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

[alan.chalkley]

How many AT vs MT cars have the c.e.l. problem.
I would imagine that the AT ecu has more complex functions to manage.

[Rob_g]

Originally Posted by alan.chalkley

How many AT vs MT cars have the c.e.l. problem.
I would imagine that the AT ecu has more complex functions to manage.

There's probably less AT out there as there seems to be far less demand for it.

Rob

[mhigham]

Originally Posted by Rob_g

There's probably less AT out there as there seems to be far less demand for it.

Rob

Would be nice to know breakdown between the 2, both in problems and in build numbers.

My local dealer has at least 10 BRZ/FR-S (they are both a Toyota and Subaru dealer) and they are ALL automatics. Not a single manual.

Mike

[xwd]

Originally Posted by SpeedmasterBRZ

The 08+ STi was having a big tuning issue and shortly after launch a some were recalled for a flash when others were not. They might officially launch a recall if there is enough cases that come up.

It would be nice to see on the list on the first page what fixed the complaint not just repaired. That way we can see if the flash/ecu is the best fix or not a fix at all.

You can have bad parts in a batch of ecus and others not. I work on electronics for a living and you would be surprised how much variance there is from one part to another depending on the batch and the suppliers.

The 08-2012 WRX/STi still has the same issues today as they did back with the 08 model. Guys with 2011s are still breaking ringlands due to the crappy stock tune, especially the OL/CL delay and the fact the car runs lean with the factory tune and suffers detonation. It's especially prevalent with people who run 91 octane. Has nothing to do with the electronics and everything to do with the programming.

I'm not saying there can't be something in the ECU which is the issue but I find it fairly suspect you'd have a bad input or output on the ECU itself without there being other major issues.

[jduffy]

Originally Posted by Rob_g

I don't see your name on the repair list so either you haven't had a problem or you never reported it. I don't think you would be as positive if your car was in for repair as many times or as long as some have here.

Nope, not a single problem for me yet. No chirping, no CEL, no idle issue.

I'm neither positive nor negative, I'm a realist. This could happen to me at any time but it's a matter of percentages and statistics.

Getting emotional over an inanimate object's success or failure is counter productive. You might as well place a rock on your desk and scream at it expecting results. When my time comes I'll deal with it. I've owned enough other crappy cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, computers and audio products particularly.

In point of fact I deal with angry customers everyday so I know what it's like to be on the other end of quality issues. You do your best and try and control client expectations. Some will never be met. Again, it's a matter of percentages and statistics with failure rates.

The owners of my company know that we can't keep everyone happy so you keep the failure rates as low as you can and keep your company moving forward with the successes. I do not doubt that Toyota and Subaru are doing much the same thing.

The intriguing part regarding this issue is that there is not a blanket fix, a blanket statement from the manufacturers saying ah ha, we've got this nailed down. The mystery continues and continues and continues.

It's become a type of automotive soap opera with no ending in sight.

[mhigham]

Originally Posted by dwx

The 08-2012 WRX/STi still has the same issues today as they did back with the 08 model. Guys with 2011s are still breaking ringlands due to the crappy stock tune, especially the OL/CL delay and the fact the car runs lean with the factory tune and suffers detonation. It's especially prevalent with people who run 91 octane. Has nothing to do with the electronics and everything to do with the programming.

I'm not saying there can't be something in the ECU which is the issue but I find it fairly suspect you'd have a bad input or output on the ECU itself without there being other major issues.

My ECU had an open circuit. So my particular case was a hardware problem with the ECU, not the engine. Could this have been cause by a bad part in the calibration? Of course. I feel I will never get a good answer though of what the actual fix was.

Mike

[Rob_g]

Originally Posted by jduffy

The intriguing part regarding this issue is that there is not a blanket fix, a blanket statement from the manufacturers saying ah ha, we've got this nailed down. The mystery continues and continues and continues.

It's become a type of automotive soap opera with no ending in sight.

Manufacturers do not like to admit there is a fault with their product, even if it's obvious. And if they do have to acknowledge an issue, you can be sure they will do so by releasing as few details as possible and downplaying any significance of the issue. I think Toyota and Subaru have really dropped the ball in regards to getting this issue fixed in a timely manner for their customers. 6 months into product launch and there still seems to be no fix that is %100 guaranteed. They are trying to fix an obvious mechanical problem with a software patch and there's just no way that is going to work for everyone. Sooner or later this ECU merry-go-round will have to stop and there's going to be possibly a large number of people still having problems.. What's the answer then? Who knows, only time will tell.

Rob

[beardy]

Update, picked up my car today from the shop, cam sprocket changed (and something with the VVTi timing that I cannot remember the correct english word for..) Took it out for a drive, but since we are nearing winter, the roads was really slippery, even with new wintertires, but I did some 6-7k rpm runs.

