*MAXXD* Shane's Impreza Turbo 2000AWD

[Saint AAI]

Right, finally got the car back after 15 weeks at Area 52. Something is not quite right with the car, but not sure exactly what. Its running lumpy and lean at idle and a little leaner than it was on boost so that needs investigating. Also my alarm isn't activated anymore so need to speak to Area52 to see if they disabled it. The DCCD is in and wired, but when set to lock and trying to reverse it feels like the brakes are on so thats another issue I need to raise with them. They had a look at my brakes while it was there and found two seized pistons on the front calipers, they were freed, but my brakes still feel poor so an upgrade is needed before any track days. Not happy with how the silicon inlet hose is sat, I'll get some pics up but its squashed up against the power steering fluid resevoir and doesn't look right at all. I gave them one to fit, but they told me it was the wrong one so I bought one of theirs. The one I gave them is not in the car so need to get that back from them. They are very helpful so I'm sure all my problems will be resolved over time, but I'm reluctant to give them the car back incase I don't see it for another 15 weeks.

[Saint AAI]

Had the car booked in again at Area52 to go on the rollers. Before it went in I had a look under the bonnet and found the vacuum hose that goes to the FPR was brittle and cracked at the end so I chopped it back and put it back on. It made things slightly better, but still looked lean on the gauge. The diff I've come to realise is working as normal, it felt like I had the brakes on only when steering at low speed with the diff locked, which is normal with the speed difference of the wheels, its trying to turn the front at the same speed as the rear. When at Area52 it proved the car was running lean and was getting bad detonation so they had to keep backing off when on the rollers. Fuel pressure was then upped until this stopped and the car is no longer running lean or detting. Problem is the car is now running 4bar fuel pressure on idle with the vacuum hose connected to the FPR, which is high, should be set to 3bar with the hose disconnected. Also boost is not stable, it peaks at 1.6bar, then drops to 1bar then rises again etc.. so basically its safe to drive, but I've been advised not to boot it until its had a full remap again. So I'm saving for a Simtek ECU as well as saving for the bodyshop.

[Saint AAI]

Done a few things on this to try and get it running better. Had the MAF completely fail on me so checked the ECU and had 3 error codes stored. MAF and Lambda sensor were 2 of them, which I knew about, and the last one was the knock sensor. Bought and fitted a new MAF, old one is covered in crap, no wonder it was running lean. I've got a new Lambda sensor which I'll have a go at fitting on my lunch break today. ECU has been reset after the new MAF and I dropped the fuel pressure back down to normal. When taking the vacuum hose off the inlet manifold that goes to the FPR I noticed that I had a small hole in the vacuum pipework on the actuator. This is probably why I'm boosting to 1.6bar. Took the car for a test run and it goes pretty well, peaks at 1.6 then drops to 1.5bar and holds fairly steady. AFR's are ok, but I've upped fuel pressure to 3.5bar above manifold just to try to keep det under control as with my knock sensor being knackered, it won't detect knock and retard the ignition timing. Also running 1.5-1.6bar on standard UK internals is asking for trouble and I would expect ringland failure to occur soon if I don't sort it, and I'm guessing it's over speeding the turbo at that boost. Car is pretty much running on the edge at the moment and is certainly the quickest it's ever been, but for how long? So plans are to get new pipework and restrictor pills put on the actuator, fit new Lambda sensor, buy and fit new knock sensor, set fuel pressure back to normal and then reset ECU. Car still needs a remap and I will swap the ECU for a Simtek, Syvecs or Hydra before that gets done, but I'm trying to buy a house at the mo so cash is tight.

[Ricky_Mitchell_Civic]

seen this the other day looks mint on the new rims.

[Saint AAI]

Cheers, not new rims though. Been on the car nearly 2 years.

[Ricky_Mitchell_Civic]

lol it only the second time iv seen it with then rims on. looking real good tho. need to arrange a photo shoot with my civic n your scooby.

[Saint AAI]

(09-03-2010 11:18 PM)Ricky_Mitchell_Civic Wrote:  lol it only the second time iv seen it with then rims on. looking real good tho. need to arrange a photo shoot with my civic n your scooby.

The bodywork on the Impreza is far too shit for a photoshoot lol, it's getting really tatty. Although I do need some recent pics taking regardless so if I'm about at a weekend sometime then I'm up for it.


Quick update:
Replaced about half of the vacuum hoses under the bonnet and put new T's in etc..., but should have looked how much I needed before ordering. I bought 3 metres which I thought would be enough and it isn't. So ordered another 9 metres and some more T's and Y's to finish that off. Managed to get the actuator pipework done and noticed the hose going to the FPR was split at the end again so replaced that. Car now runs so much better and boost control is now almost as it was. I thought that replacing the hoses would stop my overboost problem, but it hasn't. It doesn't go up and down anymore though, just boosts to 1.7bar now and then tails off slightly as revs rise. Fuelling looks ok, but still don't like running that much boost on a standard UK engine. It's pretty much ready for the rolling road day however so we will see how it runs on there. Still waiting for my new oils to come so will have that to do also. Maybe it will see Santa Pod this year, if it does and is running right, I'm pretty confident that the number 1 spot on the current leader board will be mine

[Saint AAI]

Not that I'm supposed to be spending money and didn't really have these in mind, but thought f**k it. My interior is tired anyway, as is rest of car, so bid and won these:

Link!

Not a bad price I don't think. Cheapest I could find them anywhere was around £550 each new and thats with plain black plastic backs and not including subframes. Plus I think the ones I bought include the rear seats trimmed to match, but not 100% as listing not that clear. Not sure if they are are good seat or not, but should be better than my current interior.

[Saint AAI]

Seats have arrived and they are ok, loads better than the standard ones. Ultimately want some Brides, but $$$ is stopping that so will have to make do. I was expecting them to be lighter, but they're not light at all. Will have to compare the difference with the standard ones when I swap them. I did get the back seats included and condition of everything is ok, not quite the "superb condition" they were advertised as. Few scratches on the back, small amount of wear on the drivers seat and need a clean. Still happy with them though so will get them chucked in this week and try and get some updated pictures. Car is off road again at the minute as tax has run out. Tried to renew, but then found out the MOT ran out last month as well so car is stuck at work for the time being. Also got a nail in my tyre so that needs repairing.

[OllieWestwood]

them seats are really nice, not a bad price considering what they cost new and what there made out of!

Get some pics up when there in mate