phil.s

Hi guys, first post so I'll make it a good one..

Bought this car today:

http://www.type-ra.co.uk/vB/showthread.php?t=11000

Has been running great all day but suddenly out of nowhere it wont make more than 0.7 bar boost. It was holding 1.2 all the time before that. These are the things I have checked:

- checked all pipework for leaks - all OK
- dump valve blocked off - made no difference
- removed pipe from actuator and blocked off - still only 0.7 bar

Any more ideas I'm stumped now. this is my first subaru and I wasnt expecting such a bad start

Surely with the actuator isolated it should boost like mad? the guy said he had had the headers replaced also. would a exhaust leak cause similar symtoms? Sounds OK to me though.

pjarvis6666

iTrader: (1)

faulty ecu?

phil.s

Why would this cause it?

P1Drifter

iTrader: (7)

probably a split pipe, double check all your boost hoses are tight and not damaged. What turbo does it have ?

phil.s

I dont know what turbo it has all I know is every time I drove it it was making a nice stable 1.2 bar! VF33 springs to mind but this is only what the guy told me. i'll double check the pipes but i think they're OK. Will try to pressure test the system over the weekend to try and find any leaks. Where should the engine be set when doing this?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

What model is the car? model year? any mods? fuel you run it on?

Tony

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

Probably a vf30 or 34 mate and i would have thought it is as mentioned a split pipe.
I think the person selling it was being abit optimistic in the advert with 360 bhp at 1.2 bar out of a vf34 if that is the turbo installed.

P600wrx

iTrader: (1)

ecu in limp mode?, if you had a split pipe surely u would have no boost and would deffo here all that boost pressure escaping, try to do ecu reset and fault code read, faulty m.a.p sensor, faulty boost pack......

phil.s

How do you reset the ECU? I filled the car with unleaded before I drove it back (140 miles). The guy said he always uses octane booster to be on the safe side. He gave me what he had lest but I dint add it, maybe I should add some and see if this makes a difference.

Yes I think the turbo is the VF34 you're right. Only a few places boost could leak from as most of the pipes are hard pipes with silicone joiners.

rob84

iTrader: (5)

The ecu will have pulled the boost back to compensate for det off std unleaded I would imagine, should be running super unleaded to be honest

P600wrx

iTrader: (1)

i cant see by adding octane booster it will revert back to 1.2bar, fill it with 99ron fuel, optimax or tesco, how r u measuring your boost, can u tell it is running lower boost or r u relying on the gauge, i run an electronic controller and have 2 settings, 0.7bar and 1.15bar, and i sure as hell can tell the difference, check the pipe that feeds the boost gauge also

phil.s

I'll try changing the fuel.

Using the gauge for the boost readings and there is a distinct drop in power. I'm thinking there's more to the fuel type than meets the eye as its the only thing thats changed in the 7 hours i have owned it!

Thanks for all the help BTW

P600wrx

iTrader: (1)

let us know mate, i am going with limp mode,

phil.s

Yeah will do. Will it go out of limp mode by itself or should it need to be reset?

What I dont understand is that with the actuator pipe removed surely the boost should have still gone up?

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

If the car has been mapped for 99 Ron fuel or unleaded with 100ml octane booster
Then that's what you want it to run on!
0.7 bar is base boost ie. Ecu is pulling it back to stop detonation essentially killing your engine!
Ya want to ri g your man ya bought it off and ask him specifics about what fuel / octane ratio he was using!!! If he doesn't give you exact figures then get in touch with a mapper (Jgm - jolly green monster is my personal recommendation from the work I have seen here In Ireland) and have it mapped for the fuel you will be using and stick to your choice of fuel!!!

Is there a CEL light on the dash flashing at all? Have you checked for fault codes?

If there was a split pipe you would probably hear it! (if you know what to listen for)

If it was me I'd check fault codes with connectors under the dash! Then depending on the outcome of that reset ecu and try again!!!

Hope you get sorted soon fella!!!!

phil.s

Cheers. I'll check with him but how do u actually reset the ecu??

