96 WRX import

[ScoobyDooAsh]

Hi all proud owner of a mk1 WRX here, had the car 4 months now and love it, brilliant car. Recently developed 'check engine' light on the dash and idle has become really rough, engine shakes and splutters. Took to garage I use and he said it isn't misfiring and the fault code shows it to be MAF. He did go on to say it may not be this 100% but it is most likely culprit and the cheapest thing to try? Anyone have any experience, know these go fairly commonly but I just hope it ain't something else.

I've been wondering for a while also how much difference is there between UK spec and Import when it comes to spares? I know it has the bigger turbo as standard and some other parts but I take it things like the MAF would be the same as a UK spec. Don't wanna get a cheap one of eBay but I'm not really sure where else to source one from, want something decent but don't want to spend too much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, just signed up so will have to get some pics of her sorted out. Car is very tidy really for being 20 years old (must of lived a good life in Japan!) and is standard-ish just got a list of small niggly jobs to do and looking to maintain her and replace key parts where possible.

[Sandals]

Welcome to the club! 

Certainly does sound like a knackered MAF... have you installed a different type of air filter? One of the oiled types? These have the potential to break the MAF...

Parts should be similar if not the exact same as far as i'm aware.

Think this is the MAF for your car:

http://scoobyworld.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=47_422&products_id=1351

[quit]

welcome, when you mean mk1 do you mean classic? says 96 which would put it about v3 

 

difference to the uk spec isnt that vast really.... pretty much nothing so parts are the same! BUT the mafs have different stickers on for different years so make sure you get the right one

[savage bulldogs]

Hi n welcome.

As matt said early 96 is v2 and late 96 is v3 .

The classic gc8 mafs have a colour coded sticker on them (green , purple , orange ) so just get one with the same colour sticker on.

Here's how to identify the differences between the versions.

V2 will have separate coil packs on each plug and a top entry turbo.

V3 will have a single coil pack in the centre of the inlet manifold with ht leads to each spark plug and a front entry turbo.

As for the maf they can be removed and cleaned by spraying brake or electric contact cleaner on the (fragile) elements. Just insure you don't touch the wire in the centre and make sure it's fully dry before refitting. 😉

If it's not broke .....upgrade it 😊

[stants]

Www.importcarparts.co.uk are good for bits like this, just hope you don't need a purple one 😥

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[kayzarh]

I brought a refurbished purple maf of eBay for like £50 worked perfectly ever since

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[ScoobyDooAsh]

Hi guys, brilliant wow thank so much good info. I didn't Sandals but it had a cone filter installed when bought it, exhaust is straight through - no cat if that makes a difference. Nothing else done to the engine that I know of bar a dump valve and some pink silicone hoses (going to change these!).

I will have a look at the colour sticker on mine when I get back from work, might have to quiz some more if I get stuck. Better order one this weekend. So glad you told me about the different versions! 

After I get this fixed and she's running right again I'm going to have to think about what I wanna do next, don't wanna spend big bucks atm but really would like to maintain and future-proof it, possibly try get some slight gains in power just nothing that's going to kill the engine though. Talked to my mate from work who I bought it off the other day (he had it a couple of years and was very reluctant sale as he loved it but needed the money for a new van for work). He said in the past year enginewise its had a oil change, new oil filter, new spark plugs. Anyone know what else may be worth getting check or replaced? I like cars and do a bit of exterior stuff but not mechanical in any way really. One thing I can think is the cambelt - he doesn't know when it was done last. Don't know how much I'm looking for this to be honest or what else would be worth getting done, prices etc.

Sorry for all the questions! Just want my scooby to be on the road long term as its a dream car :)

I am also curious about remapping and how much/where to get this done, its an import and no cat so I'm guessing this would be beneficial in power and with the difference in the Japanese/English petrol? I read somewhere that you can damage your engine by using english fuel in an import but not sure on the truth of this. I started off using super unleaded every time but now using it every other fillup. I also don't know on the effects of not having the cat, I read somewhere else this could be damaging in itself.

Any help greatly received, eager to learn what I can about these great cars

[kayzarh]

Hi guys, brilliant wow thank so much good info. I didn't Sandals but it had a cone filter installed when bought it, exhaust is straight through - no cat if that makes a difference. Nothing else done to the engine that I know of bar a dump valve and some pink silicone hoses (going to change these!).

I will have a look at the colour sticker on mine when I get back from work, might have to quiz some more if I get stuck. Better order one this weekend. So glad you told me about the different versions! 

