Unofficial - CEL/SL/Idle Issue List for FR-S/BRZ Owners

[TurnOne]

Update on #211. Car still running great, but just one issue noticed after ECU replaced. Cold morning start from garage, car idles around 1800 rpm then drops to 1600 rpm and shutters a couple of times before dropping on down in the RPM's. Everything else still good.
Chris

[tuckdaddy]

Update for 209 put about 1,200 miles on and the car is running good! No issues. Hoping the cam gear is the fix for my case

[luscious]

I just got this today...and ironically, this happened right after I called my local Toyata serve dept. for its first service, which is tomorrow.

I was sitting at a red light, and the idle suddenly dipped, the car shuddered, and I threw a CEL. 8100 miles.

[Realm]

I've had a loaner car for about a week now after the CEL/Slip lights.

Just called the dealer, he said they had some parts in (tailights, chirping fix)... but he mentioned the tech was going to try something else (reflash) instead of getting a new ECU. Does that sound right, and anyone else get a reflash that fixed the problem? I read somewhere else the reflash should be done by Subaru, not Toyota.. since it's a Subaru engine.

Car has 6,100 miles, bought it Aug 11 or so.

[Realm]

Oh just a side note.. I demanded to keep my car in my garage until all the parts came in. The dealership gave me a Toyota Corola? and I took my car back home. I would never leave my car at the dealership for an extended period of time.

[Alienate]

Originally Posted by Realm

I've had a loaner car for about a week now after the CEL/Slip lights.

Just called the dealer, he said they had some parts in (tailights, chirping fix)... but he mentioned the tech was going to try something else (reflash) instead of getting a new ECU. Does that sound right, and anyone else get a reflash that fixed the problem? I read somewhere else the reflash should be done by Subaru, not Toyota.. since it's a Subaru engine.

Car has 6,100 miles, bought it Aug 11 or so.

Mine was flashed by Toyota and has been fine.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by Realm

I've had a loaner car for about a week now after the CEL/Slip lights.

Just called the dealer, he said they had some parts in (tailights, chirping fix)... but he mentioned the tech was going to try something else (reflash) instead of getting a new ECU. Does that sound right, and anyone else get a reflash that fixed the problem? I read somewhere else the reflash should be done by Subaru, not Toyota.. since it's a Subaru engine.

Car has 6,100 miles, bought it Aug 11 or so.

Yes. I think we are agreed that a reflash of your present ecu is one of several possible fixes.

[Mark Slide Squad]

Update for my car (#127 on the list in this thread). I had my first CEL/skid light months ago, reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery, and the light went away. I cancelled my appointment at the dealer at that time because there were a massive back-order of ECU's, high pressure fuel pumps, and Cam Gears. I didn't want my car to sit at the dealer for 6 weeks like so many people were experiencing at that time. The CEL didn't come back until a couple weeks ago. I tried the old resetting the ECU trick, but the light kept coming back. The engine was also down on power quite a bit. I made another appointment to get the issue finally fixed at Penske Toyota of Downey. I gave them the car last Saturday (1/5/13) and explained the problems my car had with the CEL, high pressure fuel pump chirp, and tail lights fogging up. They said they were going to investigate all the issues and get back to me. They didn't want to give me a loaner, and said they don't even give out loaners. I explained that it's not my fault the car has these issues and I need a loaner. They obliged and gave me a Corolla (yippee). They called me yesterday stating that the fuel pump is on back-order for at least another week, and same with the tail lights. They already put in a brand new ECU though with the latest software, and changed the oil like I had requested. The car only has 4300 miles so they were trying to get out of doing the first oil change (even though I did one myself at 1000 miles, shhhh...) but went ahead and did it anyway after I complained that the oil is filthy and that it must have an oil change. They mentioned that I could pick up my car now, and drive it until the fuel pump and tails come in, then go back to get those done. Wanting to desperately get out of the Corolla, I went there and picked it up. They did an awful job of washing the car, and looked like they just sprayed it down with a hose as it was still wet. I didn't want to wait an hour for them to wash it, so I decided to just get the hell out of there. The car started normally, idle was around 1400 rpm for the first 20 seconds or so as it was cold, and then tapered off to 800 rpm. No CEL light. Drove it a good 25 miles and it feels MUCH better. Runs smoother, sounds smoother, gas MPG was back up, and the power is back that it originally had. I was revving all the way to redline on and off, to see if I could get the CEL to come on. Sitting at a stop light afterward for a while at idle and no CEL. It seems fixed! I hope so, anyway! Keeping my fingers crossed!

[samfrs]

Please update # 90 on the list. Car is FIXED back in the mid September. A total of 15 days in shop.

[Yruyur]

Originally Posted by Sekal

I've noticed my RPMs drop to about 500, car rattles, then RPMs jump back to 1000-1100. This is the idling issue?

Yes

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Hanakuso]

Originally Posted by Yruyur

Yes

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Even without throwing a CEL? Mine does this from time to time as well

[kroarke]

Go ahead and add me to the list. BRZ, 8467 miles, 6009XX, camshaft sprocket ordered.

I was hoping that because I had made it past the first service interval I was lucky to avoid the problem. Obviously not. I have been following this thread since before I got the car 5 months ago. Ive seen all the stories and Im hoping for an easy fix.

When It did the CEL the fist time I took it in and the dealer insisted that it was a computer glitch. I wasn't so optimistic. 3 days later the CEL came back. Took it back and they still Insisted it was a computer glitch. I refused to take the vehicle back until they fixed it and then called SOA. After calling corporate they got really nice, really quick. After actually trying to diagnose the issue they finally "found" the issue with help from the tech line. Apparently its a faulty camshaft sprocket throwing a P0011 code along with several other cam related codes. Is this what everyone else is being told? Not sure how complicated that is to fix or if it even will. Knowing how inept Anderson Subaru (Pensacola) is they will more than likely ruin the engine. Got the car back to drive until the part comes in next week. What is it? Three strikes your out on the lemon law? \

Strike 1.

[ironchef]

Got the "cam sprocket" flash done on my car, iirc.

So far things are good. No idle dips, once the car is warm you can barely tell it's idling.

They replaced the fuel pump as well, so crickets are gone too.

[Marrk]

@kroake: Name the dealer, so others will know what headwinds they'll be walking into. Dealer reluctance to acknowledge well-known problems is hard to excuse.