Ok I may have blow a pre-cat on the SVX yesterday (I had an exhaust leak before a slight one) and now need to figure out what to do.
I haven't gotten under the car yet to check it out so I'm not sure what's exactly the problem. If it needs to get the pre-cat replaced, I'm thinking of having 2 straight pipes made to replace them instead of spending $345 for the part. If it's just a bolt then I'll bolt it up.
They are only the pre-cats, which are for cold/startup cataylst, the regular cat is after that. So as long as you bring your car warmed up to the emissions test, it would be fine. They don't emissions test my car either way.
The layout is this though engine->exhaustmanifold->pre-cat->Y-pipe/cat->pipe->muffler->tip Each header has it's own pre-cat before it Ys together @ the cat.
Are there any wires on the pre cat? If so, there may be a status signal that the ECU needs in order to switch engine parameters from warmup cycle to normal, etc. If not, then it's just a heat sink device and you'll have a longer heatup cycle on the catalyst as the only downside.
if you know a shop personally and have cash you can probably do the straightpipe bit. otherwise it won't happen unless you have welding skills yourself.
the other serious consideration you should make is scavenging exhaust bits from a junkyard SVX, but I bet those are hard to find considering the sales numbers.
OBD2 was mandated in 1997 IIRC, so I doubt the SVX was affected now that I think about it. That may have been why they made 1997 the last year, in fact.
In '93 they went to OBDI IIRC that is why the '92s are faster than the other years, or so I've been told. There are only O2 sensors that go into the pipe just before the pre-cats. So I would have them build in a socket for the O2 sensors as well. Would that work?
I can only go by the pictures in the factory service manuals and the ones @ subaruparts.com in the SVX online catalog. I haven't gotten under there to see if it's as simple as a bolt broken or if it's actually the cat too. I did find a place in Trenton mufflex that will fab up a pipe for me with the flanges on it etc. So that is a good sign, they can't charge more than maybe $100 for it I'd think.
Well if you have to come down to Trenton, look me up and we can grab a bite - I'm less than 10 minutes away. Only catch is that after tomorrow I'm out of town until the 26th.
3rd time. I have a bad seat where the probe threads into the [non-permissible content removed] on the Vishnu uppipe. Shiv sent me a spacer to go onto the probe but I fumbled while putting the spacer/probe back in the hole and lost the spacer somewhere (not in the uppipe though...). I went ahead and tightened the probe back up again anyway. It should hold for awhile. Meantime I went and got a 12x120mm (the 130mm is too long, already tried)bolt and nut. I also picked up a resistor from Radio Shack. The EGT probe monitors the exhaust gas temp so the precat doesn't get too hot and disintegrate, throwing debris into the turbo. The Vishnu uppipe does away w/the precat. The probe just basically fills the hole. I mean, it still monitors temp, sending its signal to the ECU but there's no precat to protect.
Anyhow, the bolt gets threaded into the [non-permissible content removed] and the nut comes down the bolt and tightens it to the uppipe. The resistor goes into the ECU to fool it. I don't want a 4th time of the EGT probe popping out. This procedure has been documented over on the i-club several times. It was done because folks were having the same problem as I.
Saga continues...After coming out of the movies last night I discovered someone had scraped the right front corner of my plastic bumper. There's about a 4x4" tag of green paint and two fairly deep horizontal gouges. I thought about just having it sanded and buffed out but I don't feel confident that it will ever be quite the same. So...I called Carter Subaru and got a new bumper cover for $160. It's in the back of my wagon now. The drawback is that I have to get it painted. There's a gentleman that does Subiegal's painting and comes highly recommended. Turns out he's right near where I work. It will probably cost me about $300 but I haven't talked to him yet, so I don't know for sure. My insurance deductible is $500 (of course!)
Are you sure that your insurance deductible is $500? I don't know how they do it in WA, but down here (TX) a lot of people have Uninsured motorist property damage coverage that carries an automatic $250 deduc. If the person that hit you left the scene, this would be one of those types of claims and you would have the lower deduc. More importantly it would also be a not-at-fault accident claim. I happen to sell and service insurance so we see this multiple times every day.
Lost a spacer? That'll turn into a rattle 3 years from now. ;-)
Your insurance deductible is usually the exact cost of the average repair! It's Murphy's Law.
Yeah, that would fall under Comprehensive, not Collision Insurance, so do check. But a small claim may not be worth it - your rates will go up for 3 full years.
I agree, an insurance claim may not be worth it (this time..).
