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Old 12-07-2018, 02:01 PM   #1
Cliff717
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Default Newb here Tuner questions

Hey guys thanks for having me. And hopefully you’re not too hard on me but I have some newbie questions. So I am familiar with turbo engines as I have a Buick grand national and a eco-boost mustang but this is my very first Subaru! This car I purchased is my son’s first car. It will be a project that we are going to fix together The car was in a very slight front-end fender bender. So I will be looking in the classifieds for some parts LOL I have a couple questions just to start off for now. I am looking to do the opposite of what most people want. Since this is my son’s first car I will need it tuned down lol. I have a access port on the mustang and it looks like they are fairly popular with the Subarus also. Is this the tuner I should buy? And who would be the best or most popular tuning company to have this tuned for me?
Thanks in advance I know this question gets asked 1 million times but being as I want to lower horsepower I couldn’t find anything in the search menu
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Old 12-07-2018, 02:09 PM   #2
Sour_K
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The Cobb OTS maps are usually pretty good and the AP is kind of the standard "tuning tool" if you don't get a Tactrix cable or whatever it is people use for E-tunes, if you go with a stage 1 or 2 though you'll be adding power obviously. I would look into what a stock engine/exhaust/etc system puts out with Cobb's Economy map. That's meant to increase gas mileage and be used on longer road trips, I haven't personally seen if that lowers the horsepower, but it definitely seems like it's not trying to boost up to 17 lbs. Of course, if he gets his hands on the AP he can load whatever map he wants. My question would be, if you didn't think he'd be responsible with a turbo car, why didn't you get him a regular impreza or something similar?
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Old 12-07-2018, 02:19 PM   #3
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Disconnect the boost control solenoid so he can only run 8 psi. Problem solved!
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Old 12-07-2018, 02:49 PM   #4
86Dreams
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeyposeur View Post
Disconnect the boost control solenoid so he can only run 8 psi. Problem solved!
Joking. Not Joking.
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Old 12-07-2018, 02:56 PM   #5
Gallo2011
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Which model and year of turbocharged Subaru did you purchase?
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Old 12-08-2018, 12:58 AM   #6
Cliff717
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I got a 09wrx sti. I know this I a fast first car; but it is his dream car since he was 10 and I figured it can be tuned down ( I know it can be done on my mustang so I figured it should be able to be done on a sti?)
I wanted to start off with a good car because it is going to be a project; he is gonna have to work for the car. My dad did a similar thing with my first car. We did not have much $ so my dad got me a beater and we spent a year fixing it up. That's a time I will always remember! That was good times with my dad. Unfortunatly the car was a piece of crap and I uickly outgrew it . So I thought why not get my son a car he will love for years and we can spend some time fixing it. If I can de-tune it the car will last him for years and the car can "grow " with him. I know this is not the ideal or the most economical but I think it will be a fun project
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Old 12-08-2018, 01:25 AM   #7
GlarryHoodDIT
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Cool project to be doing with your son, hopefully he appreciates it like you did! Father-son relationships can never have a monetary value!

You're going to be in relatively uncharted waters asking people to DE-tune a car, 99.9999% of tuner requests are the opposite ha!

But with that being said, I'm sure you can find a tuner to help you with your project.

Your easiest option is going to be to buy a Cobb Accessport (just like your Mustang, ~$550 used, $650 new, make sure it's Subaru specific, there are APs for lots of platforms) and to contact an E tuner (Bren Tuning is a great choice, https://brentuning.com/product/brent...baru-e-tuning/). They can remotely tune your car through email. Tell them what your goal is and I'm sure they'll be able to work with you.

Good luck!
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Old 12-08-2018, 07:49 AM   #8
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Thanks I hope it works out
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:05 AM   #9
Mulder
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The AP OTS maps include a "Valet" map with no boost control and a 3800RPM rev limiter. That would do the trick but he might not talk to you any more after that.
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:09 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeyposeur View Post
Disconnect the boost control solenoid so he can only run 8 psi. Problem solved!
I did this when I bought a WRX for my son. Teenagers are all morons.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulder View Post
The AP OTS maps include a "Valet" map with no boost control and a 3800RPM rev limiter. That would do the trick but he might not talk to you any more after that.
This is even better and had I understood this more when I bought the car, this is what I would have done because......teenagers are all morons.
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:52 AM   #11
Charlie-III
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Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeyposeur View Post
Disconnect the boost control solenoid so he can only run 8 psi. Problem solved!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulder View Post
The AP OTS maps include a "Valet" map with no boost control and a 3800RPM rev limiter. That would do the trick but he might not talk to you any more after that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
I did this when I bought a WRX for my son. Teenagers are all morons.

This is even better and had I understood this more when I bought the car, this is what I would have done because......teenagers are all morons.
Agreed, AP and valet map, then hide the AP.

