I have a 2002 wrx and recently i've noticed a loss of boost and naturally power. It typically hits 12 psi but now it's down to 5 if i'm lucky.. I can feel it start to wheeze so to speak once it hits 5 psi and it smells extremely bad, like sour milk is the best description I can think of. The car has a catless down pipe, no resanator and an apexi muffler, but still has the stock up-pipe. Could it be plugged? I would assume it's the original and the car has 180,000 miles on it. Car runs fine otherwise also.. Any thoughts?
I would replace the up-pipe anyway if it ever starts to come apart its going to trash your turbo. Does it spike then settle? or just creep to 5 psi? check over your vac and boost lines IC, throttle body, compressor outlet, bov gasket,ect.... plugs wouldnt cause this but have you done your plugs lately? Maybe your turbo retired and only works part time(and half assed) at Walmart?
I would start with a boost leak test to verify you have a sealed system. If you pass that I would look at pulling the downpipe to verify the turbo has minimal shaft play and spins freely.
I've owned the car a little over a year and have never done the plugs no, and it basically just creeps to 5psi, but once in awhile it will actually make it to 10psi, kinda just hit or miss as to when it does it. Looked everywhere for boost/vacuum leaks and couldn't find any. I guess just that smell is what leads me to believe it's a plugged up-pipe. Definitely feels like there's a restriction somewhere. With 180,000 miles I'm sure the turbo is getting worn out, it's extremely loud I know that much. Wish the car was as fast as the turbo made it sound haha.
well you can get a up pipe cheap and you want to do that regardless of how the car is but wile your doing that check the free play in the turbo.
How did you look for boost leaks? Did you actually pull your TMIC? When putting your TMIC back on did you use a gasket maker to ensure a good seal? Did you follow all of your hoses to make sure they are attached?
Never took the intercooler all the way off no, just made sure everything was tight as far as hoses, lines etc. And no there's no cel on.. I guess I'll replace the up-pipe and check the turbo for shaft play and take it from there. Thanks for the advice guys. Oh where's the best place to buy an up-pipe? Not looking for it to make an assload of power, just want the zip back that I know it should and used to have.
You could always try to pull the TMIC, it might seem tight but that doesn't mean there isn't a leak. You could always pull it. Double check all the hoses. Use a gasket maker and reinstall the TMIC. It is worth the $8 for the gasket maker and the 15 - 20 minutes to look everything over before you drop money on an uppipe.
are you the guy in hibbing? your car looks like the one up here. if you are lmk i just took the stock one off my 04 sti and you can have it for cheap. stock, but catless.
negative, that is Izzy, he has a turbo forester and a rally car. I have a blue 04 Sti. if you are available today you can come pick it up in Kitzville.
Oh yeah I'll be around all day, let me know how much you want and where exactly you're at (if I can't find you in kitzville I'm a dumbass haha)
214 3rd street 2 atv's and a blue subaru in the driveway, alley access between 3rd and 2nd streets. I will be here until 2:30-3:00 ish $25 idk what a fair price on a used part is? if it sounds good just stop by.
Well I finally got around to changing the up-pipe to the one I got from dmoo, it was the problem. Went from making 3psi to 14psi. Needless to say the car is fun to drive again haha it goes like a raped ape. Took 45 mins to change it so anyone who says they're hard to change is crazy.
It was just plugged(the cat) the stuff on the inside was loose cuz when I shook it you could hear it bouncing around. Not much to take pics of haha. The car has 180,000 miles and odds are it was the original one so thats why it was plugged, just from being old.
Yep I inspected the turbo since I had it off, everything seemed to look good to me. Fins looked good, no shaft play etc etc. I'm assuming it's been replaced at some point since the car has 180,000 miles.. I know it spools fast and spikes to 16 psi then drops back to roughly 14. Good enough for a winter beater haha.
i dont think i have ever head someone calling a 2002 wrx a winter beater LOL you must be a wealthy man
Haha wealthy no, I just spend my money wisely. I did specifically buy my wrx for the winter months but a beater its not, I looooove it. Just not as much as I love my other car.
