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

[EJ33177]

Another update in the epic foul up.

Toyota Service HQ advised my dealership to replace the VVTi yet again. My service advisor told me that they where unable to find the CEL code when checked but still had the CEL/slip combo.

I don't understand how replacing the VVTi again is going to help. Oh well, Darren at SOA said a regional manager should be calling me this week with the possibility of replacing the vehicle and a Toyota Service Tech is going to take a look at my car.

As it stands my car has been in the shop for four weeks and has had ECU reflash, ECU replaced, VVTi replaced, and currently awaiting parts to have VVTi replaced again.

I'm at the Lemon Law requirements, just trying to let Toyota/Scion do the right thing and offer me a new car before I do it. If they don't I'm going to exercise Lemon Law and look for another vehicle. The dealership has a nice 2011 Camaro SS for the same price I paid for my FR-S. lol.

[Those Meddling Kids]

Figured I would post an update- I've put about 1500 miles on the car since the ecu reflash with no further CEL's. I still have the cricket noise and the gps sucks but fixes for those are in the works. I do still get an idle dip from time to time but no CEL.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by Those Meddling Kids

Figured I would post an update- I've put about 1500 miles on the car since the ecu reflash with no further CEL's. I still have the cricket noise and the gps sucks but fixes for those are in the works. I do still get an idle dip from time to time but no CEL.

That's disconcerting. Will you leave it alone or take it back in?

[whtchocla7e]

Originally Posted by Those Meddling Kids

Figured I would post an update- I've put about 1500 miles on the car since the ecu reflash with no further CEL's. I still have the cricket noise and the gps sucks but fixes for those are in the works. I do still get an idle dip from time to time but no CEL.

Same here. I don't see the slight idle dip very often but it only happens when the engine is fully warmed up in my case.
Since we're both seeing similar behavior I'm guessing it's a ECU/software thing..

Makes me feel better. Thanks.

[bladesamurai]

Has it been figured out what causes this issue to occur? I have a first run car and I haven't run into any issues yet and I'm at around 5k miles. Should I be worried? Is there a way to cause the problem to crop up so that I could just bring it in and get it fixed under warranty?

[Alienate]

Originally Posted by bladesamurai

Has it been figured out what causes this issue to occur? I have a first run car and I haven't run into any issues yet and I'm at around 5k miles. Should I be worried? Is there a way to cause the problem to crop up so that I could just bring it in and get it fixed under warranty?

the most "common" way I have seen the problem "created" is to change your oil. someone I know used 5w-20 instead of 0w-20 and threw the CEL in less than 5 miles.

[BR Zenith]

6030XX cel/sl stalling while idle at 820 miles. taking it to dealer tomorrow afternoon

[96z2]

Originally Posted by bladesamurai

Has it been figured out what causes this issue to occur? I have a first run car and I haven't run into any issues yet and I'm at around 5k miles. Should I be worried? Is there a way to cause the problem to crop up so that I could just bring it in and get it fixed under warranty?

Car must be at full operating temperature. Go for a long drive (>30 minutes). Then let the car idle for an extended amount of time. Dipping will usually start within 2 minutes.

[ToytoyTT]

Originally Posted by bladesamurai

Has it been figured out what causes this issue to occur? I have a first run car and I haven't run into any issues yet and I'm at around 5k miles. Should I be worried? Is there a way to cause the problem to crop up so that I could just bring it in and get it fixed under warranty?

Try driving the car hard, rev it up all the way to 6k rpm, Thats how my idle dip/cel problem started. But if i drive the car normally, not going higher than 4.5k rpm, the idle dip and severe shaking doesn't happen.

[bladesamurai]

Originally Posted by ToytoyTT

Try driving the car hard, rev it up all the way to 6k rpm, Thats how my idle dip/cel problem started. But if i drive the car normally, not going higher than 4.5k rpm, the idle dip and severe shaking doesn't happen.

I've certainly driven the car hard (all the way to the very gentle rev limiter) and I haven't encountered the problem, so I don't think this would be a cause, but ninetysixzee's theory of an extended idle might cause it. I rarely sit with the car idling for a long time and I don't remember ever doing it in the BRZ, so this might be a method to 'trigger' the issue. I'll have to decide if I want to cause this problem myself or continue to avoid it!

[96z2]

Originally Posted by bladesamurai

I've certainly driven the car hard (all the way to the very gentle rev limiter) and I haven't encountered the problem, so I don't think this would be a cause, but ninetysixzee's theory of an extended idle might cause it. I rarely sit with the car idling for a long time and I don't remember ever doing it in the BRZ, so this might be a method to 'trigger' the issue. I'll have to decide if I want to cause this problem myself or continue to avoid it!

Basically the engine has to be very warm. People have reported that the issue surfaces when idling right after a long highway drive (which is surprising since highway driving isn't stressing on coolant temps with all that airflow going through the radiator at those speeds). Mine started doing it after a 25 minute track session. As soon as I pulled into the pits after the cool down lap and let it idle I would experience the fluctuations and a flashing CEL. I then shut the car off immediately. When I turned it back on for the 2-hour highway drive back home, the CEL was off. When I got off the highway and was sitting on the off ramp waiting for the signal light, the fluctuations started happening after about a minute, followed by the CEL and slip light coming on solid. Once the CEL and SL came on, the idle stabilized.

I finally took mine to the dealer a few weeks ago and got the 812 ECU put in and have not yet had a reoccurrence of the CEL. I hope I didn't jinx myself.

Here's Subaru's old TSB that shows how they induce a CEL. It seems like they are trying to warm the engine and heat soak it.

[86 FRS]

Finally got my car back from dealer for CEL

3days on the dealer. thank god no mechanical issue

CODE: P0031, P0037 (Heater Circuit Malfunction)

[soconfoozed]

As I wait for my appointment to return the car...

• Crickets came back, seem louder than before though there's probably no reason to believe the louder part
• Got the taillight condensation I asked to be fixed proactively and got shot down on (assholes)
• Rough idle persists after '812 ECU...no CEL yet, but I've only put about 700 miles on the car since getting it back

I feel I made the right decision in pursuing a repurchase. This thing is a heap of scrap. I will never, ever deal with Subaru again. Nor will anybody I know, if I can help it. Basic problem solving just isn't within their organizational capability.

[BR Zenith]

Update:
Car in shop ECU to be replaced monday