Very variable power with TEK2
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Haven't tried yet; literally just in the door from work and back off to Wimbledon tomorrow at 06:30 for the rest of the week. Spent the holiday weekend decorating.
I really need to find the time as the car is being abused at the moment; 540 miles today and other than fuel I haven't even had the bonnet open. It does seem slightly better since the service, but it has been cooler and I think that is the cause, but no 'check engine' light since Thursday (serviced on Friday). I fancied I heard detting at lunchtime with the window open and 5,000 rpm, so taking it easy again.
Fen
I really need to find the time as the car is being abused at the moment; 540 miles today and other than fuel I haven't even had the bonnet open. It does seem slightly better since the service, but it has been cooler and I think that is the cause, but no 'check engine' light since Thursday (serviced on Friday). I fancied I heard detting at lunchtime with the window open and 5,000 rpm, so taking it easy again.
Fen
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EBC Greenstuff pads. I used them in my Porsche; didn't really notice the supposed 15% improvement over standard pads they claim, but they produce very little dust (and it's white / colourless) so the front wheels don't look hanging after the first dual carriageway roundabout. I haven't checked that they are available for '99 on classics however...
I'm going to make th effort to check for ECU codes tomorrow if anyone is still interested.
Fen
I'm going to make th effort to check for ECU codes tomorrow if anyone is still interested.
Fen
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OK, sorry for the delay, again.
The fault code related to the oxygen sensor. Is this likely to be related to the variable power?
The car is much more consistent if the weather is cooler, and I think with hindsight that it has had this fault since I bought it, just that the weather improved and highlighted the problem.
It's with the dealer this week to see if they can replicate the fault and hopefully fix it. My theory is the MAF.
Fen
The fault code related to the oxygen sensor. Is this likely to be related to the variable power?
The car is much more consistent if the weather is cooler, and I think with hindsight that it has had this fault since I bought it, just that the weather improved and highlighted the problem.
It's with the dealer this week to see if they can replicate the fault and hopefully fix it. My theory is the MAF.
Fen
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From: Shropshire
Lambda sensors in the exhaust down pipe are another notorious failing part - almost as common as the MAF!
If the ECU code said O2 sensor(lambda) then thats the one to change first - but surely the dealer should have spotted this as when the Check Engine light comes on it should be stored in the memory of the ECU and when the Select Monitor is plugged in it should give a list of all the times it was triggered and what the fault code was.
Did the dealer even put the Select Monitor on?
If the ECU code said O2 sensor(lambda) then thats the one to change first - but surely the dealer should have spotted this as when the Check Engine light comes on it should be stored in the memory of the ECU and when the Select Monitor is plugged in it should give a list of all the times it was triggered and what the fault code was.
Did the dealer even put the Select Monitor on?
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OK,
Spoke to to Parks today (left a message to call me back at 2pm, had to call back again at 17:25 - not a good start). They can't repeat the problem, despite it being hot yesterday and the car doing it every time I drive it. To be fair it probably needs to build a bit of under bonnet temperature and they may not be driving it far enough.
Unfortunately I had to point out that I thought their customer service was terrible but now have an assurance that the service manager (who didn't know what Optimax is!) will talk to the technicians about the ECU having been reset and the fault code relating to my ownership and the car never having had any work done since I got it except by Parks.
A mechanic mate from school rang me so I filled him in on the situation (not that I didn't trust you guys!) and I am now totally convinced that the lambda needs to be replaced, at least to eliminate it from the problem.
I'm somewhat concerned about the level of expertise and enthusiasm displayed by Parks. With the exception of the receptionist my experience has been that they are all very nice but completely ineffectual be it ordering parts or diagnosing problems. For the service manager of a franchised dealer whose entire brand is effectively built on a car like the Impreza turbo not to know what Optimax is shows a complete lack of interest in and empathy with the customers' interests and reasons for becoming a customer. Surely I've found one of the worst dealers in the country? In any event I will be looking around for someone else to look after the car from now on.
Fen
Spoke to to Parks today (left a message to call me back at 2pm, had to call back again at 17:25 - not a good start). They can't repeat the problem, despite it being hot yesterday and the car doing it every time I drive it. To be fair it probably needs to build a bit of under bonnet temperature and they may not be driving it far enough.
