Car cuts out in first gear

**natepless** · 09-19-2012 01:28 AM

Ok so I have a 2002 wrx, I recently put a turbo back exhaust and uppipe on, new clutch and streetlight flywheel, had a shop do the clutch, when i got it back had an abs light, then about 25 miles later the speedometer stops working. Took it back to the shop I guess the driver front vehicle speed sensor is bad. I also changed the spark plugs and oil recently, but i've pretty much had it sitting because i've been waiting for my muffler to come in, crazy loud with out it. So I get the muffler today slap it on, car seems to be running great, drive to school 45 min drive all seems good, drive home all good. When I get home I pick my friend up and hes asking me about how the car drives, so I accelerate pretty fast in first to show him. I didnt launch the car was already going at maybe 10mph, but when i hit 3500 4000 rpms the car just kinda shut off jerked a little bit then when i stopped at a light or anywhere it idled very rough like it was going to shut off. I guess I shouldnt have accelerated like that but now im worried about what the heck is going on with the car. Was that a fuel cut off? Could it have been because of the abs or traction control? If i lost traction could it cut the fuel? Or is it because I dont have a tune? Could the car have over boosted and cut off? Kinda scared to take it for a tune if thats happening. Also, I have a cel from the getting rid of the cats, so not sure if I threw a cel during any of this.

Ok that was a lot so sorry for the long, and that I had so many questions(that might be noob questions). Any thoughts or help pointing me in the right direction of the problem would be great. Again thanks for any help, pretty much everyone ive talked too on these forums has been amazingly helpful and nice, thank you for that!

**MainFrame** · 09-19-2012 10:28 AM

You need to get the codes read and see what they are. Do you have a boost gauge or any way of telling how much boost you were/are getting? Traction control shouldn't have anything to do with it.. besides, 2002 WRX doesn't really have traction control. It is possible that it overboosted and hit fuel cut because you aren't tuned, but that wouldn't continue to cause problems like rough idle or anything. If anything, a tune would fix it. Most Subarus require a tune to run an aftermarket downpipe, your's does not, although I would highly recommend it.

**natepless** · 09-19-2012 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by MainFrame

You need to get the codes read and see what they are. Do you have a boost gauge or any way of telling how much boost you were/are getting? Traction control shouldn't have anything to do with it.. besides, 2002 WRX doesn't really have traction control. It is possible that it overboosted and hit fuel cut because you aren't tuned, but that wouldn't continue to cause problems like rough idle or anything. If anything, a tune would fix it. Most Subarus require a tune to run an aftermarket downpipe, your's does not, although I would highly recommend it.

Thanks for the response, any ways i did just take it to advanced they ran the codes and all that came up was the codes for the missing cats and a bad vehicle speed sensor. Well thing is it only rough idled for a little bit after maybe 30mins was fine again. If I dont accelerate hard in first runs great. I think I need a boost gauge to see what the heck is going on. I do plan on getting a tune soon, like you said im hoping it will fix the problem. Anyways just wanted to see how it runs but I guess i need to drive like a granny till I get the car tuned,lol.

**Mikie13** · 09-19-2012 01:05 PM

Do you have an intake?

**natepless** · 09-19-2012 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Mikie13

Do you have an intake?

No I have the stock intake, I did take it off to clean the maf sensor, with maf cleaner. Didnt touch it just took it out and sprayed it from different angles, let it dry then put it back. I did notice today tho that the spectre aire filter, didnt seem to fit in the stock air box very well. I tried to get the 2 tabs on the bottom half of the air box to go in but they absolutly wont with that filter, it seems too big, it doesnt sit down in the box, kinda sits on the top lip. I can flip the two latches shut but the 2 tabs wont go in also. Could this be an issue?

**MainFrame** · 09-19-2012 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by natepless

Could this be an issue?

I don't think so, but I would go ahead and get a regular paper replacement filter that fits properly. You don't want air not getting filtered because it doesn't fit right.

