Exhaust Question

[cpages2]

Ok so I just got a 04' WRX and I when I went to the dealer I also drove an 05' that had the SPT exhaust on it and I was really impressed by the sound and performance.

So today while at the dealership I decided to have the SPT 3" Cat-Back system installed. My car is all stock except for a Drop in K&N Panel Filter. Well after a while I was told my car was done so I got in and left...

Well here is my question.. would there be any reason why my car would now seem slower???? I could be crazy but it really seems like I lost a lot of power :( :( I was only goign by the famous butt dyno, but while I was on US 19 it seemd like the car wasnt pulling through the gears as it was with the stock exhaust...

Just some input on the situation would be helpful. Like I said the car is stock except for K&N Filter and the SPT Cat Back system.

Thanks,

-Paronoid WRX Owner

[fadedSTi]

Ok so I just got a 04' WRX and I when I went to the dealer I also drove an 05' that had the SPT exhaust on it and I was really impressed by the sound and performance.

So today while at the dealership I decided to have the SPT 3" Cat-Back system installed. My car is all stock except for a Drop in K&N Panel Filter. Well after a while I was told my car was done so I got in and left...

Well here is my question.. would there be any reason why my car would now seem slower???? I could be crazy but it really seems like I lost a lot of power :( :( I was only goign by the famous butt dyno, but while I was on US 19 it seemd like the car wasnt pulling through the gears as it was with the stock exhaust...

Just some input on the situation would be helpful. Like I said the car is stock except for K&N Filter and the SPT Cat Back system.

Thanks,

-Paronoid WRX Owner

no it should be slower at all. it should really wake that car up. is it a 3" exhaust? is it catless?

[cpages2]

yeah.. teh system is catless.... But I still have my stock cats..... It is a 3" Exhaust system. Mid Pipe and Muffler.

HMMMMMM Well im really at a loss of words... Strange.... Could just feel slower to me... I dont know, it just seems like getting the car goign is taking a lot longer now.

- Mike

[BrewPuBeaver]

first off how many miles do you have on your car?

when your car is cold take both battery terminals off and then put them back on. this will reset your ECU. then start the car and let it run for about 7-8 minutes.

then go do some mild 1x2x3 gear shifts. then do a full throttle 1x2x3 run. maxing out at 70-80 mph.

do this and see if there is still some power loss.

[cpages2]

There is about 21000 Miles on the car....

I will do the ECU reset this week... How long to leave them un-hooked??? I have heard soem people say up to 20 minutes.

Thanks for teh input.

- Mike

[fadedSTi]

There is about 21000 Miles on the car....

I will do the ECU reset this week... How long to leave them un-hooked??? I have heard soem people say up to 20 minutes.

Thanks for teh input.

- Mike


just a couple minutes should be fine. do you have a boost gauge? are you full boosting?

[cpages2]

i dont have a boost guage... im guessing im goign to need one soon... LOL

Would teh exhaust cause me not to full boost>???

- Mike

[fadedSTi]

i dont have a boost guage... im guessing im goign to need one soon... LOL

Would teh exhaust cause me not to full boost>???

- Mike


it would just be nice to so if maybe you werent full boosting. maybe they knocked a vaccum line off of the turbo. check around over there and make all line are connected.

[BrewPuBeaver]

2-3 minutes would be fine.

when you say slower what do you mean. is it just not pulling? laggy, bogging down?

or is it just slow in general?

[fat angel]

just a cat back isnt going to make all that much more power. i would say not really noticeable. i mean think about it, everything up to the catback is still the same size and thats where most of the restriction is. the sound will be noticable though. i would still try the reset. usually i just pull the negative off , press on the brakes a few times and throw it back on. then go out and drive it spiritingly. does it seem like something you could be imagining? i mean were you expecting alot? sorry i cant help out too much more.

[fadedSTi]

oh i didnt notice its only a cat back. that wont make too much power without upgrading the downpipe. on a WRX best to start off with upgrading uppipe and downpipe

[cpages2]

well I just did the reset and it seems to be a bit better....

