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Old 05-19-2013, 01:12 PM   #1
NoobySooby
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Default New to Subaru's Anything I need to know

Hey everybody! I'm happy to say, I am now a Subaru owner. Previously had on 07 G35 coupe (gorgeous car). Then decided I wanted something AWD and faster. So after quite a bit of research and waiting to find the right one. I traded in my G35 and bought a 2011 STI sedan! I really love the car, its Plasma blue, which is my favorite color. So the car came with a few mods, an aftermarket downpipe (I think, its from Invidia), an SPT exhaust, an AEM cold air intake and a Boost gauge.
So i'm pretty clueless on this part, the car is supposed to always be limited at 8psi right? Well when I put it in S# and give it some throttle, the gauge shows 18psi. At that point i was freaking out thinking my engine was gonna go boom. Is this supposed to happen?
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:19 PM   #2
vu_tang
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Did you buy it from a dealer or private seller? Might want to check to see if its been tuned for those mods or your car can go boom
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:19 PM   #3
Scomi21
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You claimed you researched......you obviously didn't. It's fine, make sure it's tuned with that downpipe on it
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:29 PM   #4
NoobySooby
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I bought it from a dealer. I'm not sure if its tuned or not, is there any way i can check? I did my research on the WRX and the WRX STI to choose which one I would prefer.
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:32 PM   #5
Bluebattery70
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18 psi sounds about right. Stock psi for a 11' wrx is 16 at peak if i recall correctly. Id talk with the dealership to make sure too like vu_Tang mentioned.
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:38 PM   #6
NoobySooby
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I talked to the dealership, it was an Infiniti dealer. Pretty big dealership. I talked to them about mods and they said it was all fine and checked out. I'm just worried about my engine blowing up, is there anyway I can check if there was a tune done to it? Other than bringing it to a shop and having them check.
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:45 PM   #7
kickniteasy
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If someone left the downpipe in but switched the tune to normal and took the accessport/tune away then you will go boom. My friend did this on trade in with his WRX.....left the DP in with SPT exhaust but changed the tune to stock so the dealer would up the trade in value and he kept the AP because he went from an 08 to '13 wrx. It got him 3K more in trade in, but I feel bad for whoever bought it and doesn't know.
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:46 PM   #8
pauli133
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Find a local tuner (fill in your profile and ask in the appropriate regional subforum) and have them look the car over. Along with hopefully picking up on any existing isses, they'll be able to tell you if it's tuned; best practice would be to have them retune it anyway.
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:47 PM   #9
NoobySooby
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pauli133 View Post
Find a local tuner (fill in your profile and ask in the appropriate regional subforum) and have them look the car over. They'll be able to tell you if it's tuned; best practice would be to have them retune it anyway.
Alright, i'll be sure to remember to do that stuff, still new to this forum. How much do you guys think the tune will cost?
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Old 05-19-2013, 01:57 PM   #10
vu_tang
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoobySooby View Post

Alright, i'll be sure to remember to do that stuff, still new to this forum. How much do you guys think the tune will cost?
It will vary.. But anywhere between $500 - 1000 is a reasonable guess. Congrats on the new car! I hope we didnt scare you, just let this be a lesson learned. Most engine modifications will need a tune to run correctly.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:00 PM   #11
mprezme
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i would think the dealer would reset the ECU on it regardless of knowing having a tune or not? like formatting a hard drive when u buy a used computer. not going to have old user info--least hope not.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:06 PM   #12
NoobySooby
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vu_tang View Post
It will vary.. But anywhere between $500 - 1000 is a reasonable guess. Congrats on the new car! I hope we didnt scare you, just let this be a lesson learned. Most engine modifications will need a tune to run correctly.
I'm freaking out right now haha. I just keep searching the forums as i wait for your replies to my question but still come up short on an exact answer. What I read so far is if i had a stock tune and the car hit 18psi, a CEL light would come up on my cluster, right? I haven't driven the car hard yet and now im scared of even driving it at all.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:07 PM   #13
Chicago AJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mprezme View Post
i would think the dealer would reset the ECU on it regardless of knowing having a tune or not? like formatting a hard drive when u buy a used computer. not going to have old user info--least hope not.
My thoughts exactly.

