Hmmm

Starting to lose faith in the old scooby - I've owned it for just under three months and it's been in the garage 4 times already.

Then on the way back from a meeting today - CEL comes on. Nothing seems to be wrong with the car, it's idling fine, seems to boost OK (well the BOV was venting as normal) - so guessing some fueling/maf type issue.

But it means another trip to the garage to get the codes read and see what's wrong with it.

TBH, it's really down to it's last chance, if it does something like this again then it's getting PX'ed against a company car, Ford Focus or some such. While I love the performance, the key requirement I have in a car is to get me from A to B without worrying if I'm going to get there or not.

Ah well.. Rant over.

Ben | Bug STi | Cambridge

 

You have an 8 year old car, things will go wrong, plus you have not said if the car is standard or modified (is the bov standard or after market?)

Tony

 

True true - I just seem to be having bad luck with it as the guys I bought it from (good friends of mine) never had a single problem with it in the two years they owned it!

Only aftermarket stuff (which looking at the paperwork have been on the car for 5+ years) are a VTA dump valve - which I want to get rid of, and a powerflow stainless exhaust (catted) - which I've got bunged 'cause it's too loud!

Cheers

Ben

 

Ah the joys. Ive owned a 98sti since it came into the country for roughly 2 year running approx 410 bhp on a 25% meth mix and never had any bother.

I guess its just your luck.

When you bought the car or even before you bought it you should of had it checked out and then when you bought it you should have given it a good service.

Hope you get it sorted and start to enjoy the car.

 

Give the guy a break - would you be happy owning a car for 3 months, and have it the garage 4 times already?? Feel for you mate, but sadly this is part of owning a Subaru!

 

Well to be fair that's one of the reasons I was in the garage, got the car, checked all paperwork, saw and followed up all the service invoices (Cambelt at 50k, 60k service at the right time - about 5k miles ago) - all at subaru / jap performance car specialists. Took it to Paul at xtreme scoobies for a checkover and service too. So it's been looked after at least.

Some of the things weren't the cars fault, but so far it's had the above mentioned service, been in to get a resonance rattle sorted (some cables in the firewall), new windscreen, four new tyres, repair of a carbonised ICV, and now whatever has triggered the CEL..

It goes in on Thursday so fingers crossed it's nowt serious...

 

A new windscreen and four new tyres aren't Scooby specific problems are they? and some cables rattling isn't a big deal either.

A lot of people on here have bought cars only to have the dreaded death rattle a couple of days/weeks later.

It'll run fine for ages soon and you'll wonder why you ever considered a company car.

Mine still makes me smile every time I get in it, even after 10 years of ownership.

 

I know, I know! Just an annoyance that's all - esp around tyres (tracking was out and wore them early)

That said, I've had 2 CEL in the past month and a half, which is one more than I've had in the last 10 years!

c'est la vie.

 

That VTA dump valve won't be helping it either.
I've be inclined to get rid and put back an OEM valve.

 

well , my mates wifes new focus, has spent more time in the garage than she has used it .
so its not allways used cars .

 

I'd take the bung out if its mapped for an open backbox surely putting a massive restriction back into is going to cause problems

 

read the codes yourself easy peasy

 

But thats part of the problem, because I don't think it has actually been remapped

 

As far as I can tell it's not been remapped - it was dyno'd just before I bought it and is running at about 265bhp, which IIRC is the standard for a STi

I've had mixed responses about keeping the bung in, but Paul at xtreme scoobies didn't think it would pose a problem.

As for reading codes myself, no-can-do - newage doesn't do the flashy light thing and I don't have a scangague/ODB2 etc cable to look myself.

 

Might be an O2 sensor CEL

Constant revs will trigger a CEL if you've tampered with the exhaust in any way...especially if it's now louder...that would suggest more free flowing..

CEL fix would be your cheapest solution if it is... but I've never had much luck with those working 100%...

 

Interesting - it did come on when I was pottering about in an average speed check area at 50mph in 6th.

If it does turn out to be that, I assume then that nothing is "wrong" it's just a check light.

- in which case I would probably invest in one of these - http://www.scangauge.net/

I'll add it to the list of things that need doing! (New struts/bushes, new key/fob, replace dump valve with OEM part, tax due this month!)

 

Actually, one other symptom I've notice is that I'm getting less MPG than usual.

When I fill to the brim, the needle goes above "max" on the fuel gauge. Then it decended in around 50 mile increments. i.e.

0 miles (above max line)
50 miles (on max line)
100 miles (on 2/3 line)
150 (on 1/2 line)
200 (on 1/3 line)
250 (tending towards empty)

However in the last week (including a 300 mile run up to Leeds and back and 2x 100 mile round trips to Hemel Hempstead) I'm getting more like 0, 35, 80, 130, etc

Seems like 20 miles or so down on usual. Could be some bouts of more spirited driving but don't know!

 

I wouldnt worry about the mpg mate. I had a Fiesta Zetec S diesel the other day,went from South Wales to Weymouth then to Chester then back to south wales on £60. Then went to Birmingham and back on £50. Depends on traffic,driving style ect.

Dont give up on the car. I nearly did last month. When you replace something then something else seems to go. Pain when it's your everyday car though

 

don,t agree....... my 04 has been the most reliable car i,ve had which i,ve had for nearly 7 years.

 

It might cost a little but I'd get the car mapped to whatever is fitted at the moment as sounds like you'll be chasing your tail solving problems to a car thats not set up for whatever is fitted

 

Well if I'm going to get it mapped, I may as well go for a stage 1 kit while I'm at it.

Sadly not got those sort of funds at the moment.

 

Hi there probably best bet,if you are here contact Rich@fiestaboy(just PM him).
I'm not sure but if you have decated exhaust this error will be O2 sensor(which is easy to disable via RomRaider,EcuFlash or this will disable any mapper),but i recommend you contact Rich for any infos

 

Nope, it's a fully catted exhaust (OEM cat at that),

I'll see what the error is on Thursday, but if it is O2, then I'll ping him a PM, thanks for the heads up.

 

On a slightly different note. Does anyone know where I can source an OEM Dump valve from? Ebay isn't showing anything up for the newage.

Rough cost?

 

Hi there try this https://www.scoobynet.com/private-fo...tter-more.html

This guy selling the Newage Intercooler with OEM recirc for 80£,maybe will sell separately OEM recirc

 

No, it's absolutely not part of owning a Subaru!

 

an 8 year old Subaru is a money pit, weather you agree with me or not - its fact! Unless its been driven by a granny all its life, then your going to have your hand in your pocket more times than not!

 

Try somewhere like API

 

Well, got it reset at the garage P0420

So I got a Scangauge II, done another 150 Miles and it's come on again - good old SGII has reset it.

It's just had an MOT and flew through it's emission tests - so CAT seems to be functioning OK, and while it does have a PowerFlow exhaust on, as far as I know it still has the cats on it.

Slightly odd as it's done 5000 miles without problem and now it's popped 2 in 300 miles - as expected it's when doing constant speed (55-60) for over 5 mins.

Ah well.

 

In 2000 i bought a 7 years old jap import, sold it 5 years later and never put my hand in my pocket apart from serviceable items and stuff you would expect. It was most definately not a money pit, 3 more subarus since then and again not a thing has gone wrong... if you are constantly paying out on the car then unfortunately you've had a lemon or two that has been poorly serviced or thrashed to death by the odd chav owner!