Bought my WRX Hawkeye just before Xmas with 41k miles on it. The only modification evident was an after-market exhaust. I don't know what make but it's big and makes a lovely deep sound, lol. I think the CAT is still there as it sailed through an MOT the day before I picked it up.

The only other mod I've done is a Cosworth Air filter which is now in place as the Unipart one was a bit past it.

I'm not planning on any other mods as the car will be used "almost" daily and I'm trying to keep it "econimical-ish".

However I have noticed today (first real drive since changing the air filter) that it has a couple of "flat spots" - when I accelerate hardish in 3rd adn then 4th, the engine "hesitates" in a couple of places and then lets go. I'd not noticed this before changing the filter, maybe a coincidence.

Is this something that will "sort itself out automatically" (air flow measure recalculation, etc.) or do I need it remapped? I don't think it has ever been mapped since it was new with the exhaust change - not even sure if this needs a remap - I'm a bit lost on the mapping subject...Help

Also I've just done 200miles on 35 litres (7.7 gallons) of 98 which calculates to 26mpg - is this about right? At the moment I'm not driving hard and am enjoying getting used to the car.

The exhaust will pop if I accelerate a bit and then back off whilst static - no I don't do this a lot just once or twice so mates could hear the burble. This could indicate running rich I think.

Also (part 3) Found out today that 1/4 full on the gauge only lets me put 35 litres in - and the book says the tank is a 60 litre, someone's hiding the spare 25 litres me thinks

Awaiting your expert replies, thanks

 

I doubt very much it would make a difference though I would get a remap just to get thw best our of the car anyway.

 

Your petrol light comes on with approx 10-12 litres in the tank/lines

 

Are you saying that the flat spots are normal or that they wouldn't go even with a remap or that they will go by themselves ???

So the gauge is normal and designed to make you half fill up more often

 

Should really be mapped for the mods. Shouldnt have flat spots.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon - that's what I thought.

I assume that I'm not going to be doing much damage to anything running it as it is whilst I try and track down a re-mapper over here ?

 

Definitely flat spots and not clutch slip?

 

Yes defo flat spots - clutch is fine

 

You could do.

You using shell vpower?

How far into france are you?

 

Can't find Shell vpower over here - running her on 98

I'm just south of Le Mans - Loire Valley. Takes about 4 1/2 hours to get Calais for the cheapie ferries to Dover or 2 1/2 hours to get to Caen for the Portsmouth link (but the ferries are more expensive as the crossing is longer). If I can't find a decent mapper over here I'm not against bringing her back to the UK but would rather avoid it if I could as adding another £300 to the remap cost starts to get expensive.

Unless of course a mobile-mapper fancies a free weekend in the Loire Valley

Q: Are all remaps rolling road jobbies ?

 

Not all on rolling road plenty done jst on the road but i think i would be right in saying if u wnt a graph with a exact power output u would need to stick it on rollers. Im sure simon at JGM wouldnt mind a free holiday lol

 

I'm not worried about a graph just want her to run right.

Free holiday could be a serious option as flights in to Tours from Stansted are dirt cheap (18.50€ when I went back to pick the car up) so a return trip over a weekend with free board and lodgings would be a cheaper option for me than bringing the car back - anyone interested? If you wait until the weather warms up I can throw in some free jetskiing on a private lake as well

 

Lol.

Well diesel in my daily is going to be cheaper than petrol in your hawk.

Happy to travel over. Drop me a pm if you want. I live about 40 minutes from Dover.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon - MP will be on it's way shortly

 

Lol ill come over for some free jetsking. Sadly the only MAP i can help you with will be a A 2 Z. Lol

 

lol - nice try

 

I'm busy trying to save for a remap (not easy with a new baby in the house and a misses who keeps finding "cute things" to buy him, lol).....in the meantime is there anyway I can try a "reset" of the ECU for it to take into account the change in filter etc? This "flat-spot" issue is mildly annoying.

Maybe I'm talking b*ll*cks (wouldn't be the first time, lol) but on other cars I've had you can disconnect the battery for a period of time and then the ECU rechecks everything taking into account new readings and sets up from "empty" - can this be done on a Hawkeye WRX and if so is it worth doing and how do I do it?????

Thanks to anyone who can help

 

Disconnecting ecu wont do anything mate
Are you sure you've not caught a vac pipe when doing the filter or ferreting about , I would check all you're pipe work for tiny splits or leaks , also turbo inlet pipe for tiny splits ,

As these are common causes for rich running and misfires

Btw when did it last have a set of plugs , if the filter wasn't changed I'd be surprised if the plugs have !

 

Ta muchly - I'll have a look for splits etc.

Is the plug change difficult accesswise on a Subaru - given where they are I'd imagine that it's not a simple job, does it need a "special" tool?

 

Can be a bit fiddly first time. The key is a nice set of sockets , as is usually the case one extensions too long the others too short lol
But if you take bits and bobs off and move em out you're way it's not that bad , just a couple of cups of tea a bit of patience and its all good

 

Thanks.

I've just checked the service book and the oil, oil filter, air filter and plugs were changed at 38k miles - she's now got 42k miles, so I'm guessing that they should be OK.

I'll check for splits etc. The flat spot is only when I accelerate hard and it's only a slight hesitation and then the revs start climbing as normal and the car speeds up. Gentle acceleration and it doesn't do it....annoying