Been having some running problems after the current rains on my 1994 WRX SA import, car stuttering when cold/semi warm but fine once warmed up, starts/idles no problem.
Anyway think i've narrowed it down to the blanking plates allowing water in and soaking into the Simota cone filter my car has fitted (dont have original airbox). Once soaked overnight the running problems were apparent the morning after until the filter has dried out, or this is my assumption. I kept it covered with a plastic bag last night and this morning it was fine even though it had rained overnight and was raining when i set off.

Now the offside blanking plate had a broken bolt so i swapped it for one from the nearside vent, its alot better but still leaking in water....the seal on the blanking plate seemed a bit crumbly so i was wondering can you get replacements? I was also thinking of using some clear silicone sealant to just add an extra layer of water resistance instead of a new seal.
Also is the nearside blanking plate supposed to have a drain hole in it, the offside doesnt on mine?
What parts would i need to replace the cone filter to return to stock, just the airbox and panel filter or is there something else that would be missing that i'd need to source?

Thanks all.

 

I get the same prob. I think my prob is water in the electrics (possibly maf sensor) i would like to go back to original air box.

 

i have got the same to, just wondering if there's any sort of shield you can buy as i've seen some filters that do, if not think i'll be getting myself a air box cuz can't be doing any good water getting sucked through.

 

you need the blanking plates fitted back on, the side vents were for homologation purposes only and should not be removed from the car for this very reason of maf/fuse relay board soaking, which the end result will be a damaged engine due a fubard maf.

 

Yep, i did the same when i first got mine, leave at least the o/s cover fitted

edit: Have read in the past that removing can also 'increase' air temp around the cone due to the flow of hot air towards the open vent.

 

Anyone any comments on 2 of these questions?

Is the nearside blanking plate supposed to have a drain hole in it, the offside doesnt on mine?
What parts would i need to replace the cone filter to return to stock, just the airbox and panel filter or is there something else that would be missing that i'd need to source?

 

sorry to appear a noob but how can you tell if your MAF is on the way out? cheers

 

I don't think either have a drain hole.

To go back to OE airbox is a good and worth while move IMHO.

You will need to compere your air intake tract to OE to determine what has been removed/modified. With a good quality panel filter like KnN or Green you may even regain a pony or two.

 

Thanks.

The blanking plate above the battery has a trough with a hole in the bottom, the one over the air filter is flat with no holes in it....i'm thinking it odd one has a hole and one doesnt and the one with a hole is letting water run in over the battery/battery tray area and tbh its rather near the fuse box for my liking even though the fusebox seems to be well sealed.

 

i have drain holes on both side?? i always thought they was ment to be there to drain the water from the vents other wise wont they just fill up??

 

Hi mate, on my sti i have two drain holes and have had the same water leaking into the battery tray.

I cured the problem by proping the bonnet open and addig a bit of white bathroom silicone around the area that was letting water in.

I checked and the tray was dry so seems to have worked.

 

On my old 93 WRX, from memory at least, there was a drain hole on the passenger one (at the bottom of a little formed triangular-shaped 'trough' lol)... but not on the driver side.

 

This thread will tell you all you need to know....

Bonnet Vents!

 

Yes same as mine then.
God knows why the passenger side one is there draining water into the battery area when there isnt one at the other side?

I cant see it would make any difference by just blocking the hole up as water will still collect on the driver side one as there is no hole in that.

 

My thoughts precisely!

 

I'm tempted to block the drain up with some silicon while i'm doing the blanking panel above the filter area. I'd rather have water sat in the trough than have it going all over the battery, battery tray, fuse box and god knows what else.

 

I just can't fathom the logic.

You'd have thought that plate would have some kind of extended conduit to it, so as to divert the water across and down to a suitable gap, onto the road.

 

I run no plates and have never had issues.

 

Standard airbox though?

 

Piper X cone

 

OK i stand corrected. The driver side does have a drain hole and i was to blind to spot it.
I think the water was still getting in around the edges as the bonent was a bit wet around those parts when i opened it so have applied a small amount of silicone to supplement the foam like seal.
The drain above the air filter seems like it would drip very close to the edge of the filter, to close for comfort really.





The drain with the trough on the battery side seems like it it drains between the battery, fuse/relay box and windscreen container when i've got down and looked properly. I've also silicone sealed that as i think it leaks more than just from the drain hole.

 

anyone know where i can buy these blanking plates from? As mine didnt have them when i bought it. If i had the money id get a sport bonnet and save all the hassle lol.

 

Loads of Imprezas being broken on eBay and here....

 

i'm sure mattybr5 will.