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

[SmknGunz]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Off Topic: The AT in this car sets a new standard. Totally unbelievably good.

Not to derail this topic further, but I do have to agree with you 100% :happy0180:

[@Art_Mighty]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Off Topic: The AT in this car sets a new standard. Totally unbelievably good.

I dare say along with the 8 speed Toyota installed in the IS-F, they are the absolute pinnacle of planetary gear set, torque converter based transmission technology.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by @Art_Mighty

Notice from an official source would be helpful (I haven't see that yet)

It looks like @einzlr already referenced an official source in his link. What it reads:

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Several of you already know this topic, but wanted to let you guys know I got this email (yesterday) from Scion officially responding to this article.

Toyota, Subaru chase rough idle problem for sporty coupes

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by @Art_Mighty

I dare say along with the 8 speed Toyota installed in the IS-F, they are the absolute pinnacle of planetary gear set, torque converter based transmission technology.

I only drove it once, but it made me feel all goo-ey inside, like I just couldn't say no to it.

And I had no respect for myself the next morning.

[SmknGunz]

Originally Posted by @Art_Mighty

I dare say along with the 8 speed Toyota installed in the IS-F, they are the absolute pinnacle of planetary gear set, torque converter based transmission technology.

Well said, good sir

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

It looks like @einzlr already referenced an official source in his link. What it reads:

Huh? This says that the tolerances are so loose that not all vehicles respond the same way.

[tbertran]

Originally Posted by ftc~brz

the last visit in reset my nav so cyber-wench was screaming at me to make a left turn! Only other place for my fingers would have been my ears!
Lmao

LOL!!!
Thanks for the good laugh... Gotta love the cyber-wench...

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by tbertran

LOL!!!
Thanks for the good laugh... Gotta love the cyber-wench...

There's something to be said for good ol' paper maps

[Lithandril]

Originally Posted by AsianStyle

I'm about to take delivery of my FR-S next week. Care to give us a VIN#? Wondering if cars with recent build dates are still having this issue.

I picked up my fr-s on Thursday. # 7099xx build date 08/12

I've put over 500 miles on her since then and haven't experienced any problems yet.

I hope everyone that has this issue get their cars back soon

[regal]

Originally Posted by tbertran

Did you even read what some of us have been posting?
The CEL was solid in my case and the car was barely driveable. As much as I sometimes wish it possible, denying reality is a hard thing for me to do.

I still think the majority are over-reacting. A rough idle in a car like this is just plain normal to me. I am trying to help.

No one needs a light on the dashboard to tell if they are in limp home mode. Thats why there is a tachometer.

If you really are in limp home and you aren't comfortable with a laptop then tell the dealer "I want this thing out of limp home mode so I can get back and forth to work." Tell them you will be back when there is a TSB and they have a mechanic who has worked on a boxer engine before.

Originally Posted by ftc~brz

did this guy just really say we let them tear our motors apart? LET THEM???
you don't have a choice in the matter when your car is broken and you bring it in for service and SOA tells you that you can't drive it and that replacing the parts the codes are showing IS the fix...even though you the owner feels violated...

this is just someone in a civic baiting us...

No I jumped on this FR-S, to me its a lot of money been waiting for a car like this for a long long time. I have been driving it back and forth to work since Labor day.

You do have a choice with the dealer. First off most Scion dealerships know nothing and I mean nothing about subaru boxer engines. Now as these cars sell, they will hire mechanics from the local subie dealership. Their training will get better, the infra structure will get better I hope.

When a dealer says they need to do work on a cam, first thing you do is say I want to talk to the mechanic alone. Get the truth, has he ever worked on a boxer engine before? What is his background, just talk to him about what he thinks, is he comfortable?

I am not saying I have all the answers and I am sure there are a few out there with a true mechanical problem.

But I think for the majority with this "problem" the more you drive it, the more the tolerances will lossen as they are designed to and the tolerance stack-up problem will go away. I really don't think anyone is in jeopardy of throwing a rod or bending a valve as long as they use 91+ gas. I could be wrong but I have more faith in Toyota than that.

