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Old 11-03-2021, 11:32 AM   #1
marshalgiles
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Member#: 527200
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default JDM EJ205 Identification

Hi All,
I'm looking at replacing the knocking engine in my 04 WRX with a JDM EJ205. I haven't necessarily ruled out rebuilding my current engine, but want to explore all possibilities. I've found one near enough to me that's advertised as a JDM EJ205 w/ AVCS. The seller doesn't know what it came from, but has sent photos of the various numbers found on the block and heads.

The heads are stamped with RHS20V and LHS20V and across the top of the bell housing reads 74454 173381.

The engine also comes with an ECU marked 2G 22611AG570. I think I've been able to determine that it is out of an 02 Forrester, but am not certain. I also don't know if the engine and ECU came from the same car.

Can anyone help identify what this engine is out of? Would it even matter for my application?
If the engine is compatible with my car, would the ECU work, provided I wanted to use AVCS?

Thanks for the help
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Old 11-03-2021, 11:44 AM   #2
K3rm1tth3fr0g
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Member#: 508105
Join Date: Nov 2019
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Vehicle:
Link G4X flex tuned
02' EJ205 20G 6MT wagon

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Some of the guys who are more versed in the swap may be able to help with compatibility help but don't even think about buying that motor without a good compression test.
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Old 11-03-2021, 11:51 AM   #3
marshalgiles
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

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The coolant crossover points forward, indicating the engine is from a WRX, unless the crossover was changed.

I am also aware that I could use my existing ECU, but would like to utilize AVCS if possible.
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Old 11-03-2021, 11:53 AM   #4
marshalgiles
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by K3rm1tth3fr0g View Post
Some of the guys who are more versed in the swap may be able to help with compatibility help but don't even think about buying that motor without a good compression test.
I was concerned with this as well. My plan to circumvent that was to bore scope the cylinders and pull the oil pan. The seller is Ok with both. If the bore scope and pulling the oil pan check out, would you still be concerned with a compression test?
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Old 11-03-2021, 01:10 PM   #5
snow_bound26
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If you pull the oil pan, replace the oil pan. I've made the mistake of trying to reuse one and it leaked within 10k miles.

As far as figuring out what it came out of, at this point it would be near impossible unless the timing covers still have the ID sticker on them. SAVCS EJ205 from both Forester XT and WRX in Japan were nearly identical. They only used different turbos. But compression ratio, injectors, etc were the same. Since most people put these in WRXs in the US, basically everyone replaces the Forester crossover pipe to match the WRX radiator. So I wouldn't use that as an indicator. It really only applies when buying directly from an importer. If the engine is removed from the vehicle, then take it to a shop with the starter and have them do a quick compression test. If the owner baulks at it, move on.

As for the ECU, as long as it's a 16bit SAVCS ECU then that's all you need. The proper base ROM can be downloaded onto it for your engine regardless. When it comes to the 16bit ECUs it doesn't matter if it came out of an STi or a Forester XT, it's just a different ROM that it's flashed with. Same goes for AT vs MT. My AVCS ECU came out of an AT Forester XT and is currently running a 6 speed EJ207.
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Old 11-03-2021, 02:30 PM   #6
K3rm1tth3fr0g
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Location: Greater Seattle Area
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Link G4X flex tuned
02' EJ205 20G 6MT wagon

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by marshalgiles View Post
I was concerned with this as well. My plan to circumvent that was to bore scope the cylinders and pull the oil pan. The seller is Ok with both. If the bore scope and pulling the oil pan check out, would you still be concerned with a compression test?
That won't tell you about the rings.

Compressor and leakdown or i wouldn't put time into it personally. Also if the seller is sus about doing a comp test it's time to find a new jdm seller.
There are many.
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Old 11-07-2021, 09:12 AM   #7
marshalgiles
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

If this ECU is actually from a 2002 Forrester, then my understanding is that it WON’T work with ECUFlash. Is this correct?
Is there a way to confirm what ECU this is based on the part number? Is there a list somewhere that I can reference?
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Old 11-07-2021, 10:25 AM   #8
snow_bound26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marshalgiles View Post
If this ECU is actually from a 2002 Forrester, then my understanding is that it WON’T work with ECUFlash. Is this correct?

Is there a way to confirm what ECU this is based on the part number? Is there a list somewhere that I can reference?


