So, I've had my 02 WRX for a few months now, and I've wondered some things that I'm sure most of you can answer easily. The flame suit is on, so here goes: 1. If am leaving my house in the morning, no matter how slowly I let out the clutch, the car will buck and shudder until I really rev up the engine and almost launch it. One the car is warm, it goes away. What's up with that? 2. I have noticed that when I have my interior fan on, every 30 seconds to a munute, the car will turn on what sounds to be the radiator cooling fan. If the switch inside the car is to the off position, this doesn't happen. Explination? 3. Is there someplace that I could learn about engine codes and chassi codes? EJ20 comes up a lot, and I assume that it's a motor, but I don't know what it means, really. 4. With the stock alloy WRX wheels, what is the torque spec, and should I torque ane re-torque them after I've driven on them for a little while? 5. If I have the A/C on, I hear a consistant "swoosh" sound from the engine bay which goes away when the A/C is off. Same issue as above? 6. If I need to get a spare key made, do I need to get it at the dealership - is there a micro chip in the key that tells the car there is a key there? I want to get my Compustar installed, but only have 1 key and remote. I'm sure I have more, so I'll post those later.
1.) this is a fairly common issue with the stock clutch IIRC. 2.) this is related to 5. I believe it is engaging the AC to help remove water vapor from the cabin area. i know this is true for when you have the defrost on. you can try unplugging the AC (little plug on top of AC compressor) and see if it goes away. 3.) there was a thread on here that dealt with this. basically EJ is the current 4 cylinder engine code (89-present) and the next 2 numbers till displacement. EJ20 = 4cylinder 2 liter. EJ25 = 4 cylinder 2.5l then there are different models of each displacement EJ257 = STi semi closed 2.5l. I will try and find the actual thread. here a list of the JDM engines codes http://www.catherineandken.co.uk/sti/wrx.html heres a list of common suby abbreviations: http://www.mnsubaru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11583&highlight=engine+codes 4.) i think the specs are around 80 ft-lbs. you need to re-tq the wheels after ~100 miles. the alloys warm up and loosen up. so you need to re-tq them or else you can break the studs / have a wheel fall off. 6.) go to the dealership IIRC we can get keys made for free.
Not that I am an expert - only 60 days in ( and i set of rear brakes and 1 rim later) 1. Heh, happens to me to - very annoying and complicated, i think, by my short thow shifter. 4. Always torque and re-torque after 50-100 miles with alloy wheels.
The clutch shudder is completely normal for the 02-03 model, I had the same problem with my 02 RS. your 02 WRX doesn't have an electronic key.
If you've got your defroster on the radiator fans kick on even if the engine isn't warmed up. Threw me a couple of times too. Stop on in, we make keys for the non-chip keys for free. IIRC Minnetonka does too. Erik or Brian, feel free to correct me if needed.
You guys are so damn nice. I almost always have my defroster on, which would explain the fan. Good to know that a sensor or whatever isn't shot. And the clutch thing really makes my wife NEVER want to drive it- which I'm ok with. ha ha. I'm glad that it's "normal" though!!! Brian, are you in Bloomington? I may have to make a field trip over there one day durring the work day- sales call.. ha ha. FREE KEY!! SWEET!!! Dynapar, thank you for the engine info -makes perfect sense, but I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Thanks again!!!
if you always have the defrost vents on you are constantly running the a/c, the subaru system runs the a/c in phases, so it'll run the compressor then turn it off for a few (30-50)seconds and then turn back on again. Unplug the a/c compressor if you don't wanna waste gas running the a/c and the radiator fans all the time.
'zactly. Every fall about this time I go and pull the connector on the A/C clutch and leave it off until spring. No need to run the A/C to defrost when it's below freezing, and I hate the throttle lag it causes. In the summer I put up with it the 1% of the time I use the defrost setting, in winter, it's more like 99% so the A/C gets disabled.
Yeah, the car runs the fan on and off to pull ambient air thru the A/C condenser. No biggie. No chip in the key for you. Only us 06+ guys are stuck with that.