Its not laggy, its just not pulling as hard to me... I mean I guess it could be in my mind, but it just doesnt seem to be all there... Kinda like shes not boosting as hard... Also while I was out running teh car I noticed the car doesnt seem to be spooling as much as it was.. Like before at around 3.5 thousand RPM she would be spooling hard but now its barely noticable (but also teh exhaust is loud so it may just be me not hearing it to well...

Its really a tuff call... I guess I need to get a boost gauge and see whats goign on... Does anyone locally know how to install them well??? I could use some help... Also if anyone is goign to the TGIF Meet this saturday, maybe you could take my car out for a spin and see what you think... hell it could be all in my mind....


- Mike

[BrewPuBeaver]

i would be willing to do that.

if you plan on upgrading your car i would recomend a eletronic boost controller. that will tell you how much you are boosting and you will have more power to manage it.

ie. duty ratio & cycle, gain, and you can boost more than 12lbs. to like 14 or 15lbs.

if you would like to talk more about it on sat i would be happy to give yea some pointers

[fat angel]

did you do anything before you brought it in? did you fill it with crappy gas? did the weather change? i would drive it for a few days. just dont worry about it for a few days and see how it feels. either you will know for sure or you'll get the gauge and know for sure.

[cpages2]

No nothing diffrent at all... Only thign was gas was low.. but I weant and filled it up with Shell VPower and it still felt the same.

I will drive it for a few days and see if maybe its just me... LOL

I hope to have a boost gauge by this weekend and find someone to help me install it... Thats way I can see if its just not boosting like it should.

- Mike

[fat angel]

i would be willing to do that.

if you plan on upgrading your car i would recomend a eletronic boost controller. that will tell you how much you are boosting and you will have more power to manage it.

ie. duty ratio & cycle, gain, and you can boost more than 12lbs. to like 14 or 15lbs.

if you would like to talk more about it on sat i would be happy to give yea some pointers for what it would cost him( and this is my opinion) for an ebc, wouldnt he be a little better off just saving a little bit more and get some form of actual EM? less of a chance of damage and with the higher temps there it will lessin the chance of detonation. 100degree days and lean can be a bad thing.

[cpages2]

ok ok... lets start off slow guys.. LOL

I just want a boost gauge now so I can tell if im hitting full boost...

Later down the line lets get teh Engine Management...

Now I have to find a gauge and some type of mounting equipment localy for cheap..

[fadedSTi]

ok ok... lets start off slow guys.. LOL

I just want a boost gauge now so I can tell if im hitting full boost...

Later down the line lets get teh Engine Management...

Now I have to find a gauge and some type of mounting equipment localy for cheap..


i think there is one for sale in the suby for sale section

[cpages2]

yeah I replied but havent heard anything yet...


- Mike

[fat angel]

i have a good friend up here selling a stock one, if you cant find one there.

[cpages2]

how much does he want.. does it come with mountign equipment?

-Mike

[BrewPuBeaver]

yea a reflash would be the best bet to set the boost. and get a boost gauge ASAP.

ECU UTEK reflash is what i would recomend. *my opinion* i really am not a fan of cobb. but what ever you do ask questions get feed back do research and dont rush in to anything.

[fat angel]

how much does he want.. does it come with mountign equipment?

-Mikei have to ask him i'll let you know tomorrow. but yeah evrything is included.

[cpages2]

thansk.. ask for the total price shipped and see if he pics.

- Mike

[fat angel]

he wants 30 plus shipping. so not a bad deal at all. the only thing is he would need you stock cover for the column. you get the one with the gauge though.

[cpages2]

ok... can I send him mine after I get his??? If so tell him to e-mail me paypal info

cpages@tampabay.rr.com

[fat angel]

i'd probably say you both take em off and mail at the same time. you wouldnt have the cover for your column but you both wouldnt be without it. i have to drop him off a cable for his utec tomorrow so i'll see if he cares either way, i just asked him how much he'd give it to me for. but no problems either way. i'll hit you up tomorrow and get you the info. plus if you want some crdentials for us. you can ask sera about myself + dylan(d-block) she knows we are very good people.