STi ECM update released (ping fix)

Porter · 07-21-2003, 08:50 AM

I just learned from my regional SOA rep that Subaru of America has just received their updated ECM flash from SoJ for the USDM STi to combat the detonation problem.

Customers will need to leave their car with the dealer while their ECMs are sent to Subaru for reprogramming. There is an expected 4-6 day turnaround time, this is will obviously vary depending on a number of variables. Be very patient, it may take several weeks to get the process rolling on your car.

As soon as more flash units become available from Subaru, this will be a dealership-level flash service.

Let your dealer know IF you are experiencing detonation (NOT ALL CARS EXHIBIT IT!), and they will help you resolve the issue after testing and verification. If they aren't already up to speed on the issue, have them contact their regional rep for more information.

It may take some time for information to disseminate and to arrange scheduling through your dealer. PLEASE BE PATIENT through this process, this is not a recall so you will have to go through the full dealership testing, work order, and reporting process. There is an order in which this process must happen, please give your local dealerships the benefit of the doubt on this and allow the SOA reporting and resolution (flash) process to work as it should.

Enjoy!

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

robmarch · 07-21-2003, 09:10 AM

if this is true, it's really lame that they would require us to leave our cars at the dealer for 4-6 days, instead of just shipping out the 200 or so ECUs to dealers in advance. With so few cars affected, if they are really just reflashing, why not send out the reflashed ECU's in advance, collect the bad ones, and reflash them for use in future cars?

happasaiyan · 07-21-2003, 09:11 AM

hmm...no det WITH mods...unless it gives more power, i think ill pass...

Hummer · 07-21-2003, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by happasaiyan
hmm...no det WITH mods...unless it gives more power, i think ill pass...

Same situation here. Mine runs great and I don't want less hp or tq. My ECU reflash will probably be done by a tuner.

Soon2bSubbieowner · 07-21-2003, 09:22 AM

4 - 6 Days for the techs to rape your cars on the road while "testing"

Pre-diddy · 07-21-2003, 10:15 AM

Any reason for this reflash to cause some power loss? If not, better safe than sorry.

Porter · 07-21-2003, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soon2bSubbieowner
4 - 6 Days for the techs to rape your cars on the road while "testing"

If you don't have anything mature to say, please remain quiet or go elsewhere.

This thread is intended for informational purposes, it is not and will NOT be a bitch session for what you think might or might not happen.

Also, if you think an STi can be "test driven" with no ECU in the car, you might want to sit and think very hard about what that means for a while. It'll come to you eventually.

Subaru will eventually have a flash cartridge at every dealer to perform this update, currently there is only ONE (1) in the country, so the ECMs have to be sent to Subaru for programming and then sent right back. 4-6 days is an estimate based on the outside chance of shipping problems or backlog at SoA.

PLEASE DO NOT attack your local dealer over this issue. Subaru is making every effort to resolve the det issue, and there is ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE that there will be a change in torque or horsepower. These are currently unknown variables and anyone who may try to tell you otherwise is speaking from a soapbox of ignorance and deception. It is HIGHLY unlikely that Subaru would cripple the performance of the vehicle in order to fix something like a small timing map glitch. These kinds of issues have been fixed many times in the past on other vehicles with no change in drivability whatsoever.

Thanks!

-Jason Porter

ANZAC_1915 · 07-21-2003, 10:23 AM

This was the same situation with the WRX --- they only had one flash cartridge so ECM's had to be sent in.

Soon2bSubbieowner · 07-21-2003, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porter

If you don't have anything mature to say, please remain quiet or go elsewhere.

This thread is intended for informational purposes, it is not and will NOT be a bitch session for what you think might or might not happen.

Also, if you think an STi can be "test driven" with no ECU in the car, you might want to sit and think very hard about what that means for a while. It'll come to you eventually.

Subaru will eventually have a flash cartridge at every dealer to perform this update, currently there is only ONE (1) in the country, so the ECMs have to be sent to Subaru for programming and then sent right back. 4-6 days is an estimate based on the outside chance of shipping problems or backlog at SoA.

