Hi, yes im noob to this forum. (just bought this car)

Day 3. The car has seen just over 240 miles. No, I haven't been driving it like a granny, but I haven't been driving it very hard either. I have been taking it pretty easy in my book. On occasion I have pepped it up just a bit to fend off the guilt I feel at dropping 33k on a new car. I have been driving an 02 WRX for the past 2 years, and I want to feel that this was a good upgrade, but I am trying to be respectful of the breakin period.

So, this afternoon, the CEL comes on and I get a flashing Cruise light. I had never used the cruise, so I tested it... not working. Since this happened about 4 minutes after the low fuel light came on (seeing what I can expect from a tank), I figured it may go away once I fueled up. No dice.

I got home fine, and read through the owners guide with little help. Reading up on the forums here and other places has indicated this CEL + Flashing Cruise is a pretty common problem with modified cars, I have not seen this reported from a stock STi.

It is a long weekend, and the dealership service dept is closed until Tuesday, so I am considering pulling the battery cable to force a reset unless I hear some reason I shouldn't. I tried letting it sit for a few hours, but the lights come back at startup.

While I am on this subject of a problem potentially attributable to a low fuel situation, I also have a question about fuel. The owners guide mandates 93 AKI, but says you can use 91 or 92 in an emergency. From what I can find so far, 92 AKI is as high as you can buy at the pump here in Hillsboro Oregon. Is this going to cause problems if I can't find 93 AKI? Does anybody in the PDX area know where one can purchase 93?

Thanks for any and all info!

RHayes

 

I cant help you with the CEL problem, but about the gas....I think it'd be pretty stupid if a company made a car that HAS to take 93. I cant ever remember seeing 93 at a gas station even remotely close to me...all 91

 

About the fuel, I thought it was odd as well...

From the 06 STi Owners Manual Section 7-2: (in bold print no less)
"Be sure to use super-premium unleaded gasonline of 93 AKI or higher for WRX-STI. If other gasoline (lower than 93 AKI) is used, knocking, reduced output and poor accelerator response will result."

 

reset your ecu by unhooking the terminal and turning on the lights, then turn the car on and let it run for a couple minutes, then take it for a spin...the ecu should relearn the map for the gas you use...

at least, I'm pretty sure...

cel and flashing cruise is overboost isn't it?

 

from what i was told when i took my 06 into the dealer for maint. the cruise light will always flash when your car throws a cel light, it also will deactivate the cruise control Its a safety for the car, that way if its something serious you cant just set the cruise and run your engine to death.

 

Goto autozone and check the code..

 

yeah homie...get in the zone....autozone!

 

That is absolutely amazing. How can they sell this car in states like Kalifornia where the highest available AKI at the pump is 91 (a few select stations do carry 100)?

 

The Manual says 93, we all run 91 in the peoples republic of California.

 

I HAVE to run 91...nothing higher in the great State of Colorado unless you buy race fuel at Bandi.

RBHayes--Go pull the code at AutoZone, check it against our master list, THEN reset the ECU. When service opens, take it in. Best part of a new car, if it breaks, it is Subaru's problem, not yours.

 

Just buy the highest octane avalible in your area. In Hawaii 91 is the highest, I think that there is a place on Oahu with higher octane but that's it.

 

I'm curious if you got your answer yet or not?

Well I bought a 04 Sti and had it drove it for 500 miles no issues. Then I got in the car after it was parked overnight and had the same symptoms. CEL flashing cruise. The only thing I can think of that made it turn on in the first place was the steering wheel was turned to the right so my knee could have been hitting it while it was starting. I tried turning it on and off like 8 times with no luck. Well I was in another state so I decided to drive home. On the way home i played with the cruise which was not working, but i moved it everyway it was able to. I got home shut it off and was going to find the fuse for cruise, but after it sat there for about 15 min. I decided to try starting it 1 more time before I pull the fuse and the lights were off?? Don't know if it had something to do with me playing with the cruise control on the way home or not??

 

I think if the gas cap isnt tightend all the way (3 clicks) you will get a CEL...

 

No, I never did pull any codes, or find a root cause, but I did 'reset' it and have had no repeat occurances (now at 4k miles)

An AP is in my future, so if it happens again I will be able to at least see the codes.

 

When putting your gas cap back on you have to make sure it is on all the way. Turn it till it clicks. Could have casued a vapor leak if it wasn't on all the way.