Dealer can't read CEL code
 

Hi all.

I bought my BRZ in Montreal, but have moved to Southern California. I had experienced the rough idle a little in Montreal without the CEL going on, but right after the Smog Test for CA registration, I got the most severe rough idle ever and it triggered the CEL.

I brought it to the local Subaru Dealership and they are apparently unable to read the codes. The service manager took it to his Scion dealership as well and they can't read anything there either.

Anyone have suggestions to read and clear the codes in this case? The car is driving fine since it happened.

Is your CEL still on? It doesn't make any sense that they weren't able to read the code. You could always buy a code scanner for about $50-100 and scan it yourself and clear it. Or you can pull the negative terminal on your battery for a few minutes to reset it and see if the CEL comes back. I find it a bit peculiar that the dealer couldn't pull the code if the CEL was on though.

Yup, CEL is still on. Yes, it makes no sense that they can't read the code.

I tried the negative terminal of the battery, but maybe I did not keep it off long enough. I'm guessing though that they might now be storing the codes in flash memory (aka non-volatile memory) which doesn't lose its contents when the power is disconnected.

If you just want to clear the code and don't care what it is, then disconnect negative terminal. Step on the brake pedal for about 10s to drain all residual power. Then reconnect the battery. I'm not aware of the car storing codes in any non-volatile memory, but then again, I've not had to clear any CEL's on the car yet.

I have seen a few random cases of OBD2 ports being broken on these cars. Maybe when the smog shop plugged in their equipment to your OBD2 port they yanked it out extra hard and pulled the wiring from one of the pins or something.

I just went and looked at the OBD2 port and there doesn't seem to be anything obvious in terms of loose wiring. I would have expected the dealer mechanics to check that, but maybe I'm asking too much.

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-...j-laughing.gif

Your car has a warranty, press corporate for a resolution if all you get from the dealership(s) is "we can't read it, sorry, eh" (or since you're in Cali now "hella sorry we can't read it brah"). Though, your corporate will be Subaru of Canada, so good luck.

The fuse for the OBD port probably got blown during the emissions test. Check for any blown fuses.

The fuses that I pulled seem intact. I think I'm going to get on the phone tomorrow with corporate, both in Canada and the US and figure out what can be done.

I'll keep you all posted.

Didnyou check for pins being pushed up into the plug itself. Ive heard a few people mention they have to reach around and push wires back in.

Sent from a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X now Free

How is this your problem? Push the dealer and corporate to fix the issue.

Remember, this isn't my original dealer, so he really has no real incentive to push this issue himself. I'm not saying he hasn't been helpful, as he has been. He's called up his chain but is waiting for response. He's made himself available without appointment to get different crews at different dealerships to look at it. But there seems to be no pressure to resolve: he's made his calls, and he's just going to wait for responses.

If I want this to be resolved faster, I'm going to have to make calls myself and work my way up the chain as far as I can go. I have incentive to get this fixed.

Did you try a little maple syrup in the gas tank and oil filler? It is a Canadian BRZ afterall.

lmfaooo


well this car OBD port sucked
mine only lasted a week after turbo tuning

Did you have to replace the OBD2 port connector or the wiring as well?

just the port and Pins

http://www.bmotorsports.com/shop/pro...oducts_id/1562

they will have to pin each OBD2 wire and this wont fit on your OEM OBD2 mount anymore

I'm surprised they let you leave the dealership with the Cel light on.

This is very bad service.

The car is under warranty. Has a problem, and two dealerships leave the lot.

This is a major issue!!!!

Update:

I never got around to contacting corporate as I was too busy. However, as I was out today, I swung by the garage that performed the smog check, and their equipment was able to read the codes, which means the dealership is a piece of shit.

I'm just going to order my own bluetooth code reader and get the torque app and take ownership of this myself and never set foot in that dealership's vicinity ever again.

Or...... Go back to the dealership for a THIRD TIME and when they cant read the code, call them on the "Lemon Law".

Lemon law states that three attempts to remedy a problem with a car under warranty means they get to buy it back from you at full cost!

I am pretty sure that just mentioning it will get you some service.

i don't think he can claim lemon law as it is a canadian purchased car and we don't have this luxury... its a shity deal working with warranty cross boarder. They don't make it easy. I have a family member at toyota Canada's corporate office so shoot me a inbox if you cant get ahold of anyone and il see if i can help you out, no guaranteed but il do my best for a fellow frs owner!

Hey bro,

It's interesting to see you aren't the only one having issues with a dealership. It seems like a lot of people have "experienced" dealerships that are pretty ignorant to their "professional training" or they really don't care about their job/car. My dealership kept telling me every noise I was hearing was normal engine sounds, lmao...

So I agree with you. It's better to go solo and talk to the great vendors on this forum because I truely think they know the car better than it's designers...unfortunately. Best of luck :)

HAH, I had a friend car repaired from an accident. They replace the power steering and the steering wheel clicked like mad when turning the wheel. The guy was trying to say it was normal.

I told him first of all it is supposed to be silent. Even 20 year old cars are silent. If your car was doing this would you be OK with that repair?

He stfu and they had to bring it to a dealer to fix it.

Scum bag mechanics everywhere... :\

Screened a few more local dealerships in the area and was able to find a knowledgable service manager about 30 minutes away. Took him the car this morning, and within 1.5 hours they had pulled the codes, contacted Canadian service technicians and corporate and are going to schedule to replace the ECU next week when they get delivery of the ECU.

Now I need to ask the main thread how many of those who've had the ECU replaced have been issue free since...

ECU is replaced and software updated. Got lucky in that my car had "crickets" when I pulled in for the ECU repair, so the tech heard it and a new HPFP is being ordered and should be installed next week.

I'm hoping that after all of this, the car will feel like new. I forgot how fun it was to drive this car. The stupid safe mode the car was in with the CEL on did not have any acceleration from stand still.