RS-T Died....Need Input

SCOOBER · 05-29-2003, 12:54 AM

I have a '99RS with the WRX turbo setup on it. The car has been running pretty well for a couple of weeks now...a little over 300 miles...and I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing. Well, that all changed tonight...we went for a drive and the car was running great...for about 20 miles or so...and then it started to bog at a little below 3k. This turned into a lack of acceleration...actually a complete lack of it from about 2k. I made it to a parking lot and the car would idle but not rev...now it won't even idle. I got it towed home...30+ miles

...and we looked it over in the garage without much success. Here are our observations...

1) Plugs look good...no strange coolant smells or spills...no fluids leaking anywhere.
2) EGT's never went over 1500...oil pressure is good...A/F is in the lean area when it tries to idle now.
3) Swapped MAF with known good unit...no success...bypassed turbo and hooked intake up to T/B...no success.
4) C/E light after car got to the no-rev portion of the evening. I don't have a way to pull the code at this time.
5) You can smell fuel when starting the car...so it's getting gas...it starts and dies.

Here is the setup we are using...
WRX exhaust, Turbo and I/C. WRX injectors and pump. Vortech RRFPR (4:1).

Our only thought was that the stock regulator may have crapped out...what is the average life span on one of those? Maybe an early grave due to the extra pressure under boost?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Doug

The car has been idling and running very well....then after a little steady driving at 60ish it freaks out and dies.

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8Complex · 05-29-2003, 02:28 AM

What type of engine management are you running?

Have you compression tested the motor yet?

STi-Nismo Dood · 05-29-2003, 02:30 AM

how were you driving the car when all of this happened?

Surb00 · 05-29-2003, 02:50 AM

I would start with a compression test. If you were running WRX injectors with a rrfpr and no s-afc I would think your probably running too rich. I use WRX injectors with a stock fpr and have to pull alot of fuel with my s-afc even with 10psi.

Revision · 05-29-2003, 08:23 AM

Same thing happened to me. Could be anything, but in my case, the Cat had disintegrated and clogged the exhaust.

Shook out all the dust and crap from the downpipe and the car ran fine.. Still waiting on a replacement cat so I can go pass emissions.

Avenger · 05-29-2003, 10:56 AM

Do you have spark?

Puckaveli · 05-29-2003, 11:45 AM

Do you have gas in the tank?

BOY · 05-29-2003, 03:51 PM

Doug, you don't have a fuel leak from the injectors do you? When you turn the key (ign on, engine off) can you smell fuel and/or hear a hissing (in the engine bay, with the hood open)? Also, check your front O2 sensor, when it dies it should read lean so the car will run "safely" rich... which in our case with 420cc injectors and a big pump = bad juju.

BTW, you can still turn the engine by hand right? the car is running just poorly and in safe mode right? I'm betting O2 first, cat second, fuel leak third... who's got $5?

SCOOBER · 05-29-2003, 04:23 PM

Sorry for the late response....and thanks to everyone who gave their input. I woke up this morning to get ready for work and kept thinking "no fuel". Well, this afternoon I used my gas can to put some fuel in the tank and it started right up! Puck wins the guess....and loses at the same time since he was there and did not think of this either.

Now, the part that is important is that my guage still said I had a 1/4 tank of fuel left!! I guess somehow I messed up the float or it got stuck at that point. It goes higher, but I see now that the lowest is 1/4

I am now officially the dumbest man alive for not realizing this was the problem....but I have never actually run a car completely out of fuel before, so I was not aware that it would actually idle for a certain time (unable to rev) before totally dying.

Surb00 - On a side note, you run 10psi with just an SAFC? How long have you been running that much boost and how many miles are on the motor total? I have to stay a little lower I think (mine has 105,000) but I think that it is interesting that you are able to handle that kind of boost with minimalist electronic control...bravo...bet it is a total blast to drive!

Again....thanks,
Doug

BOY · 05-29-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SCOOBER
I have to stay a little lower I think (mine has 105,000)

You bastard, you pulled ahead of me in milage. Guess my sister car is doin alright

8Complex · 05-29-2003, 04:31 PM

Note: there are two floats in the tank and it adds together the voltage to get the fuel level. So if one was stuck halfway, you'd get 3/4 down to 1/4 tank range on your gauge.

