CEL, Misfire and smoke from behind turbo. Bit stuck!

[Hrimfaxi]

Hi all,

Last weekend, my '02 WRX threw a wobbly on me - was driving through town traffic and all of a sudden the CEL appears, starts misfiring (feels like it's running on 3) and when I limped it home from Westerham to Beckenham - there was smoke from behind the turbo, like the up-pipe area.

Prior to this, it was hiccuping and holding back slightly.

Could the turbo smoke and CEL/misfire and rough running be related in any way? As it all happened at once.

It's a bit concerning, to say the least!

Any comments welcome, as Scooby is sat on my drive looking sorry for himself.

None of my local garages want to touch a Subaru and one said their diagnostic equipment isn't compatible. I've tried to contact Slowboy Racing, but can't get through.


Cheers in advance.

[Scott.T]

Do you know anyone local that has a OBD dongle that can read out the codes via a phone app i.e Torque Pro.

The CEL could point you to the failure i.e MAF, but the CEL may also flag if something more fundamental mechanically has failed i.e piston failure causing a Misfire which the ECU will log a Misfire count against.

01/02 WRX do like to log misfire related CEL's due to the poorley set low tolerance level in the ECU.

Does the CEL clear if you turn the ignition on/of 5 times without starting i.e fully on but don't crank, fully off (I think 5 time clears some CEL's but maybe it's 3 times)

[Hrimfaxi]

Thanks for the reply,

Afraid I don't know anyone who has one, but I reckon I should get one myself.

That's interesting and makes sense, I'm guessing it comes down to the fact I need the CEL before I can go anywhere to resolve it?

I've just been out and tried what you said, the CEL doesn't clear.

[Scott.T]

If your on Android this one works well : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009NPAO...JB3NJWEZTZ79YM&

If you on Iphone I can't help. I avoid 'I' products like the plague

[Hrimfaxi]

Thank you, will give that one a go.

Just another question - would an issue with the turbo throw up a CEL? In that, if it threw something else out of balance and trigged the CEL from a knock-on effect? If that makes sense? hah

And oh I'm the same, I don't get on with anything Apple!

[Scott.T]

No, turbo is probably too far downstream for the ECU to detect anything.
Was it blowing smoke out the back ?

[Hrimfaxi]

Nope, no smoke from the back, just from the up-pipe and a whiff of oil.

[Hrimfaxi]

So an update - found someone who could scan my car, misfire caused by coil pack 2. So that's not too bad. However, will have to look into the puff of smoke behind the turbo.

[Scott.T]

Could be good news then.
Get the coil pack sorted and then check if the turbo to intercooler hose is leaking. A bit of turbo oil blow-by may be leaking out and dripping down the back of the engine

Or you may have a rocker cover gasket leak causing oil to drip onto the header pipe.

[Hrimfaxi]

Thanks, will check that.

I've had the rocker cover gasket on that side replaced just over a year ago now, but I'll give it a careful look round.