Seems to be in order, but waiting for the ECU upgrade flash - sometime late november as it is not fully released in all countries in Europe.

[Jase]

Mine started with the idle problem today. Here is my post from our local forum in Australia:

Mine has developed the same problem. It did it once at a petrol station very early on (2nd tank I think) but I'd had a bit of a brain fart and was very low on fuel, which I assumed to be the cause at the time. Very rough idle and car shuddering like one cylinder wasn't firing, but I turned it off before the CEL came on (or I didn't notice it anyway - not something I was expecting or looking for in a brand new car).

This afternoon in stop start Sydney traffic the idle started falling again, not to the point of shuddering or tripping the CEL, but enough to make me look like a bit of an amateur on a few hill starts... The problem seemed to me to have something to do with the aircon compressor kicking in and out - like the ECU wasn't compensating for the extra load or something.
Headed home via the Putty Road and gave it the berries for most of the way, keeping it right up in the rev range during all the best bits (first trip up the Putty in it by the way - awesome!!). Got home and it would barely idle, massive shudders and CEL light came on. Turned it off and on again - fault persisted until I touched the throttle (the same process as yours UncleWonka^^). The clutch seemed to have no bearing on the fault - i.e. I could get the fault with either the clutch pushed in or the gearbox in neutral. I then tested to see if the aircon was contributing to the problem. While it was a little worse with the air conditioner on, I suspect this was a symptom not a cause, i.e. an already low shuddering idle lowered further due to the extra load from the compressor. The engine would almost completely stop (almost down to 200rpm) before the ECU would try to correct for the aircon, then would hunt between 400-800rpm, then the shuddering, CEL etc.

The one thing that struck me was that every time this has happened, the engine/exhaust/car in general has been quite hot. Not overheating on the gauge, but had been subjected to hot conditions for a significant period of time. The first occurrence was on a 38 deg day after a lot of low speed driving (mostly 60-80km/h) in stop start conditions, the second after walking pace Sydney gridlock 33 deg afternoon, and then an enthusiastic run up the Putty. I've got no idea how this could affect the ECU or fuelling, maybe one of the sensors is reading incorrectly?? Or the hot engine is causing detonation and a resultant change in ignition timing by the knock sensor??

I've got no idea really, I'm not a mechanic so I'm just throwing some ideas out there. If anyone has heard of a lasting solution to this problem I would really appreciate hearing about it - I want to have a bit of information before I approach the dealer so they take the problem seriously and investigate it properly. This seems to be happening to a few of us so clearly it isn't an isolated problem.

If it makes any difference mine is an August built manual GTS.

Sorry for the long post guys, I do tend to go on a bit. I just wanted to get as much info as i could out there so maybe someone has some ideas. I'll give an update with the dealer's response soon.
Jase, Today at 3:05 AM

[Sean K.]

Jase,

What's your mileage at now? Just wondering....

Thanks,
Sean

[EJ33177]

EJ33177, FR-S, 7313, VIN starts at 75, dropped off today for CEL and VSC lights. Baltimore MD

My codes are P000A, C1201, and B1410. I seemed to know more about the problem then the customer service woman. She just told me, "The car is so new we have to send the info to Toyota." aka we have no idea what to do.

Stuck in a corolla for the time being. I have a feeling I might end up saying good bye to the FR-S forever over this.

Day 1-dropped off at dealership

[mhigham]

Originally Posted by EJ33177

EJ33177, FR-S, 7313, VIN starts at 75, dropped off today for CEL and VSC lights. Baltimore MD

My codes are P000A, C1201, and B1410. I seemed to know more about the problem then the customer service woman. She just told me, "The car is so new we have to send the info to Toyota." aka we have no idea what to do.

Stuck in a corolla for the time being. I have a feeling I might end up saying good bye to the FR-S forever over this.

Day 1-dropped off at dealership

Those are not the usual codes I believe.

[nashsnazzy]

It looks like I'm now a member of the cam , ecu , whatever you want to call it club. Car started giving trouble Saturday, about 2600 miles on the odometer, and then it sounded like there was gravel in the engine near idle. The idle is hunting around 400rpm. I had the brake light, CEL, and traction control light all come on at the same time. Toyota has ordered a new ECU and I'm not sure what else (I'll update when I get the work order in my hands). My VIN ends in 7076xx.

Status: Toyota replaced ECU, the codes were P0019, C1201, U0100. I've put about thirty miles on the car and I've seen no evidence of the issue. I'll post back in this thread if it pops up.

[Yruyur]

Gravel sounding...not sure if an ecu will fix that.

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