This was posted over on nasioc and I am passing on the info:
I just learned from my regional SOA rep that Subaru of America has just received their updated ECM flash from SoJ for the USDM STi to combat the detonation problem.
Customers will need to leave their car with the dealer while their ECMs are sent to Subaru for reprogramming. There is an expected 4-6 day turnaround time.
As soon as more flash units become available from Subaru, this will be a dealership-level flash service.
Let your dealer know IF you are experiencing detonation (NOT ALL CARS EXHIBIT IT!), and they will help you resolve the issue after testing and verification. If they aren't already up to speed on the issue, have them contact their regional rep for more information.
It may take some time for information to disseminate and to arrange scheduling through your dealer. PLEASE BE PATIENT through this process, this is not a recall so you will have to go through the full dealership testing, work order, and reporting process. There is an order in which this process must happen, please give your local dealerships the benefit of the doubt on this and allow the SOA reporting and resolution (flash) process to work as it should.
Besides, the STi got 2004 car of the year award from Road & Track (beating out a Porsche GT3, BMW, RX8, 350Z, etc.) and numerous other best in class awards from just about every magazine I've read.
For $32K it is a THE bargain of the century. If you're looking for a soft comfy ride, look elsewhere -- this is NO luxury performance sedan.
It is a real problem with early 2004 STis. My 03/03 build was so early that Subaru didn't have the fix last year. I am just going into the dealer Monday to get the refresh. The pinging problem is temperature dependent. I may not be able to demonstrate it as it will be cool Monday. Delete this link and I will be screwed!
I've had my STi for a whopping 2 weeks now but I've not heard any knocking at all yet. I was running 93 and getting great performance but when I went to 91 I could definately tell the car pulled timing because it got a lot slower but didn't detect any knocking so they must have fixed it.
I don't think you will see this issue on the 05 because they remapped the ecu's in 04 so that only those first units suffered. Ironically, I just had mine done earlier this week. I bought my car in June 04 and thought I had escaped this issue until recently when I took the car in for a service the tech said he could feel it pinging at higher rpm's so he recommended the flash. It was just in Mon and I got it back yesterday. Anyway, the flash was only required for cars like mine (initial Sti's) as they fixed this issue on the later ecu's from what I understand of it. You shouldn't have this issue with an 05 IMO.
The reflash covers earlier 04 STI models. The pinging that is described usually happens when the vehicle is warm and between 3500-4500 RPM. To answer the question if this effects 05 STI models the answer is no, it only applies to early 04 models. SOA has already brought this issue to the attention of the dealers and will be handled on a case by case matter. There is no need for major concern with this issue, it was just an early problem with the ECM programming and since has been taken care of. And just to clarify this is not a recall, SOA came out with this notification/remedy from complaints on this matter.
Just wondering how you would know, if it is something that is really noticeable. I have an 04 sti, just want to make sure I take care of it. Thanks. Kyle
When, if it happens it is real noticeable. The sound of a couple of big ball bearings being shaken in a coffee can.
It takes a combination of heat and engine load to bring out the rattle. This time of year you will not be able to make your '04 ping. On an 80 deg F day find a hill on the freeway and floor it in second, or third. You will know if you have a problem then. 4,000- 5,000 rpm.
I'd tell you to turn the radio off during the test, but 0'4s didn't come with one...
I hope I get a response, I noticed the last time some one posted in this thread was about a month ago. Ok I have had my 04 STI for about a year and a half. Now with in the last week I have noticed the detonation problem mentioned in the previous threads. Now my question, if I were to purchase the cobb access port would this solve the problem? Thank you.
By the way the car is bone stock.
I would call Cobb and ask them if it would. It makes sense that it would but sometimes you never know. If you have a friend with one, maybe you can convince him to unmarry it and let you try it out with a stage 1 or 2 map to see if it fixes it.
BTW...Subarus will reflash you chip to take care of this, but as I'm sure you know, there is the potential for slight loss of HP with this method. Give Trey or Justin a call at Cobb. I'll bet hey have your solution.