Friends WRX has $2000 worth of damage due to CAI & BOV...

**nolimitbodnar** · 03-02-2004 12:30 AM

Originally posted by YOLA
What is a dremel? Now ive beenm working on it a few times today, trying to get that thing off and its still on tighter than a mofo! More ideas anyone?

It's a little tool that can do a lot of stuff...

http://www.dremel.com/html/home_fr.html

I recommend you get one if you do a lot of modding on your car or if you do any kind of home improvement stuff, it comes in pretty handy.

**GTIWRX** · 03-02-2004 02:05 PM

i used the dremel method!!!

**Khryz** · 03-02-2004 03:47 PM

A'ight. One of my best friends with a 03 WRX has a Turbo XS Stealth-back exhaust with Titanium muffler; AEM CAI, and TXS Type RFL BOV.

I've been telling him from the start that the CAI and BOV are bad for his car due to the Mass Air sensors you guys have or something - not 100% sure on why they are bad. I just know the CAI is making the car run lean and the BOV is making it run rich. So basically the ECU is all on crack or something.

He's had a CEL for awhile now - since he put his exhaust on about 2 months ago. He goes to the dealer today and they estimate $2000 worth of damage to the Mass Air sensor + a "bad" CAT + installation/repair/etc.

My question is .. can he go after AEM or TXS because their products made his WRX get damaged like that? I assume this has happened before. He can't drive it now because he doesn't have the money to fix it. Bummer. Spring is right around the corner too. I'll post more information about his case once I get it.

Any comments?

Thank you for your time.

- Chris.

**happasaiyan** · 03-02-2004 04:01 PM

shouldnt be that much. tell him to put the stock intake back on and get a new maf sensor (300-400 bucks maybe?) and then to just get a new downpipe (400 bucks or so, no more CEL) (dont worry about cats). i think his dealership is just messing with him though...thats just my opinion, though.

**MJU1983** · 03-02-2004 04:03 PM

Well,
When modifying a car you have to use caution and understand what you are doing. You cannot just start installing parts without a clue and expect when something fails to go blame someone else.

As far as parts go. I don’t see how that adds up to ~$2000.

MAFs from the dealer are ~$300 and people are giving used exhausts away.

Perhaps a further explanation, this time in English would help.

-Mike

**zoophagy** · 03-02-2004 04:08 PM

First of all, he will get nothing from either AEM or TurboXS.

Second of all, why did he go to the dealer? Was it simply because of the CEL? You mentioned no other problems besides that. My guess would be that the CEL is a P0420 (cat inefficiency), which would be caused by the TurboXS exhaust. I think the dealer is simply trying to screw him, at least on the "bad cat" part of the diagnosis. A CEL fix is all he needs to fix the problem. Catalytic convertor problems (if you want to call it a problem) will not affect the way in which the car runs.

The AEM might also be throwing a code. I know that certain CAIs do, although I am not completely sure that this one would. If this is the problem, just return it to stock.

The BOV will make the car run like sh*t, but it shouldn't really hurt anything or cause a CEL.

So my diagnosis would be that the dealer is trying to rip your friend off. Tell him to go to Autozone or pick up an OBDII scanner and get the code pulled if it is only the CEL. That'll tell him what the problem is.

He could also put the stock parts back on and go to a different dealer.

**1wrx4u2c** · 03-02-2004 04:17 PM

So im kind of scared now I have a txs rfl bov and I was wondering if they are bad for the engine? I also took the intake silencer off and have a cat-back exhaust. I have noticed that I blow a little smoke not sure if this is bad though. It only happens at high RPM
so any opinions
Thanks,
Dennis

**Khryz** · 03-02-2004 04:25 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Keep 'em coming. I'll be sure to show my friend this thread.

**Doodlebug** · 03-02-2004 04:55 PM

Anyone know which Bov is louder, the forge or the gfb set at 100% atmospheric mode? Any sound clips?

oh and btw I did search.

**fanker** · 03-02-2004 06:17 PM

you can get the maf from subaruparts.com for less than what the dealer sells it for. i agree with all the other guys...dealership is ripping your friend off.

**CKxx** · 03-02-2004 07:05 PM

I think MJU summed it up in saying not to do things when you are unaware of what it is you are doing/affecting. If you dont know anything, don't pretend as though you do and youll be set.

**Flex** · 03-02-2004 07:15 PM

2000. Need to recoop their losses.

In reailty thats really only like 700 tops, but dealers will be dealers.

**hippy78** · 03-02-2004 07:16 PM

So basically the ECU is all on crack or something.

The quote above leads me to think that there is really no damage and the intake's just screwin with how the car drives. $2000 is a lot of money. What does subaru say is wrong with the car? What are the symptoms? If they are just gonna put the exhaust and intake back to stock, there is no reason to pay that money. If the car just doesn't run, or runs like crap(jerking losing power or stalling), changing the intake back to stock might fix the problem. This would cost less then $300 if he doesn't still have the parts. If there is damage(engine or turbo), he will obviously have to pay to get it fixed, and might just learn more then if the intake is just screwin with the maf.

peace

**dcraw6782** · 03-02-2004 09:18 PM

If he needs to replace his cats, I have my old ones sitting around - shoot me a PM, and i will get them to him for a hell of a lot less than 2 grand...............
- Darwin
PS - dealers will try and screw you - i had one quote me 350 bucks for a new set of stock rotors all around