Did you check the gaps on the new spark plugs before you installed them? Improperly gapped plugs could be causing your problem, but if that were the case the car would probably be throwing misfire codes.

**Mikie13** · 09-19-2012 02:12 PM

Is the MAF reinstalled correctly? (as in facing the correct direction).

**natepless** · 09-19-2012 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mikie13

Is the MAF reinstalled correctly? (as in facing the correct direction).

I never took it out of the housing or piping, just sprayed it down from inside every thing with the long straw and maf cleaner. Could this be a vacuum leak issue or maybe it just needs tuned?

**natepless** · 09-19-2012 07:44 PM

HHHMMmmm well I think ill just take it to the good old stealership and see what they say.

**Ruh Roh** · 09-20-2012 06:26 AM

put a stock filter in the stock airbox, take MAF and clean it, replace speed sensor and get a tune then go from there

**SD_GR** · 09-20-2012 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by natepless

No I have the stock intake, I did take it off to clean the maf sensor, with maf cleaner. Didnt touch it just took it out and sprayed it from different angles, let it dry then put it back.

What does this mean? What is "it" that you didn't touch yet took out and cleaned? How did you take "it" out and clean it without touching "it?"

I did notice today tho that the spectre aire filter, didnt seem to fit in the stock air box very well. I tried to get the 2 tabs on the bottom half of the air box to go in but they absolutly wont with that filter, it seems too big, it doesnt sit down in the box, kinda sits on the top lip. I can flip the two latches shut but the 2 tabs wont go in also. Could this be an issue?

Yes.

There is no traction control.

If by "speed sensor" you mean the ABS disc, have the shop fix it.

If by "speed sensor" you mean the sensor on the gearbox that tells the ECU your speed, have the shop fix it.

If there are error codes for misfires suspect the light weight fly wheel.

If the car is over boosting and you don't have an MBC, suspect a boost reference problem. If you have fuel cut and you don't have an MBC, suspect FPR reference problem.

Fix the intake and use a filter that fits.

Clean the MAF itself and the intake since it's been run open.

If you don't have an MBC, don't get one. If you do, adjust it or remove it and replace the correct restrictor pill.

If the ECU is handling boost control, the headers are stock, and the intake is correct you don't need a tune.

If you've replaced the clutch, flywheel, air filter, up pipe, and down pipe with parts not made by Subaru I don't know how helpful a dealer might be. In this case I don't think calling them a "stealership" is entirely justified, since when they first sold it the car was running.

**natepless** · 09-20-2012 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by SD_GR

What does this mean? What is "it" that you didn't touch yet took out and cleaned? How did you take "it" out and clean it without touching "it?"

Yes.

There is no traction control.

If by "speed sensor" you mean the ABS disc, have the shop fix it.

If by "speed sensor" you mean the sensor on the gearbox that tells the ECU your speed, have the shop fix it.

If there are error codes for misfires suspect the light weight fly wheel.

If the car is over boosting and you don't have an MBC, suspect a boost reference problem. If you have fuel cut and you don't have an MBC, suspect FPR reference problem.

Fix the intake and use a filter that fits.

Clean the MAF itself and the intake since it's been run open.

If you don't have an MBC, don't get one. If you do, adjust it or remove it and replace the correct restrictor pill.

If the ECU is handling boost control, the headers are stock, and the intake is correct you don't need a tune.

If you've replaced the clutch, flywheel, air filter, up pipe, and down pipe with parts not made by Subaru I don't know how helpful a dealer might be. In this case I don't think calling them a "stealership" is entirely justified, since when they first sold it the car was running.

Ok so If you take the stock air system apart, if you look down the piping or tubing you can see the maf sensor, I just left it in the plastic pipe and sprayed it from in there. The shop is fixing the speed sensor, waiting on it. Yea no MBC. Anyways I did not get the car from the dealership, only called them the stealership because of past experiences with prices for parts.