Ok, You'll do

Im having ongoing trouble with my cars power 'smoothness', it a 03 WRX PPP

As the engine has 'loosened' its got worse and im finding it difficult to explain to the dealer what the problem is.

Heres the problem when it was at its worst:

As it boosted up, it would 'kangaroo' between 3 & 4k, and after 5k it would seriously 'back off' (bearly eccelerate), the more load it was under (ie a hill) and the colder it was (denser air) and especially if you were about 3/4 throtle, this eventually lead to a CEL light coming on after a big 'Fuel cut' type shutdown.

The dealer read the code and replaced the 'wastegate solanoid' (eventually) the car was a hell of a lot better for a bit, then started to 'mini kangaroo' in cold and high load situations again, did bother addressing straight away as 30K service comming up.

After 30k service (you know the one where they replace the whole car and empty your wallet at the same time) the car was the best as it has ever been, but 1000 miles later im starting to get the 'mini kangaroo's' back (Presuming it will detirate as before)

All i can think of is that ive got bad boost control, im wondering if the fact that ive got a very early version (if not first) of the 03 PPP (Feb 03) is actually the problem or if it can be something else?

What would you peeps do?, any comment from Mike Wood on the PPP? (PM if you want)

Simon

 

WhaaaaaH!!!!, nobody likes me just because i spilled all my worm rong

 

May sound stupid, but have a check where your oil level is and report back

Rob

 

Isn't this the characteristics associated with a need to drill out the Brass boost restrictor ??

Dean

 

ecu bug, get it remapped.

enjoy

 

have you tried ecu reset?
there was a thread a while ago about an sti with same problem ?micklemac and he got a new ecu from prodrive-much better
martin

 

hi mate i would try and change the lambda senser, because i had this power surges in my 97 wrx and it got cured so worth a shot

 

need a boost gauge fitted to see what may be happening

you could splash out on a copy of deltadash (very worth while any way) only easy way to reset the ecu

its got PPP so all should be in place

but as this is a warranty case get them to fix it, get them in the car and take them on a test drive

 

I agree Rob, boost solenoid badly clogging?

 

Tis my guess mate

Rob

 

From what i heard, that is how PPP feels anyway? lol.
Get yerself a TEK3 map.
I only got a 03 WRX, and the difference the mapping made to the way my car drives in unreal. Smooth power aint the word for it, and all the way to redline too.

 

dose sound like the Brass boost restrictor problem

 

Guys,

Thanks very much for all the responses, been away from internet for 2 weeks

Oil is between half and 2/3 full, been through this discussion with the dealer on first occurance and replacement of soloniod.

This car until about 25000 used to gobble oil at an alarming rate (now uses nothing), this is a bit funny as its where i started to get this problem also, any connection?

ECU has been reset on at least 1000000000000000000000001 times by the dealer (maybe a small exageration) and ofcourse 'ALL' faults appear to be cured for a few hundread miles.

My problem with showing to the dealer is that it works well when the weather is warm and badly when the weather is cold/damp (oposite to how it should be)

Simon

 

Cold/damp days would enable more boost to be produced, so that is when you are most likely to get overboost issues.

Sounds like a boost control problem, whether it's soleniod, ecu map, incorrect restrictor or even low fuel pressure resulting in DET, and the ecu is trying to protect the engine.

Delta Dash would be a good start (or find someone with it)
Knocklink may also be a good idea.. god knows whats happening with symptoms as violent as you describe, engine life may be an issue soon..