Hey guys,

I was put onto PerthWRX by a friend because I'm having a little trouble with mine.

As the title says, I have a 1997 GC8 WRX and at the moment shes a bit sick.

It idles really rough and when I put my foot door it just splutters and not much happens at all. I have replaced the spark plugs, and spark leads but still nothing. My next option was to replace the coil packs and see what happens.

I know its a long shot to diagnose with such little info but just wanted to know if anyone has come across the same problem or if there is a known issue with this model. There is also a smell of fuel when I put my foot down which led me to think the fuel wasn't burning which is why I've started to replace the spark related parts. But I'm still unsure because when I check the spark using a plug in tester I am still getting spark, whether or not its a poor faint spark its hard to tell.

Any info or help is much appreciated thank you!

Fuel pump & fuel filter?

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Bye bye betty blue. Hello F6.

AFM, fuel pump/filter, plugs, coil packs are common places to look for this. I would start with the AFM.

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MY08 WRX 325hp/456nm/18psi E85

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'll try the MAF sensor next then. It also isn't displaying a engine light fault or anything so it makes it all a little stranger.

As above on all suggestions, given my old school background it was always air/spark/fuel and keep it methodical/simple during fault diagnosis, but with the onset of ECU's it can at times throw a wobbler which makes it harder to diagnose unless you "plug in".
However from what you state I'd certainly lean towards spark (looks like your 1/2 way through replacing parts) or air. I had a similar intermittent fault post engine rebuild (big end) and it was faulty air flow meter.

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1980 MK2 Ford Escort RS2000
1979 MK2 Ford Escort RS1800 GRP4 spec historic rally car.
1998 GC8 WRX Tarmac rally car

Thanks for the reply. When you had the faulty air flow meter did it throw up an engine light on the dash though? I will most likely replace it anyway when I'm back from work.

No codes/dash lights, it had an intermittent splutter and fart with no power.

Given you're under the bonnet and if not done for a while I'd change the fuel/ air filters.

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1980 MK2 Ford Escort RS2000
1979 MK2 Ford Escort RS1800 GRP4 spec historic rally car.
1998 GC8 WRX Tarmac rally car

Yeah sounds like you had similar problems ill give it a crack thanks again!

Sounds like the problem I just solved, car was running like a pig for a couple of years, took it to mechanic in Mandurah, he did nothing toward fixing it except charge $145 for 55min work, I decided I'd check the air filter after about 5 or 6 years and being a foam one it had mostly disintegrated onto my afm, gave it a spray with contact cleaner and it's been perfect ever since. I had no codes either.

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Can't remember my old password fucking!

You are a fucking lazy cunt Tom.

You have not looked under the bonnet of that car for 4 years