Like I said I drove mine 1000 miles with a MAP sensor CEL. It came on within 20 miles (idle dip) when I drove off the dealer lot, kept driving it and the idle dip got better the more I drove it. I reset the code this weekend. Took to the local "dirt tack" and drove the piss out of it for about 50 miles this weekend.


Really Really think about it before you take the motor apart.

[fistpoint]

Originally Posted by einzlr

But most of them are larger displacement. 100hp/l NA is rather a feat.

Sure it was, 2 decades ago...seriously.

[@Art_Mighty]

Originally Posted by fistpoint

Sure it was, 2 decades ago...seriously.

Actually he's right.

(this is a better discussion I will start as an off-topic thread sometime today)

But here's the clif notes version (as I understand it); there are only five manufactures currently manufacturing Naturally Asperated engines for automobiles which produce or exceed 100HP per 1 Liter of displacement

BMW: the V8 currently powering the E90/E92 M3

Ferrari: a bunch of their engines meet or exceed this figure, they also currently hold the HP per L world record for a production engine with the monster they are putting in the 458

Porsche: their 3.8 liter flat six in the 911

Subaru: the 2.0L boxer in the FT86 platform cars

Toyota: the 1.8L engine previously installed in the Celica GT-S and currently purchased by Lotus for the Elise/Exige in the U.S. market

[ftc~brz]

Originally Posted by regal

I still think the majority are over-reacting. A rough idle in a car like this is just plain normal to me. I am trying to help.

No one needs a light on the dashboard to tell if they are in limp home mode. Thats why there is a tachometer.

If you really are in limp home and you aren't comfortable with a laptop then tell the dealer "I want this thing out of limp home mode so I can get back and forth to work." Tell them you will be back when there is a TSB and they have a mechanic who has worked on a boxer engine before.




No I jumped on this FR-S, to me its a lot of money been waiting for a car like this for a long long time. I have been driving it back and forth to work since Labor day.

You do have a choice with the dealer. First off most Scion dealerships know nothing and I mean nothing about subaru boxer engines. Now as these cars sell, they will hire mechanics from the local subie dealership. Their training will get better, the infra structure will get better I hope.

When a dealer says they need to do work on a cam, first thing you do is say I want to talk to the mechanic alone. Get the truth, has he ever worked on a boxer engine before? What is his background, just talk to him about what he thinks, is he comfortable?

I am not saying I have all the answers and I am sure there are a few out there with a true mechanical problem.

But I think for the majority with this "problem" the more you drive it, the more the tolerances will lossen as they are designed to and the tolerance stack-up problem will go away. I really don't think anyone is in jeopardy of throwing a rod or bending a valve as long as they use 91+ gas. I could be wrong but I have more faith in Toyota than that.

Like I said I drove mine 1000 miles with a MAP sensor CEL. It came on within 20 miles (idle dip) when I drove off the dealer lot, kept driving it and the idle dip got better the more I drove it. I reset the code this weekend. Took to the local "dirt tack" and drove the piss out of it for about 50 miles this weekend.


Really Really think about it before you take the motor apart.

No I really really didn't have a choice. SUBARU OF AMERICA told me I could not drive my car until the repair sir. I paid 28k to drive a car every day not make payments on a personal garage 15 miles from my home. Trust me I did throw a fit and tried to get my car out. IT WASN'T THE DEALER. if they advise the car is NOT drive able and you take it out and it blows up, you have no case to hold up anywhere.
This goes beyond just a rough idle.

Ps look at my f...ing car...IT'S A SUBARU not the scion hello! WRB, I'm on a first name basis with my tech, service writer, head of service, general sales manager and for Christ sake I used to work with the guy who manages the whole northeast division for this dealer. But when the manufacture tells you you can't drive it you don't.

I can work a car and a laptop just fine. But when you have a warranty you may not want to give the actual manufacture a reason to void it.

Also this particular thread was for those who do have the issue correct?

Where's the mod? This guy needs to get checked

[pituala]

10/8/12, car is back at the dealer for the low idle, chirping noise, and I noticed if I held the rpm's right around 1800 the engine vibrates really bad. Anyone else enccounter this 1700-1800rpm vibration???

Oh...and I'm in a Corolla AGAIN!!!