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Old 12-08-2018, 09:53 AM   #12
Scuby04STi
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Well, de-tuning an STi for the time being makes a LOT of sense. I would get an access port, look over the ootions it has (valet mode or what not) and see if that will work for you. If not just have a tuner pull boost and such till you feel the car has been neutered properly for a teenager. Lol

Wanta sell that Grand Nat? Lol I almost bought one a few years back.
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Old 12-08-2018, 11:56 AM   #13
Cliff717
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It’s funny I am getting mixed reviews on a tuner being able to pull horse power from this car I guess I have to talk to a couple of tutors myself face-to-face or email to Email LOL I don’t see why they can’t pull some boost and put it down to say the levels of the stock WRX. The national is my baby I just got it this year. I had to sell my classic Mustang to afford it. My wife is always hated the looks of grand nationals it took me nearly 20 years to convince her I needed one
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Old 12-08-2018, 12:56 PM   #14
Charlie-III
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliff717 View Post
It’s funny I am getting mixed reviews on a tuner being able to pull horse power from this car I guess I have to talk to a couple of tutors myself face-to-face or email to Email LOL I don’t see why they can’t pull some boost and put it down to say the levels of the stock WRX. The national is my baby I just got it this year. I had to sell my classic Mustang to afford it. My wife is always hated the looks of grand nationals it took me nearly 20 years to convince her I needed one
As stated before, AccessPort and valet mode......hide the AP....... fairly cheap, then, down the road, read AP mapnotes for "better than OEM mapping" for stock, then upgrades providing you read the mapnotes.

Taken from a long time Subaru guy and having a 23yo son (driving an early WRX chassis with full 05 STi swap and AP.....) and a tame 21yo daughter that knew more about cars than most in her school (dad, wrenched/modder, older brother).

So, dad to dad, AP and valet mode.......hide the AP........

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Old 12-09-2018, 12:34 AM   #15
Scuby04STi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliff717 View Post
It’s funny I am getting mixed reviews on a tuner being able to pull horse power from this car I guess I have to talk to a couple of tutors myself face-to-face or email to Email LOL I don’t see why they can’t pull some boost and put it down to say the levels of the stock WRX. The national is my baby I just got it this year. I had to sell my classic Mustang to afford it. My wife is always hated the looks of grand nationals it took me nearly 20 years to convince her I needed one
What state?
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Old 12-09-2018, 04:41 PM   #16
Cliff717
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Ontario Canada
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:08 AM   #17
Scuby04STi
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Originally Posted by Cliff717 View Post
Ontario Canada
I do not know anyone up that way. Start with an AP and go from there.
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:33 AM   #18
rtv900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scuby04STi View Post
Well, de-tuning an STi for the time being makes a LOT of sense. I would get an access port, look over the ootions it has (valet mode or what not) and see if that will work for you. If not just have a tuner pull boost and such till you feel the car has been neutered properly for a teenager. Lol

Wanta sell that Grand Nat? Lol I almost bought one a few years back.
Not sure how the rev limiter SHOULD work in valet mode, but I used that mode one time when I dropped it off at a place and didn't want some clown shredding my car.
On my way there I tested the 'rev limiter' and it felt absolutely horrible when the engine got to that point.
I thought it would just act as if the throttle was pulled back but it felt like a friggin grenade went off in the motor.
Super hard shuttering and violent shaking.
Not sure what method is used to limit that rpm but it seemed crude as hell.
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:41 AM   #19
SirBrass
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If you don't want to run valet mode, why not get the car tuned for 87 octane gas? Then have your son run it with mid grade (89 octane) for some knock safety.

It'll definitely be de-tuned if timing has to be pulled over the entire band to allow for 87 to be run. Also, since you're in canada and quality higher octane gas can be hard to come by (or so I've heard), this might even be a map he'll like to have even once he's matured enough to run with more power.
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Old 12-10-2018, 12:06 PM   #20
Cliff717
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Here is a reply from Brent tuning.
200 hp sounds great. What is i mode?

Hi Cliff,

There's not much out there in form of parental controls. But what I can do is tune the car to be forced into i mode. When these cars are in i mode they make around 200whp. This is not going to allow you to bluetooth into the car and shut if off remotely or anything like that, if that is what you are looking for.



-Neil
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Old 12-10-2018, 12:13 PM   #21
SirBrass
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliff717 View Post
Here is a reply from Brent tuning.
200 hp sounds great. What is i mode?

Hi Cliff,

There's not much out there in form of parental controls. But what I can do is tune the car to be forced into i mode. When these cars are in i mode they make around 200whp. This is not going to allow you to bluetooth into the car and shut if off remotely or anything like that, if that is what you are looking for.



-Neil
Your STI has a knob in the center console just below the shifter labeled "SI Drive". There's 3 modes: I (intelligent), S (sport), and S# (sport sharp). Each mode alters throttle response, max boost, and some other engine parameters.

I mode is the most fuel economical.
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Old 12-10-2018, 12:33 PM   #22
Cliff717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SirBrass View Post
Your STI has a knob in the center console just below the shifter labeled "SI Drive". There's 3 modes: I (intelligent), S (sport), and S# (sport sharp). Each mode alters throttle response, max boost, and some other engine parameters.

I mode is the most fuel economical.






Awesome thanks!!!
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