I was told from another subie guy that a flashing check engine was the car telling you it's running rich, and it's getting a lot of unspent fuel damaging the cats/exhaust. I've never had that verified here yet though.

Thsi communication error came up after the engine replacement?

 

The communication error came up after he replaced the IAC sensor.

 

The fans coming on and off indicates you are in limp mode. Check the green connectors under your dash behind the fuse box. They should be UNPLUGGED.

 

Will do. Unfortunately, I can't do it myself. I'm in Cali, and my car is in NC. I will tell my mechainic tomorrow. Now, what if the green plugs are unplugged?

What a guy...going in to work on Sunday. Please keep the advice coming! I seriously do appreciate it!

 

Not sure. If they are unplugged, you have some other issues. You may need to get a tune for the new engine as I don't know the differences between the 04 2.0L and the 02 2.0L

 

Before I purchased the engine, I did raise the question "Will an 04 engine work in the 02 chassis?" The sales rep cross referenced the engines, and confirmed it. I will talk to my mechanic tomorrow (Sunday) and I will keep you updated. Again, thanks for the advice!

 

A flashing Check Engine light is not good at all, usually when the light is flashing it is indicating engine knock, you should do a compression check and or a leak down test.

 

The engine I bought has 57k miles, and was a certified good engine and the salvage yard gave me a 90 day warranty. The salvage yard also did a compression and leak down test before they sold me the engine, and my mechanic did both with no issues. I will get him to do another check tomorrow.

 

any 2.0 and 2.5 will fit in there

 

what was your compression readings?

 

I can't remember exact numbers, but there was very little fluctuation between the 4 cyl's. I'll find out from my mechanic tomorrow after he does another test.

 

what other test is he going to do

 

I'm going to tell him to make sure the green plugs under the dash are unplugged, and he is going to do another compression test. I'm also going to get some new plugs, even though the ones from the original engine look good(NGK, not sure if they're stock or colder. Will verify tomorrow) .

As far as the communication problem with the scan tool and the car's ECU..........????

I may get him to put the old IAC sensor back on to see if we can at least get the communication between the scan tool and the car's ECU back. He didn't have that issue until after he replaced it and reset the ECU.

 

Do you have the stock BOV

 

Nope. Previous owner installed the HKS SSQV

 

you should go to ebay and buy the stock bov and put that back on as well, you can just look under the dash and see if those two green connectors are hooked up it takes like 5 sec

 

I'm either going to get the stock BOV or get it tuned for the mods that are already on the car. It might take me a while to save up for the Cobb AP, etc, but I talked to Ben at Cobb and he said I will be ok until then and not to drive the car hard.

Green connectors, compression test, new plugs, and another "once over" of everything to make sure something didn't get overlooked will be on the menu for tomorrow.

 

Let us know how it went today hope you fixed the problem with the car!!!

 

Well, here is an update.

My mechanic checked the green connectors, and sure enough, they were connected. He unhooked them, reset the ECU, and the car fired right up without the CEL!

Now, here is my next ponder...even though there is no CEL, the fans still come on when the switch is on. If the car is still in "limp" mode, wouldn't the CEL be on? Any other ideas other than the previous owner may have straight wired the fans to the switch? Thanks in advance!

 

My mechanic drove the car about 25 miles, and CEL is back. Misfire #1 and #3. Gonna change the plugs. If that doesn't work, he's gonna swap the coils around. I also told him to double check the wiring to the coils. I guess next will be cleaning the MAF and/or fuel injectors. Am I on the right track here?

 

sounds like it. you do have an 57k on the engine they are due for replacement at 60k. not to mention a 60k tune up.

 

the black connectors for the coils go to the back coils towards the fire wall, and the white ones go to the front, is your A/C button on or defrost? when you have the A/C engaged the fans will turn out when the key is in the "on" position

 

Sounds like you're on the right track. Make sure the new plugs are gapped to .028, clean the MAF with the proper cleaner, reset the ECU and you should be good. If you have a lightweight flywheel, it might be causing the ECU to read misfires. It was going on with a friend of mine's car. We just put the stock flywheel back in and it runs fine. Then again, I had a 12.9lb flywheel and didn't have any problems...

Yes, any 2.0 or 2.5 will fit. The problem comes when there are different sensors or sensors read at different voltages/amperages. Also, I don't see how not having the stock BPV would even remotely cause the problem. The worst it will cause is a rich condition between shifts. Not something that can be tuned for either...

 

My mechanic seems to believe it was the plugs. He got one step colder plugs and has driven it about 35 more miles and no CEL.

 

That's good to hear, now get back there and drive it already.

 

HAHAHA!!! April 12th is the magic day! Headed on vacation on the 13th. I will definitely keep you updated.

 

Well, sadly, I'm back in California. I did drive my WRX and I must say it is a blast to drive! I have narrowed the CEL down to the infamous P0442, and I checked the charcoal canister. It seems to be good. No cracked hoses/bad connections. All vacuum lines are intact, and fuel cap is good. Next I will go under the hood, i.e. that fuel line that leaks, and the fuel injector o-rings. I won't be able to get to that until the first of July, though. I'm stuck in CA until then.