After I get this fixed and she's running right again I'm going to have to think about what I wanna do next, don't wanna spend big bucks atm but really would like to maintain and future-proof it, possibly try get some slight gains in power just nothing that's going to kill the engine though. Talked to my mate from work who I bought it off the other day (he had it a couple of years and was very reluctant sale as he loved it but needed the money for a new van for work). He said in the past year enginewise its had a oil change, new oil filter, new spark plugs. Anyone know what else may be worth getting check or replaced? I like cars and do a bit of exterior stuff but not mechanical in any way really. One thing I can think is the cambelt - he doesn't know when it was done last. Don't know how much I'm looking for this to be honest or what else would be worth getting done, prices etc.

Sorry for all the questions! Just want my scooby to be on the road long term as its a dream car :)

I am also curious about remapping and how much/where to get this done, its an import and no cat so I'm guessing this would be beneficial in power and with the difference in the Japanese/English petrol? I read somewhere that you can damage your engine by using english fuel in an import but not sure on the truth of this. I started off using super unleaded every time but now using it every other fillup. I also don't know on the effects of not having the cat, I read somewhere else this could be damaging in itself.

Any help greatly received, eager to learn what I can about these great cars

Yup if the car isn't remapped for UK fuel, its recommended to only run on high octane fuel such as vpower.

Also if your car isn't tuned for a dump valve (vent to atmosphere) it can be very bad for ur engine! I think its pretty common for us all to agree that the stock dump valve is the best

Sent from my m8 using Tapatalk

[kayzarh]

Hi guys, brilliant wow thank so much good info. I didn't Sandals but it had a cone filter installed when bought it, exhaust is straight through - no cat if that makes a difference. Nothing else done to the engine that I know of bar a dump valve and some pink silicone hoses (going to change these!). I will have a look at the colour sticker on mine when I get back from work, might have to quiz some more if I get stuck. Better order one this weekend. So glad you told me about the different versions! 

After I get this fixed and she's running right again I'm going to have to think about what I wanna do next, don't wanna spend big bucks atm but really would like to maintain and future-proof it, possibly try get some slight gains in power just nothing that's going to kill the engine though. Talked to my mate from work who I bought it off the other day (he had it a couple of years and was very reluctant sale as he loved it but needed the money for a new van for work). He said in the past year enginewise its had a oil change, new oil filter, new spark plugs. Anyone know what else may be worth getting check or replaced? I like cars and do a bit of exterior stuff but not mechanical in any way really. One thing I can think is the cambelt - he doesn't know when it was done last. Don't know how much I'm looking for this to be honest or what else would be worth getting done, prices etc.

Sorry for all the questions! Just want my scooby to be on the road long term as its a dream car :)

I am also curious about remapping and how much/where to get this done, its an import and no cat so I'm guessing this would be beneficial in power and with the difference in the Japanese/English petrol? I read somewhere that you can damage your engine by using english fuel in an import but not sure on the truth of this. I started off using super unleaded every time but now using it every other fillup. I also don't know on the effects of not having the cat, I read somewhere else this could be damaging in itself.

Any help greatly received, eager to learn what I can about these great cars

Yup if the car isn't remapped for UK fuel, its recommended to only run on high octane fuel such as vpower.

Also if your car isn't tuned for a dump valve (vent to atmosphere) it can be very bad for ur engine! I think its pretty common for us all to agree that the stock dump valve is the best

Sent from my m8 using Tapatalk

I'd also put the car back to a stock air box and kn/green panel filter.

Rule of thumb. Keep the car as stock as possible if its not going to be mapped soon. Stock = reliable

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[Sandals]

I would stick with using high octane fuel all the time... it's only a few quid more a tank and saves any headaches with potential knocking.

Might be a good idea to change fuel filter and coolant if that hasn't been done in a while, also maybe gearbox and diff oil too... pretty much a major service but not difficult to do yourself!

[ScoobyDooAsh]

Awesome thanks for all your help guys, need to start using just high octane all the time now, did to begin with but started slacking - wasn't sure of the relevance but someone said its something to do with the lead content?

It was the green one btw! thanks all, got a 2nd hand one off eBay (supposedly tested but we'll see, know it can be hit or miss with 2nd hand parts on there). Enjoying riding my bicycle with this weather atm so no real rush, will get mate to fit it and see if it runs right again, if not I'll take the plunge and buy new end of the month when I get paid again.

Hi Kayzarh yeah dumpvalve I think is after-market, looks like a forge one. I see where your coming from the car isn't setup for the exhaust system now/air intake etc and needs to be in harmony. I did ask my mate about remapping a while back and he started reeling off something about 2 possible variants and binary, didn't really understand. Am I right because of the age of the car you can't just reprogram the existing ECU? Do you have to chip or replace it? I was thinking this was around £300-600 but no idea really to be honest. Can anyone shed any light or point me in the direction of somewhere in Somerset/Wiltshire that can do this.

Cheers Sandals I'm gunna stockpile those parts to change in one hit, thanks man