What Should I do?

[cpages2]

I have an 04 WRX that I have had for about 6 months now.. And the power is good and I have a blast with it, but I find myself wanting to get something more out of it.

The only thing is I drive about 70 miles a day for work so I cant loose reliablility or my warranty for that matter... :roll: :roll:

Right now she is pretty much bone stock except for Front and Rear Strut Bar. I had a K&N (panel) filter in for a few months but after reading all the debates I just went back to OEM. I also have the SPT 3" Cat Back Exhaust System. :D


What do you guys recommend doing next. The warranty is a big thing in my book so I kinda feel almost like anythign I do is goign to break that. Also anytime I visit Nasioc under the 2.0 Forums it seems like anyonewho does a DP, UP or screws with the boost ends up with major problems.


Some advice from you gusy would be great.


Thanks,

Mike

[BoosTedEj25]

2.5 short block and bigger turbo

[cpages2]

2.5 short block and bigger turbo


yep that will retain the vehicle warranty... :lol: :lol:

[DJC]

I'm pretty much in the same scenario. I want to mod, but at the same time if something breaks and a warranty repair gets denied, then I would be screwed due to lack of funds. Keeping the Warranty is the main reason that I haven't upgraded anything. However, I was Very tempted to purchasing a DP for my '05 WRX because it seemed like a decent power piece for not too much money. But since our car is so touchy, it needs to be tuned for it as well which means a tunable ECU is required (more $$ and higher risk of warranty deny). I've decided to stay stock for the time being, there is just too much risk for someone in my particular position.

Sorry for the preaching guys, good luck with your modding;)

[Alizarin]

I'm at Cobb stage 2 (UP, DP, Accessport reflash) and have no problems, other than my damn right foot. If you muck with the boost in a dangerous fashion you can cause problems.

Keep your head on straight and you should be just fine. I make 2000 mile round trips (including all mountain driving) to the Dragon in NC about 3 or 4 times a year, and wring the piss out of the car when I get up there. I am up to monthly autox and do rallyx. I've got almost 40k on the car and I think I need a new set of plugs, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.

If you want to do ANYTHING at all, I would recommend at least an uppipe. Its just peace of mind that your cat won't melt into the turbo, and you get a little bit quicker spool. You don't have to retune for it either.

Also, rather than buy an accessport, you can send your ECU to Cobb and they'll do a reflash and send it back. Cheaper, but you can't switch on the fly like you can with an AP. There are also other "off-the-shelf" tunes you can get, like Vishnu.

[DJC]

I haven't really researched it but, don't you need some kind of CEL fix for the UP install? There is a mechanical fix, correct? I wouldn't even consider it if I had to wire up resistors and/or cut wires.:(

[MF-DIF]

Downpipe/uppipe/EM. Just make sure you use the OEM gaskets, and you won't have boost problems. Running 1step colder NGK plug would prolly be good too while your there. Intercooler hoses too if you want a little better response. All this should not give you liability problems if done right.

[schoellnasty]

I haven't really researched it but, don't you need some kind of CEL fix for the UP install? There is a mechanical fix, correct? I wouldn't even consider it if I had to wire up resistors and/or cut wires.:(

If you reinstall the EGT sensor into the UP then no, no fix is necessary. The probe is unecessary though since the new UP doesnt have a cat. If you dont reinstall it then yes you have to stick a resistor into the EGT sensor which is very easy.

[DJC]

If you reinstall the EGT sensor into the UP then no, no fix is necessary. The probe is unecessary though since the new UP doesnt have a cat. If you dont reinstall it then yes you have to stick a resistor into the EGT sensor which is very easy.

That makes sense. But why wouldn't you put the sensor back in? Also, would the probe read different temperatures without the cat?

[schoellnasty]

Because the only purpose of having the probe there is to prevent temps from getting high enough to melt the cat. No cat, no problem. It shouldnt read different temps is reinstalled either. The engine is still operating the same way, it just doesnt have the bottleneck of a cat in the uppipe anymore.

[Alizarin]

I've read a few cases of the EGT sensor melting off or breaking off and going into the turbo. Its not bad for the engine to have the resistor stuck in there (i.e. removed probe).

[MF-DIF]

I put my probe back in there. It doesn't do anything anymore, but it doesn't cause me any additional issues either. It was easier for me to just screw it back in then to find a plug or modify the probe.

[2TurboImports]

I would say pulleys, lightweight wheels (if they're not out of your budget big guy) ;)

[cpages2]

I would say pulleys, lightweight wheels (if they're not out of your budget big guy) ;)


Yeah I was thinking of doing pulleys next.