WRX is back!

"MUSASHI66" (musashi66)
02/11/2019 at 17:18 • Filed to: None

Wife just picked it up, after 2 weeks or so. It started with Check engine light, code P0016, Crankshaft Position Sensor.

Dealership first told us it was just a loose sensor. Then they replaced the sensor. Then they replaced the cam sprockets. Then they replaced the OCV (oil control valve). That wasn’t it either.

Dealership contacted Subaru, and they told them to replace the ECM. We had to wait a few day, and it was finally replaced. That seems to have fixed the issue.

Somewhere in the meantime, they were supposed to replace the axle seal as well as it was leaking.

Now the car is producing smoke after arriving home, and I sure hope it is just grease or oil burning off the new parts. It’s smoking form this general area, under the oil filter. They did change the oil, so maybe some spilled on the engine.

DISCUSSION (38)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 17:32

Oof. Warranty work, right? Back it goes. I've never seen a car smoke from spilled oil much longer than a few minutes.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 18:04

Then they replaced the cam sprockets. Then they replaced the OCV (oil control valve). That wasn’t it either.

They replaced the cam carrier seals? twice on my car to stop an oil leak that dripped onto the exhaust header. Only to replace the engine a year latter due to excessive oil consumption.

MUSASHI66 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
02/11/2019 at 18:04

Yup, warranty. I’ll see what happens tomorrow, but there’s a chance it’ll be going back soon.

MUSASHI66 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/11/2019 at 18:32

No clue. It’s a lease, so... whatever :)

Decay buys too many beaters > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 19:58

What year FA20?

A lot of the brz /FRS guy s went through this same issue. Cam position sensor codes >> replace cam position sensor >>> replace ECU

A fair number of them lost bearings in the bottom end shortly after pointing at root cause being in the oiling system from the beginning. Low pressure caused lag in the vvt system giving the initial code .

MUSASHI66 > Decay buys too many beaters
02/11/2019 at 20:31

2017. As long as they last another 14 months, I don’t care. But, I’m thinking that another WRX might not happen - heck , another Subaru might not happen. I’m pretty disappointed.

Urambo Tauro > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 20:51

Geez, w ere they throwing parts at it, or were all those items actually found to be faulty? I don’t know whether to be annoyed abou t the dea ler’s diagnostic skills, or at the quality of parts.

Decay buys too many beaters > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 21:18

My FRS is my first and last Subaru.

Tony > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 22:01

Im guessing the timing cover was off for something. We see this frequently when the timing cover has been removed and often have to go in and shim the cam sensors to realign them to have them read properly again. It’s a pain.

Zach > Decay buys too many beaters
02/11/2019 at 22:38

More internet misinformation....... nothing to read here

MUSASHI66 > Urambo Tauro
02/11/2019 at 22:58

I guess that’s the process when p0016 comes up. No clue - we left the car and got a loaner and left it up to them.

MUSASHI66 > Decay buys too many beaters
02/11/2019 at 23:00

We had 11 of them. This one, and my mom’s Outback with CVT going bad at 63k miles are changing my opinion.

MUSASHI66 > Tony
02/11/2019 at 23:02

No clue - we dropped the car off and had a few email updates (stuff I mentioned). Not really sure what they did.

Decay buys too many beaters > Zach
02/11/2019 at 23:06

Not really, been on that platform since it was introduced. Seen that code eventually lead to bottom end issues twice locally

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MUSASHI66
02/11/2019 at 23:49

Maybe they should just stick with the EJ257.

MUSASHI66 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 01:32

Old, known evil vs. new evil?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MUSASHI66
02/12/2019 at 01:38

Exactly. Subie techs can probably change the head gaskets in their sleeps now...

DipodomysDeserti > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 12:12

So far they have stuck with the EJ257, but you need to buy an STI to get it . The old WRX’s came with the EJ255 (same block, but different heads and pistons).

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > DipodomysDeserti
02/12/2019 at 12:18

Yup. Part of the reason why I said to put the EJ back in is that I haaate the new FA20. It just doesn't wanna rev beyond 5.5k :(

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 21:36

The FA20 and relatives will prove to be such a superior motor in short order it’s not even funny. Aftermarket wise, this engine is doing things that took the EJ a decade to do.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 21:54

I haate the FA's inability to rev beyond 5.5k rpm in stock guise tho.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 22:12

Huh? The brz revs way past that and my WRX revs cleanly to 6700

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 22:29

I drove a 16' at a dealership and that thing did not like reving at all + my friend has a 16 too and his doesn’t like reving either.

To be clear, the motor did redline but the rate of change of rpm above 5-5.5k was inversely proportional to the rpms.

EDIT: im talking about the turbo motor in the WRX.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 22:41

Yeah, that’s easy to fix though. The fa will have response the EJ can only dream of. It can make go bs of power whil e still retaining response that requires the EJ to go through some seriously expensive mods or sacrifice that top end power. The fa is a better motor. It’s making progress at the strip and on the dyno that took the EJ damn near a decade. Keep in mind most of this is going on with stock head s and cam s and stock hpfp and injectors.

The fa is just waking up and the EJ is going to sleep. It lived a good life, but there's better now.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 22:54

I don’t doubt that the FA is a stonking motor when you start modding, but I’m talking about the stock tune on it. I, personally like engines that like reving and that motor don't.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:12

Gotcha, yeah it absolutely loses torque on the big end, but there are things made or being made that’ll take care of that incredibly effectively . 400whp FA20dits I think are going to become rather commonplace shortly.

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2894110

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 23:31

If swapping the manifold makes that big difference, then I’m adding a WRX to my ‘big’ car list (A larger car that I’ll buy whenever life needs it. ) I have a WRX, E39 540i and SS so far on the list.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:36

Couple that with http://www.forcedperformance.net/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FP&Product_Code=202520&Category_Code=WRX-Turbo

This dyno test was with a car not having the intake manifold and quite a few other things. Headers, etc.

Kinja'd!!!

On your big car reference, I feel you. I had to sell my fist as it wouldn’t accept the car seats for my incoming twins. Now that we’re having our third I refuse to give up my WRX.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 23:42

I guess this is your only option now: https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a21099061/1998-chevrolet-tahoe-ls9-swap/

Kinja'd!!!

Should be easy enough to convince the missus, “its just a chevy truck” :P

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:45

Sold in the city I live in.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:45

Actually narrow car seats are cheaper than a new car. Plus I keep my WRX

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 23:46

Kinja'd!!!

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:47

It’s cool, but it ain't my jam

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/12/2019 at 23:50

Gotcha.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/12/2019 at 23:58

Oh, a few other things. I can regularly get 40+ mpg on the highway driving down to Portland or up to Seattle. It’s only going up with the mods. The WRX can take the sti drivetrain. Bolts right in so you get the cool center diff and have access to wicked front and rear diffs if your heart desires. Modding the WRX is relatively cheap when you look at several Euro cars. I’d say the ss on your list is a helluva contender, but the WRX is great in its own way. I’d pass on the BMW, they drive great but their reliability is shit an d they cost a fuckload if your lottery number comes up on the diagnostics.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/13/2019 at 00:33

Cool!

That BMW is never going off my list! It sounds too amazing for that. And hey, I have a 15 year old 200k mile German car as my daily that is decently modded right now, so I do kinda know the pains.

gettingoldercarguy > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
02/13/2019 at 00:35

It’s a labor of love, as it should be for something that rewarding.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > gettingoldercarguy
02/13/2019 at 00:42

Yes! The little guy is too much fun :)