No ish it cant be driven without an ECU, but Im pretty sure after they replace the ECU there gonna have to test drive the car to make sure it works

and 4 - 6 Days to reflash an ECU are you joking me, I dont care what anyone says it shouldnt take that long. An hour AT THE MOST. I wouldnt care about a backlog issue. I would wait for the part the stuff to come in, drop off my car and for this kind of fix pick it up the next day.

davidm_sh · 07-21-2003, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porter

It is HIGHLY unlikely that Subaru would cripple the performance of the vehicle in order to fix a small timing map glitch. These kinds of issues have been fixed many times in the past on other vehicles with no change in drivability whatsoever.

I am sorry but I don't see HOW Subuara can fix this issue without affecting the power in some way. Granted I don't see the 300hp figure changing (since that number is derived futher up in the rpms) but I think we will get a drop in torque to around 280ft lbs or so. That timing 'hump' is right at the torque peak and as such contributes to that torque peak.

Personally I think that the torque can be made up by an extra 1-2 psi of boost in the midrange while pulling about 2-3 degrees of timing to get rid of the knock, but I am not FHI so

. It will definitly be interesting to see what happens with this.

robmarch · 07-21-2003, 10:36 AM

I just wanted to clarify, I'm not upset with the dealers, etc., I just think it would be nice for them to send out a couple of floating ECU's for the cars that are affected, since there is only one reflash location. Kind of a dealer "core" deposit. then, if a dealer had more than one to reflash, they could send the previous ECU in for reflashing for the next customer, who wouldn't have to wait. The dealer could schedule the appointments 6+ days apart to save the customer the wait time.

If the reflash is to be implemented on future STi's, which is probably the case, it would be much better to be able to order a reflashed ECU, and have your dealer send yours in for the reflash treatment for Subaru to send to someone else, or put in a new car, and save the 4-6 days of inconvenience. This might all be a horrible idea, if the ECUs are VIN marked or something like that, though.

I'm guessing Subaru might not be too excited to provide a rental car for those affected, to get them through the 4-6 days without their daily driver?

Porter · 07-21-2003, 10:44 AM

Rob, there is currently only one flash cartridge in the country. This will change as more become available. This is the method by which Subaru is currently processing the claims. I have no other information to give you, unfortunately. The shipping delay is a temporary problem that will go away as soon as more flash cartridges become available. 4-6 days is a decent estimate. I hope to give my customers a 3 day turnaround, but obviously chaos is the rule rather than the exception when you are talking about shipping anything in this day and age. Appointments will have to be spaced out somewhat, obviously SOA can't flash 200 ECM modules simultaneously. You'll have to be very patient.

As far as a rental vehicle, you will have to check with your local dealer on that issue. Different dealers have different policies and they will have to work with Subaru on that. Obviously I have no information about your local dealer, you will have to query them on that.

As for the changes being made, speculation solves nothing and only serves to muddy the waters with misinformation. We will have to wait and see.

darthdiggler · 07-21-2003, 10:49 AM

OMG will people ever be happy

davidm_sh : your second paragraph contradicts your first paragraph.

... there's either no solution ... or there is one ... decide.

robmarch · 07-21-2003, 10:50 AM

Thanks for the info, Porter, I don't want to sound like a whiney baby, or something. I have a daily driver if I choose to do the reflash. I'll stay out of the speculation, but I think reducing pinging is probably a good idea. The car will still be tons of fun with 295 lb/ft of torque, or whatever.

Have a good one.

omahasubaru · 07-21-2003, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soon2bSubbieowner

No ish it cant be driven without an ECU, but Im pretty sure after they replace the ECU there gonna have to test drive the car to make sure it works and 4 - 6 Days to reflash an ECU are you joking me, I dont care what anyone says it shouldnt take that long. An hour AT THE MOST. I wouldnt care about a backlog issue. I would wait for the part the stuff to come in, drop off my car and for this kind of fix pick it up the next day.

