Hi guys

Well, I finally plucked up the courage to take my 2003 STI to a beach to see what she was like diffin etc. Its the first time I've really give the car any kind of welly like that. She was great!! Donuts were superb! Large diffin circles were class! I was able to diff in 3rd gear at about 60mph in wide circles.

Whilst doing that, I thought I found her just cut down on power (boost maybe) while drifting. I'd only really been at it a couple of minutes, allowing the car to cool down after a few circles.

Since then driving the car normally on the road, she does not seem to have the same bite when I accelarate through the gears.

What have I done? And what should I do now???

Thanks
Ronan

 

you probably filled the air filter up with **** and it can't get much air now

 

Yep, that'd do it!

NS04

 

we get the same thing on the offroad karts we have at work, sand and dirt gets everywhere even into the fuektank which is sealed????? (figure that one out if you can) by the end of the day there down by about 20-30% power cos of it. as said sounds very much like.

 

Ok, excellent. At least I now know what it is. So what should I do from here? Is it serious? Obviously I want to sort it out ASAP - is it something I can do myself? If so, how?

Cheers guys - appreciate your time.
Ronan

 

Don't think your beach "antics" were such a good idea after all?
If the sand has reached the air filter just imagine where else it has gone! Plus a drop of salt water for good measure!
JohnD

 

Hi again!

I took out the air filter today and its as clean as a whistle! No sand at all. I spent about 1 hr afterwards from the beach washing the car down and getting right underneath, so I can honestly say there is no sand on her now at all.

Maybe I'm not looking in the right areas, but can anyone help me here?

By the way, I'd rather "test" the car on a beach than trying to diff her on gravel or tarmac...Now that would be sore on her...

Thanks guys!
Ró

 

Worse thing you could have done, sand is abrasive, a runway/track would have been a much better place, and you will find sand for the next 5 years from that, you may think im joking but im not!

Tony

 

Was it low on petrol, just a stab in the dark.

dipster

 

No - she was 3/4 full.

 

Can anyone help? Ok ok, I get the bit about the sand etc, so from now on anytime I pass a beach I'll park up and go for a long walk to ease the urge...

What I'm trying to find out is the reason why it might be down on power? Its not a huge difference, its just she does not have the same "bite" when accelerating?

Maybe I'll just have to take her to Subaru to get tested on the computer??

Please guys, anyone any ideas?

Ró