I've been researching the EGT probe dealie a lot recently. It seems that several mfgs of aftermarket uppipes have a EGT [non-permissible content removed] that doesn't seat well w/the stock EGT probe, causing the probe to work itself loose, finally popping out. One guy had this happen 10x's w/his Perrin uppipe. Perrin now makes an uppipe w/o the [non-permissible content removed] and supplies a 2.2ohm resistor to fool the ECU with. Interestingly, the EGT probe didn't exist on the previous generation Impreza (not sure if it's on the new ones w/2.5 motor). It was incorporated into the WRX's uppipe to monitor high exhaust temps that might damage the precat. If the temps get too high, the probe sends the signal to the ECU which in turn puts the WRX in limp-mode. An aftermarket uppipe does away w/the precat. Another problem with the probe popping out is that over time it gets weaker, running the risk of breaking the tip off and having it sucked up into the turbo possibly damaging one of the turbo blades. The 2.2 ohm resistor sends the signal to the ECU that the exhaust gas temp is about 1400c which is in the safe range. I will be getting a real EGT probe w/an EGT gauge in the near future. The probe will be tapped in elsewhere.
I will be doing the bolt in the [non-permissible content removed] and resistor mod this weekend.
I know, I crack-up every time I type it! I haven't heard a problem w/Godspeed or STi uppipes but have heard w/Vishnu & Perrin.
I have the heatshield that's around the turbo off now so it's easier to get to the uppipe b-hole (tee hee) and probe (ok...that's almost as bad, LOL). Anyhow, I'll do the bolt to plug the hole and resistor to the ECU this weekend.
Looks like it is the flanges from the ends of the 1st cats that are rusted and leaking where they go into the 2nd cat/Y pipe. My shop is gonna cut the pipes and weld in a new set of flanges for me. But unfortunately they can't do it til the end of next week. Oh well... at least it will be cheap.
I didn't want to blow $ on it. Cause next year we're gonna elinate the 2nd cat which is the Y-pipe and just have each exhaust manifold go into the cats that are there (or replace them with hi-flow ones) and then have 2 distinct pipes lead back to 2 mufflers in place of the stock setup.
regarding aftermarket power upgrades. Check out the pic they used for the article! Thought it was funny since the title referred to Civics pumpin' up or something like that. :-)
Well looks like this week I'll be getting or doing the following on the SVX:
o Hella Dual Trumpet Air Horns o 30% or 35% tint on the side and rear windows o FMATFC- Front Mounted ATF Cooler o ATF External Filter o Exhaust leak fixed o Possibly ATF temp guage
I started a discussion in N&V a couple of months ago, Stars, Cars, and Movie/TV Trivia, that was kind of fun. Unfortunately, looks like it's been archived.
So I emailed Liberty Subaru for a quote on the front strut tower bar and the 18mm rear sway bar. They tell me Subaru "only makes a 13mm bar", and that they "checked with their warehouse" which "said the same thing".
Comments ?
Isn't the 18mm bar available for the Impreza since forever ?
I was under the impression that juice had bought his from Liberty Subaru for a very competitive price, which is why I contacted them. My local dealer can source them for me, but they price them as if they're gold plated. I'd prefer to go through a dealer so that I can use my Subaru bucks, although neither of these goodies is so expensive that I'd have to go that way...
Comments
I haven't gotten under the car yet to check it out so I'm not sure what's exactly the problem. If it needs to get the pre-cat replaced, I'm thinking of having 2 straight pipes made to replace them instead of spending $345 for the part. If it's just a bolt then I'll bolt it up.
Any thoughts on getting the straight pipes made?
-mike
engine -> headers -> cat -> pipe -> muffler -> tip?
A straight pipe is usually when they put a single pipe to replace the pipe -> muffler -> tip.
You probably need headers. I could be way off, or the SVX could be unique.
-juice
Bob
The layout is this though
engine->exhaustmanifold->pre-cat->Y-pipe/cat->pipe->muffler->tip
Each header has it's own pre-cat before it Ys together @ the cat.
-mike
I'm sure you could go without the pre-cat, if that's the case.
-juice
Are there any wires on the pre cat? If so, there may be a status signal that the ECU needs in order to switch engine parameters from warmup cycle to normal, etc. If not, then it's just a heat sink device and you'll have a longer heatup cycle on the catalyst as the only downside.
IdahoDoug
Yours may be pre-ODB2, in fact I hope it is for your sake.
-juice
if you know a shop personally and have cash you can probably do the straightpipe bit. otherwise it won't happen unless you have welding skills yourself.
the other serious consideration you should make is scavenging exhaust bits from a junkyard SVX, but I bet those are hard to find considering the sales numbers.
-Colin
There are SVX links here. It would probably be a good source for parts and SVX-specific info.
Bob
OBD2 was mandated in 1997 IIRC, so I doubt the SVX was affected now that I think about it. That may have been why they made 1997 the last year, in fact.
-juice
-mike
I'll defer, this is not at all my area of knowledge.