Did you see the part in his post about how they have to ship your ECU to subaru... by subaru he means SOA... so unless you take your car directly to them... you'll have some down time while shipping is being done. Yes of course they will drive it after they get the ECU back... they have to make sure it works. You guys are way too parinoid.. & skim posts way too fast & miss a lot of the important details. It's funny actually

dlowman · 07-21-2003, 11:05 AM

Jason,
The fact that they are addressing this issue is great news. Hopefully we will not see any of the speculation that people are speculating

Please let me know when I can bring my car in and we can start the process. This is my only daily driver though so we may need to try to work something out.

Dan

Wombat North · 07-21-2003, 11:23 AM

Great News
Now I hope SOC follows SOA in this for us Canadians

Off to my dealer to let him know of this

Jon [in CT] · 07-21-2003, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porter
As far as a rental vehicle, you will have to check with your local dealer on that issue. Different dealers have different policies and they will have to work with Subaru on that. Obviously I have no information about your local dealer, you will have to query them on that.

Whenever WRX ECUs had to be sent to NJ for a reflash, the owner was always offered a loaner or rental, regardless of dealership policy, under the Subaru Owner Assistance Alternate Transportation Program. I would expect the same to be true for the STi.

SUV-ETR · 07-21-2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dlowman

The fact that they are addressing this issue is great news.

Agreed.

I remember reading a post from a tuner with a dyno and a data logger that the problem is actually related to the ECU insisting to push timing even after det on some occasions. It only happened on about 25% of the dyno runs, and didn't match the ECU behavior on the other runs, where it behaved fine. Anybody know if that has been verified by other parties?

If that's true, it sounds like a plain ol' bug in the ECU, so a proper fix for the problem should NOT affect power or torque. If Subaru's solution is to simply back off timing everywhere, it would affect power/torque. I'm hoping for the "bug" story to be true...I've gotten addicted to the power!

Neal

dlowman · 07-21-2003, 11:44 AM

Makes more since that this is some sort of a bug. Wonder if the car may actually end up with a little more power since the timing is not going to be pulled as crazily.

SkirtBoy · 07-21-2003, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon [in CT]
Whenever WRX ECUs had to be sent to NJ for a reflash, the owner was always offered a loaner or rental, regardless of dealership policy, under the Subaru Owner Assistance Alternate Transportation Program. I would expect the same to be true for the STi.

I wonder if those of us in the tri-state can just go to SOA and get it done?

RichQY · 07-21-2003, 12:12 PM

thx a lot Porter!!

great news

i d take a lil torque loss over constant det on anyday, plus we haven't seen any evidence this will actually affect hp/torque.

wolverine · 07-21-2003, 12:34 PM

Porter,

If it is an ECU software issue, then should the problem be inherent in all STis as they all share the same software? Or is it that there are different revisions? If it is a software issue, then I think it should affect all cars (if they run on 91). In that case, should there be a recall then?

I am still in break-in, so I don't know. But, if I have det (and I'm on 91), I sure would not want to demonstrate it to the dealer if I don't have to; but rather just get an ECU reflash.

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide...

spool1536 · 07-21-2003, 12:45 PM

Been watching this thread a long time.....I just broke my car in this past weekend and found mine to be afflicted also. I called SOA and got no formal admission that the problem exists. I made an appointment with the service manager at my dealership who says he has heard nothing of this problem. Although, mine is only the 3rd STi they have sold. I think this is very good news....I just hope it actually fixes the problem.

zacek · 07-21-2003, 12:53 PM

is there any official SOA tech. paper about this? I would like to know some technical and background info. on this issue by SOA.

Will someone with access to the on-line subaru tech. site check on this?

07-21-2003, 08:50 AM	#1
Porter Scooby Guru Member#: 486 Join Date: Nov 1999 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Alexandria, VA Vehicle: 2014 BMW 328i xDrive F31 Sport Wagon	STi ECM Update Released! (PING FIX) I just learned from my regional SOA rep that Subaru of America has just received their updated ECM flash from SoJ for the USDM STi to combat the detonation problem. Customers will need to leave their car with the dealer while their ECMs are sent to Subaru for reprogramming. There is an expected 4-6 day turnaround time, this is will obviously vary depending on a number of variables. Be very patient, it may take several weeks to get the process rolling on your car. As soon as more flash units become available from Subaru, this will be a dealership-level flash service. Let your dealer know IF you are experiencing detonation (NOT ALL CARS EXHIBIT IT!), and they will help you resolve the issue after testing and verification. If they aren't already up to speed on the issue, have them contact their regional rep for more information. It may take some time for information to disseminate and to arrange scheduling through your dealer. PLEASE BE PATIENT through this process, this is not a recall so you will have to go through the full dealership testing, work order, and reporting process. There is an order in which this process must happen, please give your local dealerships the benefit of the doubt on this and allow the SOA reporting and resolution (flash) process to work as it should. Enjoy! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads. Last edited by Porter; 07-21-2003 at 01:51 PM.