Surb00 · 05-29-2003, 10:23 PM

Well, not just an S-AFC. I also have WRX injectors, Walbro 255lph pump, and parallel fuel lines. I have 80,000 miles total, about 8,000 or so turboed. Its not too hard to do, I have the S-AFC set -33%. It runs just like stock, np pinging or anything.

Sunrise City Rider · 05-30-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 8Complex
Note: there are two floats in the tank and it adds together the voltage to get the fuel level. So if one was stuck halfway, you'd get 3/4 down to 1/4 tank range on your gauge.

I always wondered why the Fuel pump has a float and the fuel level sender has its own...

Zee

SCOOBER · 05-30-2003, 12:16 AM

What is the output on the stock WRX fuel pump? I am getting the impression from most of the RS-T setups that I do not need my RRFPR...thoughts?

Sunrise City Rider · 05-30-2003, 12:20 AM

You don't need it if your'e using WRX injectors and a high flow fuel pump...Its used when you have stock injectors or need higher fuel pressure when in boost...Use an SVX regulator or see if the WRX regulator will fit your RS rail...they are 1:1 ratios and will work great for you...Use an electronic fuel controller with that to get pull fuel puls width when you are off boost...

Zee

Hondaslayer · 05-30-2003, 07:47 AM

Out of fuel eh??

Welcome to the club!!!

05-29-2003, 12:54 AM	#1
SCOOBER Scooby Newbie Member#: 223 Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Ohio Vehicle: 1999 Impreza 2.5RS-T Aspen White	RS-T Died....Need Input I have a '99RS with the WRX turbo setup on it. The car has been running pretty well for a couple of weeks now...a little over 300 miles...and I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing. Well, that all changed tonight...we went for a drive and the car was running great...for about 20 miles or so...and then it started to bog at a little below 3k. This turned into a lack of acceleration...actually a complete lack of it from about 2k. I made it to a parking lot and the car would idle but not rev...now it won't even idle. I got it towed home...30+ miles ...and we looked it over in the garage without much success. Here are our observations... 1) Plugs look good...no strange coolant smells or spills...no fluids leaking anywhere. 2) EGT's never went over 1500...oil pressure is good...A/F is in the lean area when it tries to idle now. 3) Swapped MAF with known good unit...no success...bypassed turbo and hooked intake up to T/B...no success. 4) C/E light after car got to the no-rev portion of the evening. I don't have a way to pull the code at this time. 5) You can smell fuel when starting the car...so it's getting gas...it starts and dies. Here is the setup we are using... WRX exhaust, Turbo and I/C. WRX injectors and pump. Vortech RRFPR (4:1). Our only thought was that the stock regulator may have crapped out...what is the average life span on one of those? Maybe an early grave due to the extra pressure under boost? Any help is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks, Doug The car has been idling and running very well....then after a little steady driving at 60ish it freaks out and dies. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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05-29-2003, 02:28 AM	#2
8Complex Moderator Member#: 922 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Schaumburg, IL Vehicle: 04 FXT Red	What type of engine management are you running? Have you compression tested the motor yet?

05-29-2003, 02:30 AM	#3
STi-Nismo Dood Scooby Specialist Member#: 4149 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Frisco/Diego/LosAngeles Vehicle: MY93 ImprezaRA Sedan GC8.6 Aspen White	how were you driving the car when all of this happened?

05-29-2003, 02:50 AM	#4
Surb00 Scooby Newbie Member#: 27132 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Vehicle: 1999 2.5 RS-T Rally Blue	I would start with a compression test. If you were running WRX injectors with a rrfpr and no s-afc I would think your probably running too rich. I use WRX injectors with a stock fpr and have to pull alot of fuel with my s-afc even with 10psi.

05-29-2003, 08:23 AM	#5
Revision Scooby Guru Member#: 242 Join Date: Sep 1999 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Carol Stream, IL USA Vehicle: MY05 PSM GGA !STOCK MY99 RS-RIP / MY95 MX-5	Same thing happened to me. Could be anything, but in my case, the Cat had disintegrated and clogged the exhaust. Shook out all the dust and crap from the downpipe and the car ran fine.. Still waiting on a replacement cat so I can go pass emissions.

