Yet Another "what's wrong with my car" thread

mr_yellow · 06-20-2005, 05:14 PM

Hey guys,

Forgive me for putting this in the newb forum. I wasn't sure whether this was an engine or transmission issue. Hopefully someone knowledgable will read this and know what I'm talking about...

I picked up a used 03 WRX Wagon 2 months ago and have been loving it since. It's my first manual and first truely fun car to drive.

I've been on the forums to know of a few problems the WRX has had and now that I own one, I wonder whether I'm being affected by some of them now.

basically, in the morning from a cold start, the engine power comes in "pulses". most noticable in first and second gear. At first I thought this was due to weak clutch springs. But why would the problem go away after driving for a while? And if it is, I should get it warrenteed! But i wasn't sure and didn't want to risk getting screwed over by the dealership with a "can't reproduce" slip...

Then I thought maybe it's the hesitation from the poor grounding... But the hestitation is suppose to be a loss of power around 4k rpm... not like this pulsating feeling i get that occurs early in the rpm 1k to 3-4k(I haven't tried it higher, i get afraid and shift to the next gear).

Then I though maybe it was clutch shudder? I had thought that Clutch Shudder was resolved after the 02's and I got an 03.... But Clutch shudder "sounds" much more jarring and rattley. The pulsing I'm getting is like a pulse of power every .5 seconds... And the pulses are smooth and not jarring or rough. makes the engine sound like "whRRRrrRRRrrRRRrrRrr"

Any ideas?

Thanks,

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

mr_yellow · 06-21-2005, 12:08 PM

Wow.. is this really that unique? Someone must know what this is?

f4phantomii · 06-21-2005, 12:37 PM

My STi does the same thing every morning when I pull out of my driveway up through 3rd gear.

I'm not really getting on the power, just accelerating to 25-30mph and holding that in 4th. In 4th I don't get the pulses, but I'm not accelerating either. When I get to the end of my neighborhood about 60 seconds later, it's gone.

But I get the same pulses. I suspect a little more slipping the clutch would smooth it out, but since it goes away so quickly, I don't worry about it.

-Michael

Balr14 · 06-21-2005, 01:05 PM

Pulsing is not uncommon in boxer engines.

mr_yellow · 06-21-2005, 01:12 PM

I agree that slipping the clutch a little more will smooth out the power delivery. I recognize that i may be engaging the clutch at too low of an rpm which causes the engine to not be able to keep up with the power.

If this is the case, then It's safe to assume mechanically, the car is fine. Is this what's called "engine bog"?

UM-WRXer · 06-21-2005, 01:19 PM

To me it sounds like you have an engine management prob. My guess is something to do with openloop/closed loop and cold starts...maybe a faulty iat sensor, i dont know..if it was used when you bought it who knows what has happened in the past.

If this prob only happens when the engine is cold, i dont think it a mechanical prob...

f4phantomii · 06-21-2005, 03:12 PM

Yeah....I have read that the Cobb AccessPort help address these issues to some degree as well, especially the rocking and/or surging at very low RPM's.

-Michael

drivin blind · 06-22-2005, 10:28 AM

Didn't think they had the open loop/closed loop thing until 04. Mine does the same thing when I first start out cold. Only for a few blocks. I attribute it to a stone cold engine, not my clutch. My .02

Acostafan · 06-22-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drivin blind

Didn't think they had the open loop/closed loop thing until 04. Mine does the same thing when I first start out cold. Only for a few blocks. I attribute it to a stone cold engine, not my clutch. My .02

The open/closed loop problem is in the 04's and 05's. I don't think you have a problem. Maybe you're just not used to the power delivery of the car? I take it this is your first turbo? I wouldn't worry.

tsubaru02 · 06-22-2005, 01:54 PM

let your car warm up before driveing

mr_yellow · 06-22-2005, 04:57 PM

lol.. yeah, it's my first turbo, plus first manual... so there's a lot of point against me in terms on experience.... I'm just glad i'm not the only one and that it doesn't seem like it's anything serious... Can't wait till i burn through the RE-92s and put on some real summer rubber...