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

Scoobypedia is your friend if your not sure.

http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.p...ledge/ECUReset

joey_turbo

iTrader: (26)

I had this recently, but with an audible boost leak noise (like an animal screaming) when hitting boost. All pipes looked OK on general inspection. But it was the one under the TMIC, connected to the alloy Y pipe that bust a jubilee clip. So check them also.

phil.s

Popped the ECU into fault code read and got the following:

44 and 32

According to the scoobypedia thats turbocharging pressure control switch and A/F sensor.

What do you reckon?

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

Honestly my personal option would be, head to a local garage that know about Subaru's to have a look at this!!!
They can try swapping out a sensor to see it if helps!!!
How is the car on idle? is it lumpy and hunting? also what air filter is on the car? If there is an oiled aftermarket cone filter on it get rid of it..... get a dry cone filter or a aftermarket pannel filter!!! MAF does not like oiled after market filters!!!!

sorry to hear about the issues mate but hopefully its nothing too serious

phil.s

I'm sure its simple. Usually do my own repairs though so would like to sort it. Checked with the guy I bought it off and he ran it on normal unleaded with the occasional tank of super.

The engine seems to run absolutely fine just lacks power obviously due to the lower boost

I'm planning to reset the ECU and see if the codes come back. If they do then I'll swap out the 2 parts and start again from there.

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

Again that would have been one of my options....
but for piece of mind id run her on super unleaded all the time to be honest!!!
Subaru engines have a reputation for being soft!!!! thats crap to be honest!!!! they are as strong as any other engine once they are properly looked after and kept off the limiter!!!

They do however suffer from Detonation but this is controlable with higher octane fuel (better quality fuel) or good octane booster!!!
I personally service my 97 Wagon every 5000 Kilometers but I would do alot of Motorway driving and dont really drive "easy".

Let us know how ya get on man

phil.s

Well done a bit more...

Took it out and ran it up warm, this morning it was making 0.9 bar. As it got warmer the boost dropped back to 0.7. Brought it home and reset the ECU. Took it out again and brought it back (still only 0.7) and got the all clear flashing from the ECU.

Now to start at 0.9 cold then drop to 0.7 as it got warmer suggests to me a leak again thats opening up with the heat?

Hammie82

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like it to me!!!

but im not sure where to point ya in all honesty!!!!
If there was a top mount on it then id say that where the problem was, (under there)
but as its a front mount im only assuming all pipework is clear and odvious to ya!!!

Im wondering if somehow you have managed to switch between maps...... as far as i know (never having had simtec myself) there is a possibility of having 2 seperate maps on the ecu and you can switch between them!!! Theres something to check out anyway

now as for 0.9 bar dropping to 0.7 as it warms up, 0.9 bar is standard boost in a tyre r
0.7 bar is base boost (as far as i remember) so there is an issue in there somewhere
last time i had low boost issues i discovered my coil pack was dieing so changed it out and all was fine again!!!
Sorry i cant help much further!!! Im not a qualified mechanic (altho i do most of my own work) and all i can advise on is personal experience

phil.s

Right think I've found something:



Its blowing really bad on tickover, looks like they have left the gasket out (if there is one). The guy had the headers changed before he sold it so its starting to add up. Also may explain when I got more boost this morning when it was cold. What do you reckon?

The turbo is actually a VF23, is the gasket I need likely to be available from a motor factors or is it a specialist part?

DAVE26

im having power issues too but surely this wouldnt drop your boost would it ?
where is that blowing from ?
which part of the engine are you looking at and from which angle ?

reading your thread im thinking mine is not boosting correctly
wondering if a boost pipe has been incorrectly fitted upon rebuild of the engine !

dave

P1Drifter

iTrader: (7)

blowing uppipe would certainly cause your lack of boost, gasket is probably easiest from a dealer. As for limp mode the simtek dosnt have this and im pretty sure it wont give you proper error code reading either, this is for the stock ecu only so im puzzled about the 'codes' that flashed.

steve rally

Simtek won't flash any codes....are you sure it still has the Simtek fitted?

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Alyn at www.asperformance.com is handy at finding the odd part if you need anything


Shaun

phil.s

Sounds like the Simtek is fictional then So is the stock ECU mappable?

Oh well I'll get this gasket and fingers crossed it will revert back to normal...
Will let you know