I have a dilema, my MY98 wrx has developed a cold start problem. It lasts for the first 5-10 minutes of driving. Its horrible... it's like im tapping the accelerator repeatedly while I'm just cruising along.

Sean has had the car in Malaga for a total of about 3 weeks now trying to work out the problem (god bless him) and has tried everything. He says it runs rich when cold. The air flow meter was replaced by EFI with an aftermarket one. The ECU has been swapped (it's standard). No change. There are no engine mods. Just an after market fuel pump.

As a last resort I took it to Subaru Ozy Park. They inform me that they beleive that it is the air flow meter. $700 for a new one if they can't find one to test. But they wont refund the $700 if the problem remains.

I seriously doubt it the airflow meter... so I'd be silly to give them $700 for a new one when I don't think that will fix it.

So my question is, if this was your car and you were going to keep it, what would you do? I'm at the end of my tether.

hey adam,
If they say it costs $700 its bullshit, as the MY94-96 and the Bugeye onwards use a single piece AFM which costs $700, and the MY97-00 uses a 2 piece which costs around the $300-350. I was told this by the parts sales guy at ozzy park when i was ordering a new AFM for my MY94!

I'd say one of your many sensors have gone!

Your car just doesnt want you to go hey

__________________
09 Evo X

The damn things is sold... pending this problem fixed.

Thanks tho I will point out the discrepancy

Thanx Matt

Have you tried the throtle positioning sensor my one was playing up did the exactly the same thing

Tried checking for engine codes?
Can you borrow an air flow meter from somebody else with the same car for a quick test?

have been offered an air flow meter

Ask one of the workshops (Maximum Motorsport / Revlimit) if they can plug in their select monitor into it and read off any error codes ?

Don't talk to sales at any of the dealerships, go to the parts - service section. They should at least be able to plug their monitor in and tell you the error for no cost.

o2 sensor maybe ?
Name of the aftertermarket airflow meter ?

J