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Old 10-08-2012, 04:41 PM   #1
Smokin STi
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Default Running out of ideas...

A little background first..

I've had the car for about a year. When i bought it i knew it had a few mods, but i planned on removing them and getting the car as close back to stock as possible.

Known mods include:
Turboback Exhaust
TurboXS BPV
Intake
Greddy Boost controller (turned off when i got the car, and hasn't been on)

I had been shopping around for a few months, and this car was the closest to stock that i could find within my price range, but i wasn't able to be there when the car was picked up. My dad actually picked the car up, and he knows his way around an engine pretty well, but mostly V6 and V8s, never touched a boxer engine before. When i got the car i immediately had the compression checked, and i don't have the numbers here, but everything seemed to be in good shape. Oil and all fluids checked out.

I drove the car as it was for about 6 months, before i put the stock intake and exhaust on. Never had any real issues with the car (It never broke down or blew smoke) There are a few things that concern me though. One being that when i hit around 2800 RPM there is an INTENSE rattle, which to me sounds like valves. Now before the flames begin, i do understand that these are loud cars and they make all kinds of noises, but this literally sounds like someone is sitting in the passenger seat shaking around a tin can with a few bolts in it. It may be that i never heard it with the loud exhaust, and its always been there.

There is also an issue when i pull off from a dead stop, especially into a turn. No matter how quick or easy i am with the clutch, and no matter how much gas i give it, the car bogs down and shudders like its going to die. I have driven quite a few standards, and they are all different. But i would think this car would have just a little more GO from a stop than my 86 4cyl Blazer with over 200,000 miles... and it just doesn't. All other gears are fine, and it doesn't hesitate at all from a "rolling" stop.

I was a little concerned about the tuning, so i took the car to 2 different dealerships, and both times i was told that they couldn't help me... They couldn't even tell me if the car had a stock tune . Instead the dealership mechanic referred me to an aftermarket shop (I've heard nothing but great things about the shop i was referred to, just never had that happen before) Took it to the shop, and they plugged it in and said as far as they could tell it still had a stock tune, but other than that they couldn't tell me why i was having any of the other issues. Basically the only answer i got was, "Its a race car, it could go 5000 miles, or it could go 50000 miles, impossible to tell."

I really just don't know what to do at this point. I really find it hard to believe that NO ONE can tell me ANYTHING about this car... It drives me crazy to have this beast of a car, that i have to drive around like a grandma because i'm afraid i'm going to blow it up if i push it. Its really starting to be a bummer, and after as long as i have wanted one of these cars i'm starting to feel that the only solution is to just get rid of it.

Anyone out there in Subie Land have any advice for me? I really really want to get this car running how it should, but i'm just at my wits end...

Thanks in advance!
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Old 10-08-2012, 06:58 PM   #2
DHRDAN
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Default

1. you bought it how you saw it.
2. The car isn't the problem .. you are.


3. Get a cable and hook it up yourself. You cry that no one will tell you how it runs... why don't you check yourself... christ.



my car is a 2001 and i know how it runs every.. ******g day.
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:26 PM   #3
Andrewxxcarlson
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You said it had a TP stage 2 tune. When you uninstalled everything you need to reflash the stock map. I sure hope you're staying out of boost.
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:32 PM   #4
Rivers61
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Maybe you could put the aftermarket parts back on, just to see if the problems came from you removing them.
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:41 PM   #5
Smokin STi
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I have had the ecu scanned several times and the only thing that ever showed up was for the o2 sensor, which is back in now. I had it inspected a week ago and the o2 sensor is fine now. If i am the problem thats fine, but I'm not really sure what it is I'm doing wrong.

Not sure where the confusion with the tuning happened, but it has a stock tune.

I was thinking about putting the parts back on, because i never noticed it before. But its very loud, and if it gets worse i want to be able to hear it.
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Old 10-08-2012, 07:43 PM   #6
gutie04
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What shop did you go to? Are they a Subaru shop?

Look at your Uppipe, the heat shielding on them is notorious for rusting and creating a rattle at certain rpms. What could be happening is you get that rattle and the car recognizes it as knock so it pulls the timing and greatly reduces your power.

