Hi, I have a 2002 wrx and recently my when i started my car the idle dropped really low and started to run quite rough, followed by lots of smoke from the tailpipe. After thinking it could just be bad gas considering the car had been sitting for over a month i tried to burn it out with the problem coming back intermitedely. Once I found out that the problem was definitely more than just bad gas, I pulled up the carpet and put my utec back to stock mode to see if it was a timing problem; still no luck. The car runs perfects sometime and then it freaks out and runs like crap. At this point i hook up a OBDII computer to see what codes the ECU would throw. I sent back misfires in cylinders 1,2, and 3 along with high heat from the exhaust (im guessing that is just my uppipe). But through all of this it sent back no indications of a bad sensor or anything so I was wondering if anybody might be able to help me figure out why it happens sometimes and not all the time. Any suggestions, PLEASE HELP

 

i dunno, i heard the ecu throws a code for an aftermarket upipe no matter what your a/f ratio is?

 

my car is running rich enough to the point where in my last half tank of gas i got only 50 miles total and i wasnt getting on the car since it was having problems?

 

Probably have an injector stuck open pouring fuel into a cylinder causing the misfires. Do you have stock injectors? If not check the wiring.

Not sure why your getting high EGT's. What color is the smoke coming out? Is there liquid in the tail pipe?

 

My mods are:
AmsOil high flow air filter charger, Turbo XS RFL blow off valve,
M2 3" T304 stainless down pipe (no cat), M2 3" high flow cat
M2 3" T304 stainless exhaust, M2 T304 stainless up-pipe (no cat)
Vishnu under drive lightened crank pulley, AVO Turbo World oil separator tank, MRT Rally aluminum racing radiator with blue
Samco silicone hosing, Greddy hi-press radiator cap
Zero Sports 68 degree C thermostat, M2 Performance suspension
Turbo XS UTEC stand alone engine management system
Turbo XS polished top mount intercooler, Turbo XS alternate boost bleed off valve, Ported and polished aluminum intercooler piping with samco silicone hose couplers

If it is the injectors I have the STI injectors, the walbro fuel pump and the Vf 34 in my back seat, but i havent installed them because im waiting to find out what this problem is. If the injectors are causing the problem, would the problem be constant?? Same thing with the plugs?? Sometimes the car will just sit there and run normal..........no problems at all?? Would a bad sensor throw a CEL code?? As far as the EGT's they arent really high at all, the ECU just threw the code 546, which I heard happens when you have a catless upipe? Thanks for all the help

 

Possibly, but I'm having the same problem and no luck after changing the injectors and the regulator. Would a MAF malfunction cause something like this??

 

Someone mentioned to me that a bad or dirty fuel filter can cause similar symptoms so im gonna give that a shot today. Im also going to take a look at the intake manifold and see if anything is caught in it and check the MAF sensor. Ill let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the help

 

Changed the fuel filter, cleaned the air filter, and inspected the MAF, it appeared to be ok. Unfortunately the problem is not fixed. After i started the car and the rough idle came back and the smoke started blowing I noticed some smoke coming from the hood as well. When i walked around to the front it seemed that the smoke was coming from around the turbo, particuarly close to the waste gate. Does it sound like a blown turbo, or maybe even just a blown seal??