Unfortunately I had to point out that I thought their customer service was terrible but now have an assurance that the service manager (who didn't know what Optimax is!) will talk to the technicians about the ECU having been reset and the fault code relating to my ownership and the car never having had any work done since I got it except by Parks.
A mechanic mate from school rang me so I filled him in on the situation (not that I didn't trust you guys!) and I am now totally convinced that the lambda needs to be replaced, at least to eliminate it from the problem.
I'm somewhat concerned about the level of expertise and enthusiasm displayed by Parks. With the exception of the receptionist my experience has been that they are all very nice but completely ineffectual be it ordering parts or diagnosing problems. For the service manager of a franchised dealer whose entire brand is effectively built on a car like the Impreza turbo not to know what Optimax is shows a complete lack of interest in and empathy with the customers' interests and reasons for becoming a customer. Surely I've found one of the worst dealers in the country? In any event I will be looking around for someone else to look after the car from now on.
Fen
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Did the dealer put the Select monitor on it? There's a question.
It went in for a 45k service and to have this fault diagnosed nearly 3 weeks ago. When I got it back they had removed the ITG filter, charged something astronomical for a paper one and said 'oh, those filters always oil up and choke the air flow'.
Needless to say I wasn't convinced but it was 5:30 and I needed to use the car the next day so I agreed to try it. Also needless to say it played up on the way home about 4 miles from the dealer. I don't think they tried to diagnose anything that visit, they sure as hell didn't test-drive the thing afer 'fixing' it.
Now they say the fault code is oxygen sensor but is an old stored one. Thing is the ECU is a TEK2 that I fitted the day after I got the car and I haven't had the oxygen sensor touched. I'm assuming that the time ECUTek had the ECU disconnected would have reset it, so any fault code must relate to my car since I got it and it has only had a service carried out in the way of work.
They still have the car because I'm off work decorating this week (so don't need it) and they couldn't replicate the fault on wet, rainy Monday, in the hope that there would be a hot day and it would play up for them. Today was lovely in Devon, so they'll get a 'phonecall tomorrow. I'd bet they didn't even drive it today...
I'm less than impressed with them anyhow as I've asked a total of 3 times if they can get me the rear graphic for the car (mine has faded or been over polished and looks a bit thin) as well as a price for the Prodrive wing, and they never get back to me, so if they haven't done anything with it then they have just lost a customer (and one who needs a 7,500 mile service every 7 weeks, so a pretty good one as well). The dealer concerned is Parks of Exeter, BTW.
I'll update tomorrow.
Fen
Edited to correct spelling
[Edited by RB5#295 - 9/12/2002 8:27:34 AM]
It went in for a 45k service and to have this fault diagnosed nearly 3 weeks ago. When I got it back they had removed the ITG filter, charged something astronomical for a paper one and said 'oh, those filters always oil up and choke the air flow'.
Needless to say I wasn't convinced but it was 5:30 and I needed to use the car the next day so I agreed to try it. Also needless to say it played up on the way home about 4 miles from the dealer. I don't think they tried to diagnose anything that visit, they sure as hell didn't test-drive the thing afer 'fixing' it.
Now they say the fault code is oxygen sensor but is an old stored one. Thing is the ECU is a TEK2 that I fitted the day after I got the car and I haven't had the oxygen sensor touched. I'm assuming that the time ECUTek had the ECU disconnected would have reset it, so any fault code must relate to my car since I got it and it has only had a service carried out in the way of work.
They still have the car because I'm off work decorating this week (so don't need it) and they couldn't replicate the fault on wet, rainy Monday, in the hope that there would be a hot day and it would play up for them. Today was lovely in Devon, so they'll get a 'phonecall tomorrow. I'd bet they didn't even drive it today...
I'm less than impressed with them anyhow as I've asked a total of 3 times if they can get me the rear graphic for the car (mine has faded or been over polished and looks a bit thin) as well as a price for the Prodrive wing, and they never get back to me, so if they haven't done anything with it then they have just lost a customer (and one who needs a 7,500 mile service every 7 weeks, so a pretty good one as well). The dealer concerned is Parks of Exeter, BTW.
I'll update tomorrow.
Fen
Edited to correct spelling
[Edited by RB5#295 - 9/12/2002 8:27:34 AM]
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