My car broke down today :( - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

Dewey · 2009-07-01, 01:03 PM

I was driving down to Reno from Incline, and my car shut off. I was coasting in gear, going about 60 MPH when my RPMs dropped from about 3k to 0. (The car was still doing 3k RPMs) When I pulled over, I reset the ECU, and it was fine. I continued to drive down to Reno when suddenly it happened again. This time the ECU reset didn't do anything. When I move my key to the ON position the CEL doesn't come on and I cannot hear my fuel pump priming my engine. Does anyone have any thoughts on what it could be?

FWIW: I checked all the fuses, relays, and I believe my fuel pump is fine. Could this be caused by my ECU?

Also, does anyone have an '02 WRX ECU that I might be able to swap into my car to test if that is causing the problem?

Thanks in advance for any replies.
-Chris

cody · 2009-07-01, 01:05 PM

Sorry to hear it Man. Good luck!

sperry · 2009-07-01, 02:42 PM

I've got two '02 ECUs sitting around. One has my smog map on it, and is set up for blow-thru MAF, so that probably won't work for starting the car.

The other has an EcuTek license on it w/ a map for my car circa 2004 on it... but it might start the car. It would at least cycle the fuel pump and let you know if your ECU it totally kaput.

100_Percent_Juice · 2009-07-01, 04:07 PM

IheartSTI might be willing to separate his ECU from the motor.

cody · 2009-07-01, 04:11 PM

^Is the MY03 ECU compatible with a MY02 car?

100_Percent_Juice · 2009-07-01, 04:14 PM

I didn't know there was a difference between the two.

cody · 2009-07-01, 04:16 PM

I think there are, but I'm not sure how significant they are, if at all.

sperry · 2009-07-01, 04:38 PM

They're the same. The ECU I'm using for smog is from an '03. The only difference is between AT and MT transmissions IIRC.

Kevin M · 2009-07-01, 09:01 PM

The '03 has one extra pin in use for a fuel level sensor or something like that (I can never remember exactly what) but I do know that they are interchangeable, you just may get a CEL.

Dewey · 2009-07-03, 07:57 PM

So, I worked on it yesterday once my boss left work

and I have narrowed it down to the fusebox inside the cabin. It will start back up and run then die periodically. When I push on the inside fusebox when I have no power to the ECU or fuel pump I can start it again. However, I checked all the connections on the fusebox, and I also reconnected them. All of them seemed to be fine. The car died once since then. The last 15 or so hours it has been trouble free. I'll keep you guys updated.

Dean · 2009-07-03, 09:23 PM

Might be a failing relay contact. I think there are relays in that fuse box. See if any do anything important.

2009-07-01, 01:03 PM	#1
Dewey EJ251 Real Name: Chris Dewey Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 520 Car: 98 RSTi Unicorn! Class: Street Modified	My car broke down today :( I was driving down to Reno from Incline, and my car shut off. I was coasting in gear, going about 60 MPH when my RPMs dropped from about 3k to 0. (The car was still doing 3k RPMs) When I pulled over, I reset the ECU, and it was fine. I continued to drive down to Reno when suddenly it happened again. This time the ECU reset didn't do anything. When I move my key to the ON position the CEL doesn't come on and I cannot hear my fuel pump priming my engine. Does anyone have any thoughts on what it could be? FWIW: I checked all the fuses, relays, and I believe my fuel pump is fine. Could this be caused by my ECU? Also, does anyone have an '02 WRX ECU that I might be able to swap into my car to test if that is causing the problem? Thanks in advance for any replies. -Chris __________________ Sponsored HEAVILY by BC Tuning.

2009-07-01, 01:05 PM	#2
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Sorry to hear it Man. Good luck! __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2009-07-01, 02:42 PM	#3
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I've got two '02 ECUs sitting around. One has my smog map on it, and is set up for blow-thru MAF, so that probably won't work for starting the car. The other has an EcuTek license on it w/ a map for my car circa 2004 on it... but it might start the car. It would at least cycle the fuel pump and let you know if your ECU it totally kaput. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2009-07-01, 04:07 PM	#4
100_Percent_Juice (40 percent vodka) Real Name: Joel Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,446 Car: 2004WRX Class: Baby-Hauler/GroceryGetter	IheartSTI might be willing to separate his ECU from the motor. __________________ "A power nap is when you sleep on someone who is weaker than you." - Dimitri Martin

2009-07-01, 04:11 PM	#5
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	^Is the MY03 ECU compatible with a MY02 car? __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2009-07-01, 04:14 PM	#6
100_Percent_Juice (40 percent vodka) Real Name: Joel Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 4,446 Car: 2004WRX Class: Baby-Hauler/GroceryGetter	I didn't know there was a difference between the two. __________________ "A power nap is when you sleep on someone who is weaker than you." - Dimitri Martin

2009-07-01, 04:16 PM	#7
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	I think there are, but I'm not sure how significant they are, if at all. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2009-07-01, 04:38 PM	#8
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	They're the same. The ECU I'm using for smog is from an '03. The only difference is between AT and MT transmissions IIRC. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2009-07-01, 09:01 PM	#9
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	The '03 has one extra pin in use for a fuel level sensor or something like that (I can never remember exactly what) but I do know that they are interchangeable, you just may get a CEL. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2009-07-03, 07:57 PM	#10
Dewey EJ251 Real Name: Chris Dewey Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 520 Car: 98 RSTi Unicorn! Class: Street Modified	So, I worked on it yesterday once my boss left work and I have narrowed it down to the fusebox inside the cabin. It will start back up and run then die periodically. When I push on the inside fusebox when I have no power to the ECU or fuel pump I can start it again. However, I checked all the connections on the fusebox, and I also reconnected them. All of them seemed to be fine. The car died once since then. The last 15 or so hours it has been trouble free. I'll keep you guys updated. __________________ Sponsored HEAVILY by BC Tuning.

2009-07-03, 09:23 PM	#11
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Might be a failing relay contact. I think there are relays in that fuse box. See if any do anything important. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

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