Do you trust aftermarket coil packs? If so, which ones? I have an 08 WRX that has a bit of a stutter under load. I have probably put on 20k miles since the plugs were replaced, but that was probably 5-6 years ago. The car sat a lot over the last 2-3 years. I think I have less than 1k on in the last 12 months. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to do coil packs while I'm in there. Or do I just take a loan out and get factory ones?
I would start with plugs before doing coil packs. What plugs and gap did you use? What fuel are you running?
Plugs (grade, gap, etc) Swap packs side to side to confirm if it's certain packs Oem only for subaru, not sure why it's like that but aftermarket ones have always given me pain on my subarus but never on kias and Volkswagens
I’d go with coil packs from the dealer with mnsubaru discount so it doesn’t sting as bad if you do need them.
I don't want to take it apart and then do it again because of packs. I'll probably just pony up and buy a new set. I use mostly Kwik Trip premium because it's right down the street. And I get a free gas station burger every 15 visits...
My bug was doing this a few years ago. I replaced plugs and 1 coil pack and tried to figure it out myself but couldnt. I took it to jm and they discovered that all but the 1 coil pack were failing. My bet is you need new coil packs.
I will say this... I do appreciate the parts department at Morries. I got 4 plugs and coil packs under $500.
Ask for Erik when you call Morries Minnetonka Subaru Parts. He has taken care of all my parts needs for so many years it's hard to remember.
I guess I have to wait for these now... https://iwireusa.com/collections/3-pin-replacement-plugs/products/black-and-white-coil-pack-plug-kit
Ish and ish. I never understood why the coil packs had plastic harnesses. I mean, I get it, but they see so much heat and stuff they always fail.(eventually)
3 out of 4 were splitting. New plugs and coil packs are in. Just waiting on the new connector. Should be here by next weekend. Paid for a 30+ piece kit but probably only need 1 piece. But I don't want to not have them... New vs Old
FOR FREE: 1 probably for sure maybe working coil pack and 3 really questionable ones... None throw a CEL code. I know what I got here. Free is my firm price.
Might wanna reconsider using Kwik Trip premium. Almost all of their premium is ethanol free now. Was gonna copy/paste a link to an article JM posted a few years ago about running ethanol vs non-oxy and why you shouldn't run non-oxy in a turbo car but of course I can't find it now. Kinda sucks because finding 91 or better with 10% ethanol in it is getting harder and harder for some reason.
I've heard pros and cons for this. Pro if you let it sit, con if you run it. I don't run it hard if at all... and it does sit a lot. I know with small engines, that they don't do well sitting with ethanol in the lines.
For the little I drive, this shouldn't matter. Also, I can siphon the gas and run the mower if I need...
Now that we are finally staying in St Cloud, I have more Kwik Trips (and less BPs) convenient to me now. I still refuse to go to a Speedway (I don't have a bulletproof vest) and I will only go to Holiday for a car wash or a beverage. I thought it was mandated in Minnesota that all fuel contain 10% ethanol? It used to be that the non-oxy fuel was labeled for small engine or off-road use only. Now I am seeing "premium" labeled as containing no ethanol and it looks like mid-grade at Kwik Trip (88, I believe) is E15. Last time I was fueling the Escape I decided to look in the filler door as it was more interesting than the "show" on the pump and low and behold, it is labeled for "E0-15". We've owned it for almost 10 years now and this is the first I discover that it can run E15. Is this just a Kwik Trip thing or is it happening at other branded stations too? Oh, and by the way, I still haven't found an automated touch-free car wash I like in St Cloud.
In Elk River most of the gas stations only have 91 non-oxy as if 91 premium cars are rare or something BUT we now have a VP Racing gas station that I wanna check out! In St. Cloud 5 years ago I only went to Sok's car wash in Sauk Rapids. the touchless car washes up there suck. Mister was okay but was always out parking lot busy.
Just drove by there today and from a distance it was pretty exciting. As I got closer it just looked like a normal station with a cool paint job. Didn't have a chance to stop, tho.
After Duck, Duck, Going, apparently Minnesota has an exemption for ethanol content for premium fuel and for fuel designated for off-road vehicles. I learn something new every day.
I was quite surprised to find that South Dakota has practically zero premium with ethanol in it, even in Sioux Falls. Kinda hard to believe since there's basically nothing there other than farm land... Last time we went out there in the WRX I had to find a place that had E85, which also was stupidly hard to find, and pump about 2 gallons of that in, then top off the rest with 91 non-oxy. You could definitely smell it in the exhaust after and it actually seemed to run noticeably better than normal. This whole not putting ethanol in premium anymore thing is so puzzling to me.
Hello fellow DDG user. I did this strategy up in Two Harbors this past weekend at Kwik Trip. Felt kinda dumb, but it worked well.
And it's fixed. The new connector was super easy to install. I bought the whole replacement kit for $50... used two parts. The car runs so much better now. Doesn't hesitate getting into boost. Coming back down to idle is smoother.
I did ask if there was a fix from Subaru, the answer is no. Full ****ed... requires an engine harness purchase. I did find iWire online and ordered immediately. A week later, I didn't spend $1-2k on a harness. Just $50. I think it's worth it's weight in gold. I did suggest Morrie's stock this kit. I would have paid more to run get it and get the car back on the road versus waiting a week. https://iwireusa.com/collections/3-pin-replacement-plugs/products/black-and-white-coil-pack-plug-kit $600 later, new plugs, new COPs, and harness fixed. Car drive better than it has in years. Last note... iWire actually hand wrote "thank you" on a card envelope they put in the box. Who does that anymore? It wasn't an entire love letter, but Thanks was hand written.
Everything that I’ve seen with iwire has been solid! They were highlighted on an episode of “Buck Yeah” with Bucky Lasek a few times. The owner has a pretty sweet 3.0L build
I filled up the Escape again today (87) and more carefully read the stickers on the pump. The non-oxy premium (91) is in fact labeled that it is only for off-road vehicles or small engine use. So if your car cannot use E85, or E15 (the other two choices on the pump), you have only one choice at this Kwik Trip...the 87 octane with 10% ethanol. Seriously?
When my choices are ping or breaking the law the choice is obvious my local holiday also has "classic/collector" cars iirc on the sticker, only 5 more years until the WRX can have collector plates.
I'd like to see somebody enforce that "rule" someday. It's not like there's dye in it like off-road diesel.
