I have an 02 WRX.
Mod list: https://www.i-club.com/forums/ongoing-projects-31/my-black-02-wrx-85494/

Problem: My CEL has been going on and off alot lately.

1st time: Coming home from SubyDude on 237. I was in 5th WOT and then the car suddenly jumped (and made a sound as if it were an auto downshifting for acceleration) and the CEL immediately went on. It remained on, I got home, turned the car off, and waited a couple hours. I thought it might go away if I just let it sit for a while. Turns out it didn't go off (I started it a couple hours later). Later that night (about 7pm), I realized that I needed something from work. I went to work, chatted with a co-worker, got the stuff, and left. I then noticed it was gone.... weird. This was about 4-5 hours after it happened.
Note: Engine was warmed up, and had been running for a while already.

2nd time: Driving to get breakfast. Was in 3rd, not sure if it was WOT, but pretty close atleast. Same thing happened, except for the downshift noise.... car jumped, CEL flashed on. I tried the same thing as above to get it to go away, but didn't work again. I then had to goto work for the day. I did and when I was leaving, noticed that the CEL went away again.

Right now, my solution if it happens again is to goto work and spend some time there and hope it's fine when I get back out.

Do any of you know what it might be?

Also, just this morning (1/31/05), my car started to smell like gas inside. My gas light is going to go on soon, and I have 200 miles on this tank. I normally get around 250 so that not too much of a difference but even when someone opened my door, they commented on the gassy smell. It's much worse when the heater is on also.

Anyone know anything I could check or do? My gas cap is tight.....
Should I be worried?

 

First, look into this: https://www.i-club.com/forums/engine-power-ej20t-pre-2006-wrx-jdm-60/tsb-fuel-smell-cold-weather-2002-wrx-43929/

Call the dealer and give them your VIN to find out if your car might have this issue. Then, go get the CEL pulled. Can't diagnose what caused a CEL without knowing what it is. But, based on the description, sounds like a severe misfire. How old are your plugs?

 

My engine is misfiring (jumps and CEL flashes on) so what do I need to do?

Do you think a good tune will take care of it?

More info on problem: https://www.i-club.com/forums/showth...&highlight=CEL

 

if the cel is flashing i thinkyou might have a bigger problem. But if you have a 04 or 05(as i do) i think that the ecu is what caused it with its open loop delay. I had that happen to my totally stock car. Then i got a tune and no problems to date. Cars fast too.

 

i have a feeling he has a bad coil somewhere... especially since its happening at wot or close

get your code pulled for now that should have been automatic
edgar,

 

ibebadcoil
edgar,

 

The car is an 02.... Im gonna get an OBD II scanner to pull the code the next time this happens. whenever I arrive somewhere that has one, the CEL has gone away.

 

I keep on trying to but whenever I get over somewhere with an OBD II scanner, the light has turned off so they can't pull it. I'm considering dropping $100 on a scanner and just keeping it with me to pull the code once it comes up again.

 

Plugs are pretty recent. Only bought the car about 4 months ago and he had just had them replaced. Let me try to find the paperwork with a date.

 

do you have a kragons or autozone were you live? if so they rent them

edgar,

 

Any idea how much $?

I called Kragens earlier but they said that they didn't have any.

Edit: Just called another Kragens and they also don't have any for rent, just for sale.

 

Well, I bought a scanner and pulled the code.

P0244 - Turbocharger Wastegate Soleniod A Range/Performance

Anyone have any suggestions on what I can/should do about this?

 

I bought a scanner and pulled the code.

P0244 - Turbocharger Wastegate Soleniod A Range/Performance

Anyone have any suggestions on what I can/should do about this?

 

Replace the turbo. The wastegate is built in.

If you want to keep things relatively cheap, check into deadbolt turbos. They will buy your broken core and send you a new or refurbished one. They can also port and polish, as well as coat the turbo.

As for what you should do, replace it soon. If the wastegate is broken you will tend to overboost and spike. This is a good way to ruin an engine.

 

Do you think that the wastegate isn't opening, and it could just be a spring? Or maybe just porting it will work? Are you sure I need a whole new turbo?

If I do, then I'd want a bigger one which means I would need new injectors and a fuel pump...