I highly recommend you get in the TXIC forums and find some guys in your area that can either come check out your car or recommend a Subaru Tuning shop to you. I can pretty much guarantee you need to have a stock STI map loaded on your car.
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Old 10-08-2012, 10:09 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokin STi View Post
I have had the ecu scanned several times and the only thing that ever showed up was for the o2 sensor, which is back in now. I had it inspected a week ago and the o2 sensor is fine now. If i am the problem thats fine, but I'm not really sure what it is I'm doing wrong.

Not sure where the confusion with the tuning happened, but it has a stock tune.

I was thinking about putting the parts back on, because i never noticed it before. But its very loud, and if it gets worse i want to be able to hear it.
you cant inspect an o2 sensor

you CAN replace them
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Old 10-08-2012, 10:12 PM   #8
Smokin STi
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... I had the car inspected. With the o2 sensor now plugged into the stock exhaust.
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Old 10-08-2012, 10:37 PM   #9
Uncle Scotty
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokin STi View Post
... I had the car inspected. With the o2 sensor now plugged into the stock exhaust.


d0000000000000000d


the o2 sensor should have always been 'now plugged into the stock exhaust'

and an intense rattle at 2800 is usually a bad rod bearing
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Old 10-08-2012, 11:39 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokin STi View Post
I have had the ecu scanned several times and the only thing that ever showed up was for the o2 sensor, which is back in now. I had it inspected a week ago and the o2 sensor is fine now. If i am the problem thats fine, but I'm not really sure what it is I'm doing wrong.

Not sure where the confusion with the tuning happened, but it has a stock tune.

I was thinking about putting the parts back on, because i never noticed it before. But its very loud, and if it gets worse i want to be able to hear it.
How do you know it has a stock tune? You stated it had a turboback exhaust which should have had a tune on the car. So what I am getting is that you took the "stage 2" parts off but still ran the "stage 2" tune.
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Old 10-09-2012, 03:39 AM   #11
Andrewxxcarlson
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zackg

How do you know it has a stock tune? You stated it had a turboback exhaust which should have had a tune on the car. So what I am getting is that you took the "stage 2" parts off but still ran the "stage 2" tune.
I tried to tell him -_-
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Old 10-09-2012, 07:10 AM   #12
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Default

This thread is a little confusing, but I get the impression that he has never messed with the tune, and found out it has a stock tune. So when he got the car, it had a stock tune with those mods on it. Then he drove it with the mods and stock tune for 6 months until he put the stock stuff back on.

So OP, what these guys are trying to tell you is that you drove your car with an improper tune. Depending on what tune your running, you were either messing the car up when you got it, or you are now that you put the stock stuff on it.

With the mods you have listed, that car should have been running a stage 2 tune when you bought it.

Last edited by GrumpyPitbull; 10-09-2012 at 07:17 AM. Reason: re-read this confusing thread again
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Old 10-09-2012, 08:27 AM   #13
NoGraffix
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You can acquire a stock 04 sti map for free and load it to your car. Then you no longer need to ponder what tune is on the car. As far as the rattle goes it could be a whole mess of things.
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Old 10-09-2012, 08:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GrumpyPitbull
This thread is a little confusing, but I get the impression that he has never messed with the tune, and found out it has a stock tune. So when he got the car, it had a stock tune with those mods on it. Then he drove it with the mods and stock tune for 6 months until he put the stock stuff back on.

So OP, what these guys are trying to tell you is that you drove your car with an improper tune. Depending on what tune your running, you were either messing the car up when you got it, or you are now that you put the stock stuff on it.

With the mods you have listed, that car should have been running a stage 2 tune when you bought it.
This is the way I took it, too. By all accounts, it sounds like you now have a stock tune on it. If Subaru says you do, then you do. They would know by the codes. The other lack of answers are unacceptable from various shops. I hope you didn't pay them for this crap.

As for the rattle, do the simple thing first and check that up pipe as described. It's simple and may be a quick fix. Unfortunately, with the odd hesitation you're getting, I'm fearful it's something much bigger and more expensive.

It sounds like you have a headache on your hands. Even if the rattle is the up pipe, the previous owner handed you a car with an improper tune. He was probably running an accessport he wanted to sell, so likely unmarried it and resold it. That, or he was running his setup with no tune for the mods at all. Either way, be prepared to spend some money or ditch the car. It certainly sounds like you should have got some more info prior to your purchase. Sorry man.
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Old 10-10-2012, 01:46 PM   #15
07VTRex
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heres what it sounds like to me. you bought a used car with X mods on it.
You do not know what "tune" the car came with.

