Guys,

I just purchased a 2002 WRX used. It came with an autometer boost gauge installed. It runs at vacuum while at idle, but in all gears boost is about 13.5lbs. I checked under the hood, and see the stock T-fitting where a boost controller would be mounted. Any thoughts?

 

What exactly is your question? Stock boost is 13.5, so you are right on the money.

 

OK great, I kept reading that everyone wanted to get full boost in 1st and 2nd gear. And the negative boost at idle is normal too?

 

Negative "boost" is normal at idle, normally read in mmHg(millimeters of Mercury). It is the amount of air(read by pressure) that the engine is pulling in to run relative to atmospheric pressure. (Imagine the pistons drawing in air when the valves are open and piston is moving away from valves.
PSI is the amount of air, in pressure, the engine is seeing that is being supplied by the turbo relative to atmospheric pressure.
If you ever want to confuse someone tell them that your car runs 28 PSI of boost stock. 14.7 psi of atmospheric "boost" plus the 13.5 PSI of additional boost supplied by the turbo.

Hope this helps.

 

The ECU limits boost in first and second.

 

reflash/tuneing

 

Right, my question was really if it was normal to get full boost in all 5 gears without any visible mods.

 

Visible? Yes. A reflash would be virtually undetectable and could be done to give you greater boost in lower gears.

jason

 

Maybe that's why I get full boost in all 5 gears? Is there any way that I can tell if my ECU has been reflashed, so that I can cross that off my to do list?

 

Have the dealer scan it. They would be able to tell

 

However they may void your warranty if they know your ECU is reflashed.

 

I bought the aftermarket bumper to bumper warranty, so I should be ok. Plus I bought it from that same dealer, I doubt they would give me an issue, b/c they are the same people that sold me the car...

 

Unless they knew it had a reflash when they sold you the car, they can still deny the extended warranty you bought. Take it back to a different dealer to get it checked out.

 

I sort of have the same deal. Sometime about 50% I get 13.5 psi in first. I bought the car used and stock. I don't know whats going on with it.