by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 12/18/2017 at 15:46
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 12/18/2017 at 15:46
No Tags
STARS: 2
I didn’t take any pictures or videos during the process but it goes something like this, only with a lot more struggling to put the damn intercooler back on:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
When I bought the STi about a month ago, the only thing I observed wrong with it (other than the tires) was a peculiar starting issue where it would grind the starter every once in a while. Soon after that I ordered a new starter from Rockauto for ~$100 and finally got around to installing it this past weekend. I had not experienced the starter grind in a while but I figured it was good preventative maintenance before I either end up stranded someplace or grind down the teeth on my flywheel.
The repair “seemed” simple enough requiring me just to remove the intercooler and then replace the starter. Since this was the first time ever working on this car or any car with an intercooler, I figured it might take a little bit of extra time. Getting access to all of the bolts was easy enough and it all came off easily. However, reconnecting the starter was confusing and the damn intercooler was hell to put back in. I eventually figured out the starter without bloodshed but the intercooler required a bit of serious struggling to fit the upipe hose back on the bottom. It was just a clearance issue where you had to line up both hoses as well as fit the thing within the frame and AC lines. So it was a puzzle piece solved with sweat and blood.
Due to my struggle, I definitely have a bit of a leak from the uppipe hose, causing an annoying little whistle. This is only occurring when the turbo is spooling and I cant hear it over the radio. Plus its not resulting in much if any actual boost loss (that I can feel) so I am unconcerned for now. I will try adjusting the clamps again but I think I may have torn the edge of one of the hoses, causing it to not seal properly.
But at least now the car starts MUCH better! I didnt even realize it was starting poorly since it was just how the car was when I bought it. It wasnt obnoxiously bad, just took a little bit longer and didnt sound perfect like it does now. It is definitely better with the new starter and cranks right up good as new!
Overall this was a good first repair experience on the Subaru. I was working on the Miata Valve cover at the same time, whenever I got frustrated with one I went back to the other. So it took me about 3 hours to complete both. This would have certainly taken longer with just hand tools but my little Ryobi electric impact has come in handy.
I do not believe a car is fully bonded to you until you have shed blood on it. This marks full commitment to the car!
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
12/18/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 0
When dealing with big rubber or silicone couplings like that, sometimes a little bit of lubricant can make your life much easier.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/18/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 0
Yes a little bit of lube does sure make many things in life easier! I found in the end that I just took off the top hose entirely, put on the lower one and clamped it in. Then just crammed in the upper one by shoving it in. That method would have DEFINITELY been helped with some lubricant on there. Probably would have been able to get by without tearing any hoses that way. Or just using something other than a flathead screwdriver as a pry bar too. Something less pointy!
"Recovering Gaijin" (toxrensem)
12/18/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 1
Amen. ‘Slicker is quicker’ I’ll grab the oil dipstick for a drop or two of instant assistance when wrestling hoses.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/18/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 0
If it were my Miata, I could have just used the copious amounts of oil running down the transmission tunnel. Theres gotta be at least a whole quart stuck on there. I consider it rust prevention!
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
12/18/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 2
A tip from my hydraulic mechanic days: Sometimes a flat head screwdriver can be an appropriate tool for working around soft things, but take an old one to bench grinder first and round all the edges smooth. The same works for various picks. Sometimes you need a sharp, pointy one, but grab a second cheapie set from harbor freight and round the points off them for when you don’t need to poke a hole in something and/or reduce the risk of scoring a sealing surface.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/18/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 1
Good idea, I definitely have a few flat heads so I might as well modify one of the no-name Chinesium ones I have for just this purpose.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
12/18/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 1
What year?
The intercooler can be a PITA, but once you get the right movement down they go back on quickly. An Openport 2.0 cable is worth owning with these cars so you can quickly data log and check whats going on. You can also also load new tunes and such without having to buy an access port......I do still kinda want an access port but i would need one for each car so the openport is still better for me i think.
OpenECU.org and Romradier.com have a bunch of good info on it.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/18/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 0
Its a 2006. I have no intentions of tuning the car or otherwise modding it. But the openport cable would be interesting to at least track stuff for maintenance purposes. I imagine I could read boost levels that way too to get a better understanding of fuel economy too. I have yet to get anything higher than 20mpg in this car and I would imagine a big part of that is just being on boost like all the time.
This week I am going to actually do some highway driving so I might see a tank above 20 for the first time! Considering the economy these cars usually get and that my Miata is averaging ~22-24 on the same route, it probably is actually pretty good to get ~17-19 in the STi.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
12/18/2017 at 19:01, STARS: 0
You can do a stage 0 tune just to fix any drivability issues and make it safer than stock and get better gas mileage....that said the 2006 stock tune is the safest from factory it deals with open loop closed loop much better than 07+ did. If you had a 07 a tune would be a must.
I almost always get 22-23mpg on the highway (in my 06 STi), once got 29mpg.....following a moving van. If you have the factory boost gauge just watch that and try to stay in vacuum ....generally around 3000rpms is the best for mpgs it seems.
I just manage 26mpg in my Outback XT with an EJ255.....and I wasn’t driving slow.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/18/2017 at 19:26, STARS: 0
On the highway here in LA generally means stop and go traffic anyways so I certainly cant get very good mileage here lol. I dont have any sort of boost gauge at all, and I had thought that you would have to go aftermarket if you wanted one in this car. All of my driving has been canyon carving so yeah I guess I am not doing that bad.
Either way I could care less, it’s all smiles per gallon anyways. My Miata can be the “fuel efficient” vehicle and get 25 while canyon carving. Im sure with more highway travel I could achieve mid 20s in the STi. It will only be a problem if gas goes over $5.00 a gallon I suppose. That 29mpg sure does sound impressive though, I would call the car a prius if I achieved that haha.
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
12/18/2017 at 19:34, STARS: 1
I got almost 25mpg (in the Outback) coming back to Tahoe from San Diego with fire traffic last week. It’s all about how you drive it even in traffic.
Here’s the factory vacuum / boost gauge it was one of the few options offered on the STi in 06 https://www.ebay.com/i/272215340181?chn=ps
"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
12/18/2017 at 19:55, STARS: 1
If you are on the stock plastic brittle hoses for the intercooler, loose them. Grab yourself some silicone hoses and love life. So much easier to get the intercooler on and off
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
12/19/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 0
Definitely will do that then! I am glad there is a solution because putting that damn thing back on was the last thing I wanted to have to do again lol. Will look into silicone hoses ASAP.