There should be a sticker with a couple codes on the cover of the ECU. But as I said before, if it is a single AVCS (SAVCS) 16bit ECU then it will work with any SAVCS 16bit engine. That would be 01-03 JDM Forester XT, 01-07 JDM WRX, v7/v8/v9 JDM STi. The tuner you use will simply load the proper ROM that they want to create their map from. For instance, I have a v7 207 with a USDM 05 6 speed trans. The ECU is a JDM SAVCS ECU from an 02 AT Forester XT. My tuner built the current map from a v8 207 ROM. So if your ECU is from an 02 Forester XT you'll be fine. If it's from a non-turbo Forester then that's a different story as they didn't use AVCS.
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Old 11-07-2021, 12:03 PM   #9
marshalgiles
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Member#: 527200
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

Hmmm… all of the I formation I’ve seen so far regarding RomRaider and ECUFlash suggests that JDM Forrester ECU’s older than 2003 are not compatible. Has that changes with more recent revisions of those programs?
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Old 11-07-2021, 10:34 PM   #10
snow_bound26
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Idk what to tell you other than what I have already and that I've used this ECU on 2 different JDM engines over the last 4 years. 01-03 Forester XT ECU are16bit SAVCS. 04+ are 32bit DAVCS.
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Old 11-08-2021, 08:18 AM   #11
marshalgiles
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by snow_bound26 View Post
Idk what to tell you other than what I have already and that I've used this ECU on 2 different JDM engines over the last 4 years. 01-03 Forester XT ECU are16bit SAVCS. 04+ are 32bit DAVCS.
Ok, I was thinking I would need to get a different ECU, but I guess I'll try the one that comes with the engine. Can you confirm that you're logging/tuning with ECUFlash?
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Old 11-08-2021, 08:54 AM   #12
snow_bound26
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Join Date: Jul 2014
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Location: SLC and Lake Placid
Vehicle:
2005 92x Aero
Beige

Default JDM EJ205 Identification

Quote:
Originally Posted by marshalgiles View Post
Ok, I was thinking I would need to get a different ECU, but I guess I'll try the one that comes with the engine. Can you confirm that you're logging/tuning with ECUFlash?


Thought it was kind of self explanatory since it's the only option other than standalone EM for tuning JDM AVCS engines

I've been trying to figure out where you've been getting the info saying you can't use a SAVCS 16bit Forester XT ECU and the only thing I've come up with is people who are putting an AVCS engine into an 02-05 WRX with an auto trans. AVCS won't work with a USDM auto trans regardless of what the ECU came out of. Something about differences between the USDM TCU and JDM TCU. But as long as it's going into a manual trans then any of the 16bit SAVCS ECUs will work once the proper ROM is flashed onto it.
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Old 11-08-2021, 01:25 PM   #13
marshalgiles
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Member#: 527200
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by snow_bound26 View Post
Thought it was kind of self explanatory since it's the only option other than standalone EM for tuning JDM AVCS engines

I've been trying to figure out where you've been getting the info saying you can't use a SAVCS 16bit Forester XT ECU and the only thing I've come up with is people who are putting an AVCS engine into an 02-05 WRX with an auto trans. AVCS won't work with a USDM auto trans regardless of what the ECU came out of. Something about differences between the USDM TCU and JDM TCU. But as long as it's going into a manual trans then any of the 16bit SAVCS ECUs will work once the proper ROM is flashed onto it.
The information I'm referring to came from the ROMRaider/ECUFlash Getting Started thread, posted HERE and the RomRaider FAQ HERE. However, I understand that those resources are fairly old and that newer software may allow the use of more ECU's. If it worked for you, then I'm willing to try it. This particular ECU comes with the engine that I'm considering at no extra cost. I suppose if it doesn't work I can just use the USDM ECU and not hook up AVCS, but I would like to get it working if possible. Either that or find an AVCS compatible ECU somewhere.

Thanks for the help!
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Old 11-08-2021, 02:07 PM   #14
snow_bound26
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Vehicle:
2005 92x Aero
Beige

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The odd thing I found with those posts and the newest info based on the current software version is some cars aren't listed. I'm not sure why. Easiest way to figure it out is to download all the info, hook up the ECU and see if the software recognizes it. As long as it can read the ECU then you're good to go. When I did this the ECU read 01-03 WRX AT or something along those lines even though I was told by the importer it came out of a Forester XT and the engine it was with had the typical Forest parts on it including the TF035 turbo.

The only real differences in the ROM between the 205 that came in the Forester XT and the WRX is the Forester came with a tiny TF035 so the map is optimized for that setup.
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Old 11-09-2021, 01:38 PM   #15
marshalgiles
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Member#: 527200
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: SW Missouri
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon, 5spd
JDM EJ205 SAVCS, silver

Default

Well, I'm committed now. I picked up a JDM EJ205 last night so will go ahead with getting everything else ready to flash/log/tune this engine.

Snow, are you able to help me with a base map to get me started? I'm planning to run the AVCS, and it will be stock with exception of a cold air intake. Not looking for power, just want good driveability.
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Old 11-09-2021, 02:17 PM   #16
snow_bound26
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2005 92x Aero
Beige

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I don't do any tuning. I prefer to have a reputable shop do that for me since I haven't been trained in that art. I'm not able to share my map as I have a lot of mods and I'd guess the tuner probably locked it somehow. If you go on the RomRaider/ECUflash forum and post what setup, injectors, turbo, intake, etc, etc you're using then you can probably find someone who can help out. I personally do recommend getting tuned by a professional for your car specifically. It does make a difference as fuel quality, elevation, weather, and a multitude of other factors do make a difference on your specific car
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