Guys,

Getting a bit frantically worried (might have summat to do with quitting smoking today!) but my MY94 WRX is spooling under pressure but not really going anywhere! The turbo is whooshing for all its worth! The CHECK ENGINE comes on after a while and only disappears when I either a) switch off the engine for 30 secs or b) get into a high gear and slow right down to almost stop, hence extreme low revs (less than idle).

This is probably a repeat thread but I don't know what to start searching on.

Direct emails appreciated.

Cheers

a VERY worried Pilch!

BTW Glad to see so many people having fun at Daytona. Yeah, Stef IS mad!

 

Check all your turbo pipework including the attachment at the underside of the intercooler, sounds as though you have a big leak somewhere. Don't forget all the other vac pipes as well ie fuel reg/boost control etc

Bob

 

Pilch,

I wrote you an e-mail but Bob had already posted on the BBS before I sent it!

Have you increased the boost over standard ?

I understand that this can damage hoses sometimes. What MY is your car ?

If the hoses look OK, it may be worthwhile joining the connectors under the dash to get the ECU error code. I can't remember whether it is the Green or Black connectors which are the diagnostic ones - Guys ?

I know a couple of people have lists of the ECU codes and could probably help.

Thanks

Gavin

 

Gavin, Bob et al,

I've done an ECU error check and have found that it is 33: Vehicle Speed Sensor 2. Now that clarifies many things! The Turbo is spooling overmuch, with no performance increase. Maybe the TDV is opening at the same time due to incorrect ECU info being fed, or the turbo pressure is being kept low for the same reason. I haven't done anything to the engine (yet!) apart from V2A TDV. I reset the ECU one week ago (2 weeks after getting the TDV). I don't have a pressure monitor so can't comment on the actual bar.

My heat shield is rattling as well All this just after forking out £350 on a paint touch-up and £350 on a clutch!
Help is appreciated (via email is fine)

Pilch

 

Pilch, re the heat shield. Just get it welded up, problem solved.
Tim

 

I have error codes here: 24 - Idle air control solenoid, and 33 - Vehicle speed sensor 2.

WTF??

Pilch

 

Guys, update on the problem:
The intercooler hose was ripped right through and taped with black insulation tape! This worked loose and was leaking gas. I got a replacement hose and had to jubilee into place using the existing head cut from the old hose.

New problems: The engine is VERY rough. 3 cylinder cycle I think. Possibility of a plug being dirty perhaps? The power is lost and the car feels like its fighting against a stall. I have reset the ECU to no avail.

Help!!! I am booked into PE for a diagnosis. If the bill is lots I'm selling the bloody thing and buying a normal car!

Very disgruntled Pilch

 

If anyone is interested:

Went to PE this morning, diags showed front right cylinder not running. Coil knackered. Firing on 3 now I am expecting the part tomorrow to replace.

If you have a plug or coil failure your cat light comes on due to fuel getting let through to the exhaust.

Pilch

 

Pilch,

Glad to hear you've found the problem

Out of interest, how much is a single coil ?

My car is also being "sorted" as we speak - just before Christmas it's the last thing you need! In fact, you need it about as much as a hole in your air con radiator (£240 ex. labour/refilling)...

Thanks

Gavin

 

Gavin,

The coild is £46+VAT, but the cost of 30mins diagnostics plus a power test with a borrowed coil was £190. This was without having the replacement coil fitted! I'm sitting here at home waiting for that to turn up...

Weaver (Luke, whatever!) yeah, I can see your point, but I feel that with the amount of money outlayed for this car (albeit second hand import) it has been very expensive to get running right. It seems that all the problems I am encountering now were a) covered up before import (Jap git!) and b) totally missed during servicing and health inspections! I can't beleive that no-one noticed the black tape around the intercooler hose!!! So much for professionalism. If I bodged a computer with black tape I wouldn't sell it to someone else.

Cheers

Pilch (Phil in case yr wondering)

 

Pilch,
Is it fixed yet, don't sell it just cos you've had a teensy little problem...any one who's owned a VW Mk1 Golf GTi will tell you what true suffering really is...if only every thing in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen we'd all have done ourselves in by now.....

Keep it Scooby

Luke

 

Pilch,
I bet someone noticed that tape on the intercooler hose but 'accidently' forgot to tell you. How long have you had the car? Is there a chance you could get back to the garage/importer you bought it from.....
No matter what people in the trade would have you believe the second hand car trade certainly seems to attract more than it's far share of dodgy dealers...

My friend (who incidently has a very limited knowledge of cars) went to look at an 8V Integrale which he thought was the deal of the century.
He asked me to come and have a look at it after enthusing on how great it was for several hours. We get to the garage and garage bloke starts it up. I say f'kin hell that sounds rough it's only running on three. Garage bloke says no it just needs tuning cos we've just done the head gasket on it. I ask for the bonnet to be opened and it's blowing gas out from round no.1 spark plug garage bloke looks a bit worried. We stop the engine and he says the plugs lose, I'm not convinced and try to pull the HT lead off, the plug comes out with it along with a load of swarf...hmmm stripped thread would you say
Bloke says it's OK we'll put a helicoil in it ...by this time I've got my mate and we're walking out...