ScoobNewb555

hello to all and merry christmas. i just wrote out a really long thread twice because my computer was being weird, then afterwards it didnt post so i'll make this one short as i can't be bothered to write all that again! if it posts then maybe i will go into more detail.


This shall be my first post. so the day finally came, my 25th birthday. i got insured on my '99 impreza turbo 2000 which has been gathering dust on the drive since september (it has been regularly started and left idle though). however, as i expected i am encountering a few problems.


the car has been modified. it has an aftermarket ECU, a full exhaust system (Blitz Nur Spec R, no CAT) which sounds amazing but is a tad loud perhaps. not sure if much else has been done to it


now, first of all i noticed the battery clamp has been removed... the battery was a little loose and there was no tie. thought this was odd and worth mentioning perhaps. i have secured it for now but will be getting one asap.


When i start the car, if i do not rev it slightly it cuts out. this is only when cold. it starts fine when warm. but when idling it feels a bit rough. juddery, like it wants to cut out, but it doesn't. when driving, accelerates fine but when cruising at a steady speed it doesn't feel smooth. sometimes its fine. other times it doesn't feel right. the way i would describe it is like uneven surges of fuel perhaps. again a bit juddery comes to mind! not boosting consitently. i wrote a much more detailed thread before this but I'm just trying this to see if it actually posts this time!

sometimes it drives completely fine, then other times it feels hesitant and inconsistent when accelerating or idling. a bit frightened i've bought a dodgy one!

just thought i'd mention it has nearly a full tank and hasn't gone less than a quarter. i dont run it on low fuel


i am new to this, as hinted in my name so i apologize for my lack of knowledge in advance but you have to start somewhere. i have never owned a turbo car before - before this i drove a '97 non turbo impreza, which i still have.


anyway, the car is due for a service and i need a decent garage local to warrington. maybe get them to check it out. i hear prosport in stockport are good, and also adgespeed in irlam. just wondered if anyone could reccomend these or anyone else nearby?


thanks for taking the time to read my thread and any comments or advice are appreciated


Nick

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

has it been mapped for the mods, its a common killer of these cars, also check ht leads and plugs and give it a good service.

clean the icv valve too there is a guide if you do a search

Turbotits

iTrader: (2)

What ecu are you using?

merlin24

iTrader: (1)

MAF related problems can be a bug-bear on the Version 5~ 6.

Mick

LewisScoob

iTrader: (5)

First thing I would do is check the leads and plugs, then MAF (if youre running one).

Then you can do a fault code check as per instructions below...
http://www.subaru-impreza.org/forum/...c-impreza.html

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

What ECU is it?

ScoobNewb555

Thanks a lot for the replies!

Yeah i heard about MAF problems with the '99 turbo, had thought about that. will check it out.

also the fella said it had been remapped after mods but to be honest he didn't seem the most trustworthy human, wasn't his car - just selling it for a friend etc. but then i went for a test drive and it was running like a dream, i fell in love with it and threw my money at him!

He just said it's a TEC 2 ECU, he didnt specify a brand but i've got the receipt for it upstairs

i will check it out and see if i can sort it, if not i'll take it to a specialist

Cheers for the advice lads

Nick

LewisScoob

iTrader: (5)

I'd imagine It'll be a standard ECU with EcuTek remap then. The fault code check will work if that's the case.

scooby1994

iTrader: (2)

hi and welcome,take the car to brian and the guys at cams,they are in darwin near blackburns ground,all the information you need is on the L.A.D.S,website,this is youre local club and brian looks after a lot of our cars

ScoobNewb555

Cheers for all your advice! it's much appreciated,

whilst i'm still pretty new to all of this, and haven't got much time at the moment with work, i think i might get the car into adgespeed or cams, get a full service and let them diagnose any problems there are. get it running right.
i don't know the fella i bought it from and he seemed like a bit of a lemon so no idea if it's been mistreated, i imagine it has.

i have a long list of work that needs doing to get it tip top, then i will look after this car like it's my child!

once i have a bit more knowledge i will get my hands dirty but for now i reckon that may be the best bet!

will put some pics up at some point should be a beauty when it's finished

i'm not driving it for now til it's been in, back to my '97 NA for a bit


Cheers lads

Nick

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Tek2 is just an EcuTek remap. As above, standard ECU.

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

Tek2 is a locked ecu so its not a true ecutek'd ecu in that you will need a license still if you want to remap it from what im aware - was Bob Rawle who was advising of this at the time

have you checked to see has it got an stored fault codes (connect diagnostic plugs under steering column) might help point you in direction of your problems

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Would you describe it as 'shakey' when it's idling cold?

If you started the car from cold and tried to drive straight off, how would it behave? Would it accelerate ok, or does it feel like it holds back and just wants to be tickled along until it's warm?

Only reason i ask is because running rough and shakey cold and clearing might be a mechanical issue too. Could be that the seller had the car warm enough to be fine when you bougth the car and now the issue is being seen when cold. This 'could' be down to lack of compression, usually the exhaust valves/seats. Unfortunately I've managed to buy two Imprezas in the past with this same problem. Gone to buy and they've been "driven already mate" and been ok, then the next morning I've experienced the whole shakey idle and running rough until warm. After doing Leak down tests, it was evident that the exhaust valves weren't seating tight enough.

Might be worth getting a leak down test done before spending out on random sensors and things, even if it comes out fine at least the money you've spent will give you a bit of peace of mind.

Other culprit could be the coolant temp sensor.

Tony Harrington

iTrader: (8)

PM sent

ScoobNewb555

Thanks for the reply and advice. The problem is not just when cold i'm afraid. i do always let idle for a bit before driving too.

at first it seemed to be just now and then, now it is most of the time, the other day i went for a little drive and it was fine, then after about half an hour it started getting rough. feels like its holding back. if i put my foot down a bit you can feel the car hesitate for a short while then suddenly boost a bit, just doesn't feel right at all. then as i slowed at the lights it cut out a couple of times. it's idling at about 300rpm.

does seem weird how it was running fine when i bought it though, and the first few days i drove it was running smooth, unless i just hadn't picked up on it because i didn't know the car then. i know he had been driving for a bit when i bought it off him so was definitely warm and i know that can mask certain symptoms that pop up when cold. but this appears to be all the time and can get slightly better or worse intermittently

i was expecting the car to need a bit of TLC anyway to be honest, just hope it's not buggered!

ScoobNewb555

Cheers for taking an interes dude, leads and plugs are fine, fault code check shall be my next task when it isn't pitch black out so i can actually see what i'm doing