM   #13
bradsti
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i checked the bov and it appeared to have a black sut like substance around the sides but dont think this was the problem.
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Old 03-24-2008, 08:29 AM   #14
Rickyh
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You would have to take it apart and clean it. You won't be able to see anything from the outside. The black stuff is oil/blow by. It gunks up the inside of the valve, traps dirt and dust in there and makes it stick open. It is probably held on by two allen head screws. Take those off. Then the housing is held together by four allen head screws. Take those off. Clean the inside out. Put it back together and reinstall.
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Old 03-25-2008, 01:30 AM   #15
bradsti
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ok cleaned out the whole thing and oiled up. no difference with the idle and i noticed everytime i rev the car high it back fires (not normal). also i noticed the engine makes bit of a squeeling kind of noise. and thirdly everytime i boost it and release the accelerator my bov sounds out (i dont know if this is normal either as i just got the car pretty much and i thought its only supposed to do it when i change gears :S. -please help me
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Old 03-25-2008, 09:27 AM   #16
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You could swap it out?
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Old 03-25-2008, 09:38 AM   #17
gling
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Are you back-firing or after-firing?

Back-firing is combustion in the intake tract while after-fire is in your exhaust tract; which is it for your case?

After-fire would lead me to think you have a leak in your vacuum lines and the above suggestion by others to use carburetor cleaner in attempt to locate the leak is a sound one. The BOV is also a very likely candidate to cause that. Do you have a stock BPV or another BOV to try swapping your current one with to aid with the troubleshooting?

If you are backfiring, check your MAF; you might need to clean it. Also, if you can, check your plugs and injectors. I had serious and rather comical backfiring when my fuel delivery system was intentionally screwed-up - it's a long story

Other than that, I am not sure what else to offer you with your current description of the symptoms.
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Old 03-25-2008, 10:02 AM   #18
Rickyh
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Tighten the screw on top of the valve. Since it was taken apart it probably needs to be readjusted. (at least mine does after I clean it) It may be leaking at idle. It is supposed to blow off everytime you let off the throttle and you are in boost. The squealing I don't know about, but the bad idle sounds like a leak somewhere.
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Old 03-25-2008, 03:10 PM   #19
bradsti
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would this leak effect my boost?
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Old 03-25-2008, 03:21 PM   #20
`04AlpineWhite
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A leaking BOV would likely effect your boost.

To me it sounds like either your front O2 sensor or MAF has gone bad. But neither of those would cause squealing...
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Old 03-26-2008, 11:15 PM   #21
bradsti
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what does adjusting the bov do?
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Old 03-27-2008, 01:08 AM   #22
wagoneer02
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take that BOV off, put the stock BPV on.
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Old 03-27-2008, 02:09 AM   #23
bradsti
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but i like my bov
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Old 03-27-2008, 08:14 AM   #24
gling
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wagoneer02 View Post
take that BOV off, put the stock BPV on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bradsti View Post
but i like my bov
That read rather comical; akin to a parent telling a child that candy is bad.

Anyways, bradsti, try doing what wagoneer02 mentioned just for the sake of troubleshooting. If it doesn't solve your problems, continue using said BOV. If it does, you might want to look into repairing/replacing that BOV of yours.
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Old 03-27-2008, 08:34 AM   #25
Rickyh
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I am wondering if he has a front mount, because that bov is not a direct bolt on for the car. I have that same valve for my fmic and there was no kit/flange available for it to bolt up to the stock ic.
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