check engine light and speedo playing up.....
 

:luxhello: Hello all, I hope somebody can help me. I have just bought my 1st impreza wrx sti, its a 1998 Version 5 import model. When i bought the car it drove fine and boost etc all fine but then on the way home I noticed the speedo was fluctuating all the time (although I was doing a constant speed) then all of a sudden I lost all power :cry:and then it came back and check engine light on. Now the car only revs upto 4500 revs and light is on constant, I have flashed up the code which is speed senor 33 and also idle control 24. I have priced up the sensor which is not cheap but then found out it might not be that??? Has anybody had a similar fault or is there anything else it will be? Also I dont seem to be having any idling issues although the code is coming up, is that just related to the speed sensor fault?? any help would be appreciatted.....Thank you :thumb:

The engine is only revving to 4500 because it is in limp mode - and the reason for this is the speed sensor error.

The digital speed sensors on these rarely go faulty. That doesn't mean it never happens, but on an imported Japanese market car, the first thing to suspect would be any speedo converter/delimiter that might be fitted rather than the sender itself.

Worth investigating (or having someone else look at) the wiring loom between the ECU and the sensor (which is on the right hand side of the gearbox). Do you know for sure whether the car has (or hasn't) been derestricted?

The idle speed control valve error shouldn't be related to the speed sensor one. However, with this the first thing to try would be resetting the ECU and seeing if it recurs. If you've just bought the car it's always possible that this might be a "historic" error caused by something as simple as someone starting the car with the ISCV disconnected at some point in the past. If this error recurs after an ECU reset, then you know something needs looking at.

I will get that checked out then, thanks for that. Just wondering tho, do you have any idea how much they are roughly?? thank you

Hi,
I had the exact same problem when i had my gearbox replaces a week ago. Turned out to be the speedo cable was not sitting right where it fits into the gearbox.
Its nothing major - just go to a garage and check if the cable is connected properly and then reset the ecu.

I too had the exact same fault on my 97 uk model and it was just a bad earth from the battery to the body (slightly loose) , check volts drop .
I would definitely fit an uprated earth wire/kit . Good luck .

Just to add, I take it you put 99+ ron fuel in there also?

Tony:)

thank you for all your replies, I am going to have a look tomorrow and see whether I get anywhere with it. I will let you know how I get on........

right guys update... I have found that someone has also removed the bulb for the abs light which when a new bulb fitted the light is on!! would that cause any of the problems Im having or????

Hiya fellas,
After my recent problem with code 33 speed sensor 2, I have sourced a second hand speed sensor from a breakers. I finally received it today but I am unsure of whether it is the correct one for my car!!!. Can anyone verify where the sensor fits, I thought it was under the bonnet looking down at the gearbox but looking at that one it has 3 wires coming out of it and the sensor I have received has only got pins for a connector with 2 wires. Im hoping someone is going to say no you idiot the sensor is located somewhere else on the gearbox and save me having to wait a further week to get another!!! lol. thanks guys.

Why didn't you take the car back? you have clearly been sold a pup.

starting to hate my this car now! I have had a speedsensor on the box, secondhand clocks, kph-mph convertor and still my speedo is erratic and check light on with limp mode!! Ive now dropped it off at a specialist and just hope its not going to cost me much more!! Needless to say the car will be up For sale when I get it back cause its driven me mad!!

Just to let you all know, it ended up being a wiring fault. £500 later its all sorted. Drives mint now and goes really well now.

That's really brill. Trying to troubleshoot electrics can be a nightmare - great that you go to the bottom of it! :)