05-29-2003, 10:56 AM	#6
Avenger Scooby Specialist Member#: 1234 Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Vancouver, Canada Vehicle: 2000	Do you have spark?

05-29-2003, 11:45 AM	#7
Puckaveli Scooby Specialist Member#: 1518 Join Date: May 2000 Location: Stow, OH Vehicle: 00 2.5RS Silver	Do you have gas in the tank?

05-29-2003, 03:51 PM	#8
BOY NASIOC Supporter Member#: 232 Join Date: Sep 1999 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Ft Wayne, IN Vehicle: 99 RS-T RIP 02 Forster-S	Doug, you don't have a fuel leak from the injectors do you? When you turn the key (ign on, engine off) can you smell fuel and/or hear a hissing (in the engine bay, with the hood open)? Also, check your front O2 sensor, when it dies it should read lean so the car will run "safely" rich... which in our case with 420cc injectors and a big pump = bad juju. BTW, you can still turn the engine by hand right? the car is running just poorly and in safe mode right? I'm betting O2 first, cat second, fuel leak third... who's got $5?

05-29-2003, 04:23 PM	#9
SCOOBER Scooby Newbie Member#: 223 Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Ohio Vehicle: 1999 Impreza 2.5RS-T Aspen White	Sorry for the late response....and thanks to everyone who gave their input. I woke up this morning to get ready for work and kept thinking "no fuel". Well, this afternoon I used my gas can to put some fuel in the tank and it started right up! Puck wins the guess....and loses at the same time since he was there and did not think of this either. Now, the part that is important is that my guage still said I had a 1/4 tank of fuel left!! I guess somehow I messed up the float or it got stuck at that point. It goes higher, but I see now that the lowest is 1/4 I am now officially the dumbest man alive for not realizing this was the problem....but I have never actually run a car completely out of fuel before, so I was not aware that it would actually idle for a certain time (unable to rev) before totally dying. Surb00 - On a side note, you run 10psi with just an SAFC? How long have you been running that much boost and how many miles are on the motor total? I have to stay a little lower I think (mine has 105,000) but I think that it is interesting that you are able to handle that kind of boost with minimalist electronic control...bravo...bet it is a total blast to drive! Again....thanks, Doug

05-29-2003, 04:31 PM	#11
8Complex Moderator Member#: 922 Join Date: Feb 2000 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Schaumburg, IL Vehicle: 04 FXT Red	Note: there are two floats in the tank and it adds together the voltage to get the fuel level. So if one was stuck halfway, you'd get 3/4 down to 1/4 tank range on your gauge.

05-29-2003, 10:23 PM	#12
Surb00 Scooby Newbie Member#: 27132 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Vehicle: 1999 2.5 RS-T Rally Blue	Well, not just an S-AFC. I also have WRX injectors, Walbro 255lph pump, and parallel fuel lines. I have 80,000 miles total, about 8,000 or so turboed. Its not too hard to do, I have the S-AFC set -33%. It runs just like stock, np pinging or anything.

05-30-2003, 12:16 AM	#14
SCOOBER Scooby Newbie Member#: 223 Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Ohio Vehicle: 1999 Impreza 2.5RS-T Aspen White	What is the output on the stock WRX fuel pump? I am getting the impression from most of the RS-T setups that I do not need my RRFPR...thoughts?

05-30-2003, 12:20 AM	#15
Sunrise City Rider Scooby Specialist Member#: 1503 Join Date: May 2000 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Sunrise, FL, USA Vehicle: 2000 Impreza W"RS"X Blue Ridge Pearl	You don't need it if your'e using WRX injectors and a high flow fuel pump...Its used when you have stock injectors or need higher fuel pressure when in boost...Use an SVX regulator or see if the WRX regulator will fit your RS rail...they are 1:1 ratios and will work great for you...Use an electronic fuel controller with that to get pull fuel puls width when you are off boost... Zee

05-30-2003, 07:47 AM	#16
Hondaslayer Brain Stew Moderator Member#: 4562 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Auburn, WA Vehicle: 1998 Forester,lifted 1975 VW Westfalia tin top	Out of fuel eh?? Welcome to the club!!!