06-20-2005, 05:14 PM	#1
mr_yellow Scooby Newbie Member#: 39983 Join Date: Jul 2003 Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Silver	Yet Another "what's wrong with my car" thread Hey guys, Forgive me for putting this in the newb forum. I wasn't sure whether this was an engine or transmission issue. Hopefully someone knowledgable will read this and know what I'm talking about... I picked up a used 03 WRX Wagon 2 months ago and have been loving it since. It's my first manual and first truely fun car to drive. I've been on the forums to know of a few problems the WRX has had and now that I own one, I wonder whether I'm being affected by some of them now. basically, in the morning from a cold start, the engine power comes in "pulses". most noticable in first and second gear. At first I thought this was due to weak clutch springs. But why would the problem go away after driving for a while? And if it is, I should get it warrenteed! But i wasn't sure and didn't want to risk getting screwed over by the dealership with a "can't reproduce" slip... Then I thought maybe it's the hesitation from the poor grounding... But the hestitation is suppose to be a loss of power around 4k rpm... not like this pulsating feeling i get that occurs early in the rpm 1k to 3-4k(I haven't tried it higher, i get afraid and shift to the next gear). Then I though maybe it was clutch shudder? I had thought that Clutch Shudder was resolved after the 02's and I got an 03.... But Clutch shudder "sounds" much more jarring and rattley. The pulsing I'm getting is like a pulse of power every .5 seconds... And the pulses are smooth and not jarring or rough. makes the engine sound like "whRRRrrRRRrrRRRrrRrr" Any ideas? Thanks, * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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06-21-2005, 12:08 PM	#2
mr_yellow Scooby Newbie Member#: 39983 Join Date: Jul 2003 Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Silver	Wow.. is this really that unique? Someone must know what this is?

06-21-2005, 12:37 PM	#3
f4phantomii Scooby Specialist Member#: 58504 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Ready to try OpenECU.org!!! Vehicle: 2004 STi Aspen White / Silver	My STi does the same thing every morning when I pull out of my driveway up through 3rd gear. I'm not really getting on the power, just accelerating to 25-30mph and holding that in 4th. In 4th I don't get the pulses, but I'm not accelerating either. When I get to the end of my neighborhood about 60 seconds later, it's gone. But I get the same pulses. I suspect a little more slipping the clutch would smooth it out, but since it goes away so quickly, I don't worry about it. -Michael

06-21-2005, 01:05 PM	#4
Balr14 Scooby Specialist Member#: 84809 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germantown, WI. Vehicle: 2005 Forester XT Black	Pulsing is not uncommon in boxer engines.

06-21-2005, 01:12 PM	#5
mr_yellow Scooby Newbie Member#: 39983 Join Date: Jul 2003 Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Silver	I agree that slipping the clutch a little more will smooth out the power delivery. I recognize that i may be engaging the clutch at too low of an rpm which causes the engine to not be able to keep up with the power. If this is the case, then It's safe to assume mechanically, the car is fine. Is this what's called "engine bog"?

06-21-2005, 01:19 PM	#6
UM-WRXer Scooby Specialist Member#: 44623 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: International Location: Geneva, CH	To me it sounds like you have an engine management prob. My guess is something to do with openloop/closed loop and cold starts...maybe a faulty iat sensor, i dont know..if it was used when you bought it who knows what has happened in the past. If this prob only happens when the engine is cold, i dont think it a mechanical prob...

06-21-2005, 03:12 PM	#7
f4phantomii Scooby Specialist Member#: 58504 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Ready to try OpenECU.org!!! Vehicle: 2004 STi Aspen White / Silver	Yeah....I have read that the Cobb AccessPort help address these issues to some degree as well, especially the rocking and/or surging at very low RPM's. -Michael

06-22-2005, 10:28 AM	#8
drivin blind Scooby Specialist Member#: 73043 Join Date: Oct 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Carson City, Michigan Vehicle: 2019 STI/370Z/Jeep Black/Black Cherry/Green	Didn't think they had the open loop/closed loop thing until 04. Mine does the same thing when I first start out cold. Only for a few blocks. I attribute it to a stone cold engine, not my clutch. My .02

06-22-2005, 01:54 PM	#10
tsubaru02 * Banned * Member#: 79628 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: so cal Vehicle: 2003 wrx ver 7 swap mingnight pearl black	let your car warm up before driveing

06-22-2005, 04:57 PM	#11
mr_yellow Scooby Newbie Member#: 39983 Join Date: Jul 2003 Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Silver	lol.. yeah, it's my first turbo, plus first manual... so there's a lot of point against me in terms on experience.... I'm just glad i'm not the only one and that it doesn't seem like it's anything serious... Can't wait till i burn through the RE-92s and put on some real summer rubber...