What you should have done:
1. talked to pervious owner
2. taken it to a shop and figured out what the tune was, if the previous owner didnt tell you, and make sure the car was tuned properly for the mods it had. DONE

what you should not have done, but did anyway:
1. start changing parts
2. not understanding what these parts do
3. not knowing what tune you are runing, and then going ahead anyway and changing parts.

now you are running a car with who knows what parts on who knows what tune. of course there are going to be problems and i wouldnt be suprised if they become catastrophic in the near future.

you need to get this car 100% stock with a 100% stock tune. give it a full look over, leakdown and compression check, get a clean bill of health and a fresh slate to work with, then start over.


Dude let me give you some advice. When buying a used car, ASK every single qustion you can possibly think of to the owner of the car you are about to buy. If they cant answer your questions, take the car to a professional who can (not a dealership if the car has been modified- we are talking an aftermarket subaru performance shop)

DO NOT under any circumstances start changing parts and or tunes without knowing what you are doing.

from the sounds of it you royally ****ed things up and should have left it as it was until you could do a little more research and figure out what you had to work with.

at this point i dont even know what to tell you cus i dont even know what youve done anymore at this point
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Old 10-10-2012, 03:35 PM   #16
BrandonDrums
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Decipher View Post
This is the way I took it, too. By all accounts, it sounds like you now have a stock tune on it. If Subaru says you do, then you do. They would know by the codes. The other lack of answers are unacceptable from various shops. I hope you didn't pay them for this crap.

As for the rattle, do the simple thing first and check that up pipe as described. It's simple and may be a quick fix. Unfortunately, with the odd hesitation you're getting, I'm fearful it's something much bigger and more expensive.

It sounds like you have a headache on your hands. Even if the rattle is the up pipe, the previous owner handed you a car with an improper tune. He was probably running an accessport he wanted to sell, so likely unmarried it and resold it. That, or he was running his setup with no tune for the mods at all. Either way, be prepared to spend some money or ditch the car. It certainly sounds like you should have got some more info prior to your purchase. Sorry man.

Unfortunately you can't tell if the tune is stock just by codes. The OEM rom isn't locked, using ECUflash and Romraider you can pull the stock map and make changes all you want and pop it back on there and the dealer will never know because there's no flashlog data or change data in our ECU's. You'd have to have a stock map and compare the tables to the map pulled from your car with your eyeballs.

You can find your specific stock MAP here http://www.romraider.com/forum/viewt...hp?f=35&t=7591

If you get a tatrix cable and download ECU flash you can simply compare the stock rom to what's on your ecu and it will tell you if it's the same or not. You'd want to try all 3 variatons of the 04 USDM STI rom first before drawing any conclusions. If none of them match you can open them up and compare directly.

I don't even think the dealers typically have access to making changes to the ECU, they only have tools to re-flash it with the files they get from the factory unless one of the guys there happens to have downloaded all the Romraider stuff to one of the computers there.

To the OP: it sounds like you have some tuning issues causing the engine to bog like crazy. When you mod the intake and/or injectors you have to take a long time getting the fueling dialed back in because the ECU has to be re-calibrated with the appropriate mass air flow and fueling relationships for the new parts.

Severe bogging and hesistation at partial throttle and low rpm sounds exactly like a closed loop fueling problem.

Explain the rattling sound more. Is it a pronounced knock that increases with the speed of the engine or is it a harsh metal on metal random vibration noise?

I have the vibration noise, it's somewhat common when you have an aftermarket clutch and a lightweight flywheel, when the engine bogs down by giving it too much gas at low rpm, the lighter flywheel will not keep the engine running smoothly forward and crap begins to sound way wrong.

If it's a knock knock knock knock then you're screwed.
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Old 10-10-2012, 04:45 PM   #17
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OP, you made a few very poor choices in a row. Why would you even buy the car and put it back to stock? And then not put a stock tune back in it? Taking the Stage 2 off seems ridiculous enough, let alone not making sure you had a way to re-tune it to stock is just plain ignorant.

That rattle you hear could be the exhaust hitting something, or you ****ed your motor up by running it with stock parts and non stock tune. I just can't feel sorry for people who make stupid decisions without at least making an effort to research anything. And I would think the original owner could tell you if the car was tuned..... sigh.

Sometimes I want to leave this planet....
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