GreasyMustardTiger

Hi guys! First time poster here, be gentle! I got my Impreza about 8 months ago and have been slowly putting it right. One thing that has been bugging me is it has never seemed quite as fast as I thought maybe it should with some of the mods it has had done to it (by previous owners, not by myself).
Its running a VF28, with autobahn intercooler, P1 gearbox, Blitz VTA dump valve, and a beefy looking induction kit. When I bought the car I was told it had been mapped, but seller didn't know who by. As the car seemed to be running alright I forgot about it until now..
Just had the carpets up so decided to take a look at the ECU and see what the deal was. Well, I dont think its looking good! Its an 8S ECU (car is a UK turbo), am i right in thinking these cant be mapped? Even more worrying is the fact there is an ABC Superchip wired into it. I have heard nothing but bad things about these..

So, I think I need advice. A remap will have to be done, so what is my best route? Can the 8S be mapped? If not, what would you guys recommend? From what I've been reading Ecutek or ESL seems to be the way ahead.

Apologies for the long first post! Il get some photos etc uploaded soon!

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Hi mate, welcome, looks like the ABC Superchip was what was classed as being mapped

Yes i have 8S aswell and they can not be remapped, good news is you have 2 options, fit a prodrive ECU roughly £200 and performance filter and sports cat, and you will increase BHP

Or buy an ESL £295 and pay for remap £250-£350

GreasyMustardTiger

Thanks, il check out the Prodrive ECU's. Are they plug and play so to speak?

GreasyMustardTiger

Forgot to say, my car is a facelift 1998 Uk Turbo

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Do you know where Port Seton is?

One of the best mappers in the business there if you do.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

They are plug and play, but you may need to take it to dealer to get it coded to your keys as ecu has imobilizer in it on that year, cost bout £40 i've been told.

You have 8S ECU, so you need 3 plug prodrive ECU, i've got one here but haven't decided if going to fit it or pay the money for ESL and remap

GreasyMustardTiger

Would the be Andy Forrest out in Port Seton? Been reading about his work, sounds like a bit if a genius! His website seems to be down at the moment but il keep trying.
Am I right in thinking that by going down the ESL route the map would be more specific to my car, and whatever engine mods had been done?
Let me know what you end up doing with your prodrive ecu!

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Am I right in thinking that by going down the ESL route the map would be more specific to my car, and whatever engine mods had been done. Correct, the better option would be ESL, but i'm guessing like me cost is putting you off, You can end up spending £500-£700, by time you have finished you might aswell sell up and buy an STI

Will let you know bud, this is the kind of thing your looking for but you need 3 yellow connections not 4 grey http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Imp...item20e791f1f3

GreasyMustardTiger

Haha, got it in one! Cost is putting me off at the moment, so am very tempted to find a prodrive unit even if only for a few months until I can go down the ESL route.
Thanks again for your help, much appreciated. Is this the one I need to get?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...ecu/1061469927

One thing I am wondering, is when my car was last in a garage getting checked over, the mechanic pointed out the the lambda sensor had been removed/disconnected. Told me this is common in Imprezas that have been mapped?
If I got the Prodrive ECU would I have to reinstate the lambda in order for it to work properly? (It was a grey connector, hanging down the back of the engine under the intercooler).

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Nail on head on both counts. Andy know's his site is down, and I believe he's in the process of sorting it.

It's not common at all, get it reconnected/refitted as soon as possible!

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Looks like it is bud, but he says sti wrx which isn't correct, plus hes claiming 300bhp which is rubbish. 240-260bhp tops, and its really cheap

GreasyMustardTiger

So there's no reason for somebody to have disconnected this? Il get it plugged back in tomorrow, might explain my awful mpg. Should the sensor be somewhere on either the headers or the downpipe? Thanks!

GreasyMustardTiger

Had a wee look this morning before work and there doesn't seem to be any sign of a sensor. My down pipe seems to have been de-catted, guessing they didn't bother putting the sensor back in the new pipe. Think il get it booked in so somebody a bit more clued up than me can have a look. Thanks again for all the help!

jonnyricer2

iTrader: (9)

You may have a V1-2 decat which has the 02 sensor in the headers not the down pipe

GreasyMustardTiger

Ah! Thanks! Il get it up on the ramps tomorrow and have a look there

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

I'd look into sports cat, pain to swap anytime mot due

GreasyMustardTiger

Had another look this morning, no sign of a sensor on the headers either. Hmmmm. Connected the black connectors and checked for error codes, got a code 32 which is 'A/F Sensor #1 System' according to google.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Lambda helps to control the fueling, it's rather important.

Should be a bung in the downpipe for the Lambda sensor.

GreasyMustardTiger

Yep, had a look for a bung too and there definitely isn't one. It's just a plain bit of pipe. No bung on the headers either.
I'm taking the car off the road till I can get it sorted. Hoping I can find someone that can weld a nut onto the downpipe so I can screw a lambda into it...sigh.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Easy enough task for someone that can weld, and shouldn't cost the earth.

Lambda sensors on the other hand are quite expensive.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Andy's website is back up and running.

http://www.andyforrestperformance.co.uk/index2.html