-juice
-mike
Ed
Anyhow, the bolt gets threaded into the [non-permissible content removed] and the nut comes down the bolt and tightens it to the uppipe. The resistor goes into the ECU to fool it. I don't want a 4th time of the EGT probe popping out. This procedure has been documented over on the i-club several times. It was done because folks were having the same problem as I.
Saga continues...After coming out of the movies last night I discovered someone had scraped the right front corner of my plastic bumper. There's about a 4x4" tag of green paint and two fairly deep horizontal gouges. I thought about just having it sanded and buffed out but I don't feel confident that it will ever be quite the same. So...I called Carter Subaru and got a new bumper cover for $160. It's in the back of my wagon now. The drawback is that I have to get it painted. There's a gentleman that does Subiegal's painting and comes highly recommended. Turns out he's right near where I work. It will probably cost me about $300 but I haven't talked to him yet, so I don't know for sure. My insurance deductible is $500 (of course!)
Yesterday wasn't the best time I've had!
Stephen
Ouch! I hear and feel your pain. Think of it this way -- at least it was just the bumper and not a side panel.
Ken
Stephen
Hope this gives you some ideas...
Seth
Stephen
Your insurance deductible is usually the exact cost of the average repair! It's Murphy's Law.
Yeah, that would fall under Comprehensive, not Collision Insurance, so do check. But a small claim may not be worth it - your rates will go up for 3 full years.
-juice
I've been researching the EGT probe dealie a lot recently. It seems that several mfgs of aftermarket uppipes have a EGT [non-permissible content removed] that doesn't seat well w/the stock EGT probe, causing the probe to work itself loose, finally popping out. One guy had this happen 10x's w/his Perrin uppipe. Perrin now makes an uppipe w/o the [non-permissible content removed] and supplies a 2.2ohm resistor to fool the ECU with. Interestingly, the EGT probe didn't exist on the previous generation Impreza (not sure if it's on the new ones w/2.5 motor). It was incorporated into the WRX's uppipe to monitor high exhaust temps that might damage the precat. If the temps get too high, the probe sends the signal to the ECU which in turn puts the WRX in limp-mode. An aftermarket uppipe does away w/the precat. Another problem with the probe popping out is that over time it gets weaker, running the risk of breaking the tip off and having it sucked up into the turbo possibly damaging one of the turbo blades. The 2.2 ohm resistor sends the signal to the ECU that the exhaust gas temp is about 1400c which is in the safe range. I will be getting a real EGT probe w/an EGT gauge in the near future. The probe will be tapped in elsewhere.
I will be doing the bolt in the [non-permissible content removed] and resistor mod this weekend.
Stephen
Hey, I'm a poet, and I didn't even know it!
-juice
Is this a problem in most aftermarket uppipes, or just a few? Ever happen in an STi uppipe?
-Dennis
I have the heatshield that's around the turbo off now so it's easier to get to the uppipe b-hole (tee hee) and probe (ok...that's almost as bad, LOL). Anyhow, I'll do the bolt to plug the hole and resistor to the ECU this weekend.
Totally Beavis in Seattle,
Stephen
-mike
Stephen
-mike
-juice
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002-09-18-compacts_x.htm
Stephen
-Dennis
Stephen
-juice
o Hella Dual Trumpet Air Horns
o 30% or 35% tint on the side and rear windows
o FMATFC- Front Mounted ATF Cooler
o ATF External Filter
o Exhaust leak fixed
o Possibly ATF temp guage
-mike
-juice
Tint is a special deal @ $50
The ATF Cooler is $50
Exhaust leak unsure, but ~$100 hopefully
ATF Filter ~$50
My buddy will probably install the atf cooler and filter for like $50 so ~$300
-mike
You sure about that ATF cooler? Is it a universal one?
-juice
-mike
-mike
-juice
-mike
Comments ?
Isn't the 18mm bar available for the Impreza since forever ?
Thanks in advance,
-brianV
yes, but not as a stock part in the US. the 18mm and 20mm rear bars that fit your Forester come from Japanese-market Imprezas.
so you need to find a dealer that knows not to look at the Forester's part lists...
-Colin
I was under the impression that juice had bought his from Liberty Subaru for a very competitive price, which is why I contacted them. My local dealer can source them for me, but they price them as if they're gold plated. I'd prefer to go through a dealer so that I can use my Subaru bucks, although neither of these goodies is so expensive that I'd have to go that way...
Pardon my ramblings... thanks again.
The bars are made by FHI and I'd be pretty sure mike could fix you up.
Darlene (from what was QSubaru) got me the sways. Part numbers came from Ken IIRC. I ordered other stuff, for our Legacy, from Liberty.
-juice
http://www.subaruwrxparts.com/per-gc8.html
-Dennis
-juice