07-21-2003, 10:44 AM	#12
Porter Scooby Guru Member#: 486 Join Date: Nov 1999 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Alexandria, VA Vehicle: 2014 BMW 328i xDrive F31 Sport Wagon	Rob, there is currently only one flash cartridge in the country. This will change as more become available. This is the method by which Subaru is currently processing the claims. I have no other information to give you, unfortunately. The shipping delay is a temporary problem that will go away as soon as more flash cartridges become available. 4-6 days is a decent estimate. I hope to give my customers a 3 day turnaround, but obviously chaos is the rule rather than the exception when you are talking about shipping anything in this day and age. Appointments will have to be spaced out somewhat, obviously SOA can't flash 200 ECM modules simultaneously. You'll have to be very patient. As far as a rental vehicle, you will have to check with your local dealer on that issue. Different dealers have different policies and they will have to work with Subaru on that. Obviously I have no information about your local dealer, you will have to query them on that. As for the changes being made, speculation solves nothing and only serves to muddy the waters with misinformation. We will have to wait and see. Last edited by Porter; 07-21-2003 at 01:49 PM.

07-21-2003, 12:34 PM	#23
wolverine Scooby Newbie Member#: 36571 Join Date: May 2003 Location: NorCal Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi Black & gold	ECU problem? Porter, If it is an ECU software issue, then should the problem be inherent in all STis as they all share the same software? Or is it that there are different revisions? If it is a software issue, then I think it should affect all cars (if they run on 91). In that case, should there be a recall then? I am still in break-in, so I don't know. But, if I have det (and I'm on 91), I sure would not want to demonstrate it to the dealer if I don't have to; but rather just get an ECU reflash. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AccessPort v2.0 Update Released	mike91401	South West Impreza Club Forum -- SWIC	10	02-08-2007 04:30 PM
04 STi ECU reflash confirmed (ping fix)???	stealitall	Engine Management & Tuning	10	12-12-2006 05:04 PM
WTB 02-03 STi I/C splitter and STi Aspen white hood scoop.Also need 04 STi ecm	Hondaslayer	Private 'Wanted' Classifieds	8	07-30-2005 09:58 PM
Anyone local have an STi ecm lying around?	Hondaslayer	Mid West Subaru Owners Club Forum -- MWSOC	3	04-01-2005 09:14 PM
Question for USDM STI ECM experts	NMLegacy	Subaru Conversions	3	11-16-2004 07:57 PM

07-21-2003, 09:10 AM	#2
robmarch Scooby Specialist Member#: 18713 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Time is the Enemy Vehicle: 06 CRV 04 STi	if this is true, it's really lame that they would require us to leave our cars at the dealer for 4-6 days, instead of just shipping out the 200 or so ECUs to dealers in advance. With so few cars affected, if they are really just reflashing, why not send out the reflashed ECU's in advance, collect the bad ones, and reflash them for use in future cars?

07-21-2003, 09:11 AM	#3
happasaiyan Scooby Specialist Member#: 37731 Join Date: Jun 2003	hmm...no det WITH mods...unless it gives more power, i think ill pass...

07-21-2003, 09:22 AM	#5
Soon2bSubbieowner Scooby Specialist Member#: 21812 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Woodbridge, VA Vehicle: 2011 Mazda2	4 - 6 Days for the techs to rape your cars on the road while "testing"

07-21-2003, 10:15 AM	#6
Pre-diddy Scooby Specialist Member#: 26837 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Annapolis Vehicle: 04 STi - Sold! :(	Any reason for this reflash to cause some power loss? If not, better safe than sorry.

