06 WRX running rich, back firing, and blowing black smoke

[Boosty X]

I got an 06 WRX several months back, my firs Suby ever, and am loving almost everything about it. It came with a few mods: HKS BOV, HKS TBE, triple gauge A-pillar pod, carbon fiber hood, and fiberglass trunk lid. The only problem I'm having is that the car runs rich and backfires. I also noticed a puff of black smoke from the exhaust during hard acceleration the other day. To my knowledge the ECU hasn't been tuned, but I can't be sure. Any help would be appreciated.

[mudferret]

1. If it's not tuned there's a very high likelihood you will destroy your engine.

2. If it does happen to be tuned, check for intake leaks pre and post turbo.

3. Potentially BOV related IF it turns out you're tuned.

Figure out whether you're tuned and assess the quality of the tune, otherwise your car is living on borrowed time, seriously.

[Boosty X]

I am thinking it's not tuned as I get the fuel cutout when I get on it while in 5th gear. How can I tell if it's been tuned without hooking up a programmer to it?

[SeattleJeremy]

I am thinking it's not tuned as I get the fuel cutout when I get on it while in 5th gear. How can I tell if it's been tuned without hooking up a programmer to it?

You can't tell whats on the computer unless you use a "programmer", as you put it. You can have the dealer look at it, but they are going to look down on you for having a turbo back exhaust, and likely charge you money to investigate.

Where are you located? You should take the car to a Subaru tuning specialist.

[lytlec]

You shouldn't really be getting on it in 5th gear either...

[SeattleJeremy]

You shouldn't really be getting on it in 5th gear either...

That wouldn't be a problem if the computer and engine where playing nice.

Mr. Boosty, did you receive the stock parts when you purchased the car? What's your budget? To fix this?
You're going to need to spend some money to fix this.

[teflon_jones]

You shouldn't be getting on the car at all until it's tuned. Drive it like a grandma unless you like replacing engines and turbos. Better yet park it until it gets tuned.

The TBE is bad enough to run without a tune, but that BOV is the icing on the cake. Your car is a timebomb without a tune.

[2011cobbwrx]

Seriously park ur car until it's tuned properly!!!! I hear the same car around my neighborhood so I know what u r talking about. With subaru's u have to tune for every little thing, to b safe. I just BLEW my oem clutch and replaced it with a ACT HD 6 Puck Sprung 540TQ Clutch Kit and a lightweight Aluminium FIDANZA flywheel. Really harsh but need it for the track and i have 303 WHP 327 WTQ. So I wanna B safe. I need fmic and fuel pump and injectors next. But I need brakes and coilovers too. Hum which should I get first. Probably coilovers. Power is good for now. Sorry I own a 2011 WRX base 4 door NO WING

[Boosty X]

Thanks for all the replies. Unfourtanetly I can't just park it, it's the only thing I have to drive at the moment. I don't really beat on her either, since noticing the fuel cutout. I didn't receive any of the stock parts when I bought her. I do plan on buying a tuner, probly Cobb Accessport, just waiting on the money to get here.

[SeattleJeremy]

Make sure to follow the guidelines described in the [map notes]. Stage 2 91 oct or Stage 2 93 oct - [map notes]
cobb . wrx accessport . map listing

Please note that the map notes says to use the "STOCK INTAKE". The BOV/BPV is part of the intake system.

[Boosty X]

Cool, thx.

[teflon_jones]

Seriously park ur car until it's tuned properly!!!! I hear the same car around my neighborhood so I know what u r talking about. With subaru's u have to tune for every little thing, to b safe. I just BLEW my oem clutch and replaced it with a ACT HD 6 Puck Sprung 540TQ Clutch Kit and a lightweight Aluminium FIDANZA flywheel. Really harsh but need it for the track and i have 303 WHP 327 WTQ. So I wanna B safe. I need fmic and fuel pump and injectors next. But I need brakes and coilovers too. Hum which should I get first. Probably coilovers. Power is good for now. Sorry I own a 2011 WRX base 4 door NO WING

No offense, but I think you could benefit from learning about how to properly mod these cars too. I say this because there's no reason you should be running that clutch on your car and there's no need for the FMIC, fuel pump, or injectors unless you already have a bigger turbo. The lightweight flywheel is questionable at best.

Make sure to follow the guidelines described in the [map notes]. Stage 2 91 oct or Stage 2 93 oct - [map notes]
cobb . wrx accessport . map listing

Please note that the map notes says to use the "STOCK INTAKE". The BOV/BPV is part of the intake system.

Yes, please pay attention to this or you'll just be back here complaining your Cobb tune isn't working. You need to either buy a stock airbox or one of the one they have tunes for. And you need to replace that BOV with a stock BPV.

[mudferret]

ACT HD 6 Puck Sprung 540TQ Clutch Kit

Do you have an upgraded gear set? The OEM 5 speed tends to blow up with a very aggressive clutch. I haven't heard of any empirical data regarding the 09+ 5 speeds strength, only "we think, it might be stronger....maybe"

[2011cobbwrx]

Well the only thing that could hold over 420 ft lb at the crank so i needed a more aggressive and more holding power. Look at my OEM clutch after 2 weeks on my Stage 3 ProTuned. So to be safe I wanted it to hold more power and I didnt have $2000+ dollars to spend on a double disk exedy or ACT clutch that hold 600+ TQ, thats next for me when I do a Transmission build. Front mount cause you get colder air and im road and auto crossing. NOT RALLYING!!! So why would I want a tmic instead of WAY COOLER AIR and IM getting a BLACK carbon fiber hood with vents but no intercooler scoop cause I will have a 2.5in FMIC. And fuel pump and injectors to accommodate the colder air and have 340-360whp and 360-380wtq
THAT'S WHY!!!!
To the other guy YOU NEED a COBB Access Port to have a good reliable tune and it's a really cool thing to. You can tune your own car if you know what you are doing. But if you go to a COBB authorized tuner then you can get a PRO TUNE to what ever mods you currently have. So buy the COBB AC Port and take your car babying it the whole way and get a Pro Tune, they will use your COBB ac Port and tune your car on the dyno but if you plan on doing anything to the car soon do it now then take it in to get a Pro Tune cause you will have to get another with every good mod or change. Depends on what it is.
Pro Tune is the best and it tunes EXACTLY to what mods r ON the car and is precisely tuned. COBB MAPS r good for stage 1 and 2. If you are past a TBE and cold air intake, THEN A PROTUNE IS BEST!!!!

SO when u do buy your COBB you can take it and get a PROTUNE and you will B amazed how much better and faster your car is. Your looking at $1000 but it's worth it and you wanna b SAFE. SUBARU'S R SENSITIVE!!!!!

[2011cobbwrx]

sorry unless u go stand alone like buying a whole NEW ECU. ECUTEC or ECUTEK make one AEM make one but COBB is a good one thats what I have and like 90% of Subaru owners. If ur gonna make over 400 WHP then I would buy a stand alone not a piggy back for the ecu. Forgot to mention that before