1990 Liberty with 01 wrx engine

roadrunner · Post by **roadrunner** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:06 pm

Hi. brand new to here and subaru.

I picked up a mates car today,
Its a 1990 liberty sedan. It has a 01 WRX engine, turbo and cooler in it.

However, As soon as the boost gauge goes over 0 psi (starts to boost) it feels as though the spark cuts out. it runs quite fine while vacuum is on but dies completely as soon as it goes over zero vacuum.

my friend went overseas for a month but now is planning to stay there for six plus months and now told me to do something with it or get rid of it.
Details of the car are questionable as he bought it as is. doesnt know about the computer but was told it was a wrx computer in it.

I would like to get it going but not if its gonna cost too much.

Any help would be very appreciated,
Alex
0421846346

H-top · Post by **H-top** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:28 pm

maybe its an NA ecu? or no MAP or equiv sensor

WaLibBoy · Post by **WaLibBoy** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:56 am

roadrunner wrote:Hi. brand new to here and subaru.

I picked up a mates car today,
Its a 1990 liberty sedan. It has a 01 WRX engine, turbo and cooler in it.

However, As soon as the boost gauge goes over 0 psi (starts to boost) it feels as though the spark cuts out. it runs quite fine while vacuum is on but dies completely as soon as it goes over zero vacuum.

my friend went overseas for a month but now is planning to stay there for six plus months and now told me to do something with it or get rid of it.
Details of the car are questionable as he bought it as is. doesnt know about the computer but was told it was a wrx computer in it.

I would like to get it going but not if its gonna cost too much.

Any help would be very appreciated,
Alex
0421846346

First thing to do is locate the ecu. It can be located in 2 places. If it's in the original spot it will be on the drivers side of the steering colum under the dash if it's been modified it could be on the passenger side floor (wrx ecu's located there). Then try to work out what the ecu is. It should have a sticker with numbers on the out side case. Try that for starters. Gaz

Post by **Alex** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:43 pm

dodgy turbo solenoids? farked turbo?

could be alot of things really.

make sure all the lines to the turbo are on securely, make sure the intercooler is all plumbed correctly.

is it throwing any engine codes?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:15 pm

sell it real cheap to someone in here if you do won't you?

Have you or the owner experiemced its bbost ever or was it bought with the problem you mention? All hoses need to be checked first , as in vacuum/boost and air intakes. Any rats around while it has been stored to have bitten through any wires? Did you or anyone else give it a steam clean or has it been through recent floodwaters?

roadrunner · Post by **roadrunner** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:57 pm

Ok. i'm not sure if it was like this when he got it,

I'll check the ecu and go from there, no codes or engine light.
the plumbing looks good, but might or might not be.

The thing that gets me is that i thought it shouldnt cut out when it boosts just because its got a NA ECU, i would think it would just run average.
I'm basing this off the fact that i have had other cars in my life that are boosted running NA ECUs, and they still ran.
This cuts out completely when it boosted and doesnt come back until the boost goes below zero.

Again as i said ive never dealt with subaru with any form of major mods.

What would it be worth to sell? needs a water pump badly, but is still regoed, 4wd 17 inch mags, stereo/amp/sub. electric everything???

Thanks every one

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:09 pm

sounds like an intercooler pipe has come off.

my rex did this regularly when i blew the hoses off the front mount. soon as it hit boost, it was over fuelling and it would caugh and chug and die in the ass

davo