OP, definitely go get it tuned.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:08 PM   #14
NoobySooby
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Also, do you guys think that a shop would be able to JUST CHECK if there is a tune? Without putting it on a dyno and such.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:09 PM   #15
Chicago AJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoobySooby View Post
Also, do you guys think that a shop would be able to JUST CHECK if there is a tune? Without putting it on a dyno and such.
Definitely.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:13 PM   #16
2011rex18
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Okay man so you know stock boost is 14 psi and the computer is smart enough to know that if you are over boosting it will go into limp mode, the odds are the car is tuned. I would try asking the dealer for the name of the previous owner and try to contact him
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:13 PM   #17
NoobySooby
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Originally Posted by Chicago AJ View Post
Definitely.
Thanks, I really appreciate the info everybody. I'm gonna go get it checked out on Monday as soon as the shop opens up. Until then, its staying in the garage...
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:14 PM   #18
NoobySooby
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Originally Posted by 2011rex18 View Post
Okay man so you know stock boost is 14 psi and the computer is smart enough to know that if you are over boosting it will go into limp mode, the odds are the car is tuned. I would try asking the dealer for the name of the previous owner and try to contact him
Hmmm, that's not a bad idea. I'll do that right now then.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:18 PM   #19
Chicago AJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoobySooby View Post
Thanks, I really appreciate the info everybody. I'm gonna go get it checked out on Monday as soon as the shop opens up. Until then, its staying in the garage...
Probably your best plan of action. Even if you can contact the previous owner I wouldn't trust the dealer to tell you the truth about whether or not they touched the ecu.
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Old 05-19-2013, 02:26 PM   #20
NoobySooby
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Originally Posted by Chicago AJ View Post
Probably your best plan of action. Even if you can contact the previous owner I wouldn't trust the dealer to tell you the truth about whether or not they touched the ecu.
yea so the dealer could't give me anything. Privacy laws restrict them from telling me anything. So its not that big of a deal. I'm just gonna wait it out and go get it checked out at a shop. There's a tuner shop with some pretty cool people nearby that i'm gonna go to.
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Old 05-19-2013, 07:43 PM   #21
Kinjirra
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoobySooby View Post
yea so the dealer could't give me anything. Privacy laws restrict them from telling me anything. So its not that big of a deal. I'm just gonna wait it out and go get it checked out at a shop. There's a tuner shop with some pretty cool people nearby that i'm gonna go to.
Make sure they know about Subaru's, not all tuners are created equal for sure.
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Old 05-20-2013, 06:34 AM   #22
wood600rr
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2011rex18 View Post
Okay man so you know stock boost is 14 psi and the computer is smart enough to know that if you are over boosting it will go into limp mode, the odds are the car is tuned. I would try asking the dealer for the name of the previous owner and try to contact him
+1

I used to work at a dealership, and while they may not be able to give you the previous owner's info, they can surely call him/her themselves and ask about the tune.
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Old 05-20-2013, 10:19 AM   #23
stierzy34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kinjirra View Post
Make sure they know about Subaru's, not all tuners are created equal for sure.
Truth. May want to also check your regional chapter for information about who is good around the area.
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Old 05-20-2013, 11:28 PM   #24
NoobySooby
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Do you guys think a Cobb accessport would do the job as a tune? I mean, could i use it essentially to tune the car by myself? I found a good deal for one (200 bucks) and its better than 500 but if it won't suffice then i won't get it.
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Old 05-21-2013, 03:01 AM   #25
pauli133
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If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't be doing it yourself.

Especially on a car someone else already modified - consult a reputable local professional.
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