07-21-2003, 10:23 AM	#8
ANZAC_1915 Scooby Guru Member#: 456 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Redmond, WA, USA Vehicle: 2008 Forester XT Steel Gray Metallic	This was the same situation with the WRX --- they only had one flash cartridge so ECM's had to be sent in.

07-21-2003, 10:36 AM	#11
robmarch Scooby Specialist Member#: 18713 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Time is the Enemy Vehicle: 06 CRV 04 STi	I just wanted to clarify, I'm not upset with the dealers, etc., I just think it would be nice for them to send out a couple of floating ECU's for the cars that are affected, since there is only one reflash location. Kind of a dealer "core" deposit. then, if a dealer had more than one to reflash, they could send the previous ECU in for reflashing for the next customer, who wouldn't have to wait. The dealer could schedule the appointments 6+ days apart to save the customer the wait time. If the reflash is to be implemented on future STi's, which is probably the case, it would be much better to be able to order a reflashed ECU, and have your dealer send yours in for the reflash treatment for Subaru to send to someone else, or put in a new car, and save the 4-6 days of inconvenience. This might all be a horrible idea, if the ECUs are VIN marked or something like that, though. I'm guessing Subaru might not be too excited to provide a rental car for those affected, to get them through the 4-6 days without their daily driver?

07-21-2003, 10:49 AM	#13
darthdiggler Scooby Newbie Member#: 23251 Join Date: Aug 2002 Vehicle: 2004 STi silver	OMG will people ever be happy davidm_sh : your second paragraph contradicts your first paragraph. ... there's either no solution ... or there is one ... decide.

07-21-2003, 10:50 AM	#14
robmarch Scooby Specialist Member#: 18713 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Time is the Enemy Vehicle: 06 CRV 04 STi	Thanks for the info, Porter, I don't want to sound like a whiney baby, or something. I have a daily driver if I choose to do the reflash. I'll stay out of the speculation, but I think reducing pinging is probably a good idea. The car will still be tons of fun with 295 lb/ft of torque, or whatever. Have a good one.

07-21-2003, 11:05 AM	#16
dlowman Scooby Specialist Member#: 22998 Join Date: Aug 2002 Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi GT35R 572 whp 93/meth	Jason, The fact that they are addressing this issue is great news. Hopefully we will not see any of the speculation that people are speculating Please let me know when I can bring my car in and we can start the process. This is my only daily driver though so we may need to try to work something out. Dan

07-21-2003, 11:23 AM	#17
Wombat North Scooby Specialist Member#: 21267 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Eats, roots and then leaves Vehicle: STI, EWG 8cm Green UTEC/ECUtek/WI & SD tune	Great News Now I hope SOC follows SOA in this for us Canadians Off to my dealer to let him know of this

07-21-2003, 11:44 AM	#20
dlowman Scooby Specialist Member#: 22998 Join Date: Aug 2002 Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi GT35R 572 whp 93/meth	Makes more since that this is some sort of a bug. Wonder if the car may actually end up with a little more power since the timing is not going to be pulled as crazily.

07-21-2003, 12:12 PM	#22
RichQY Scooby Specialist Member#: 31948 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SoCal Vehicle: 2004 STi Aspen White	thx a lot Porter!! great news i d take a lil torque loss over constant det on anyday, plus we haven't seen any evidence this will actually affect hp/torque.

07-21-2003, 12:45 PM	#24
spool1536 Scooby Newbie Member#: 39724 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East Coast Vehicle: 04 WRX STI Silver	Been watching this thread a long time.....I just broke my car in this past weekend and found mine to be afflicted also. I called SOA and got no formal admission that the problem exists. I made an appointment with the service manager at my dealership who says he has heard nothing of this problem. Although, mine is only the 3rd STi they have sold. I think this is very good news....I just hope it actually fixes the problem.

07-21-2003, 12:53 PM	#25
zacek Scooby Specialist Member#: 19467 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Chatsworth, CA. Vehicle: 04 WRX STi WR Blue - original owner	is there any official SOA tech. paper about this? I would like to know some technical and background info. on this issue by SOA. Will someone with access to the on-line subaru tech. site check on this?