So, do i need to order any parts?  Like a stage 2 cobb?  Or do i just take my car somewhere and have them tune the factory cpu?   Sorry new to this type of vehicle.

cade wrote:

Get a catless up pipe, a turbo back exhaust, and a Cobb Accessport. Flash the ecu to their off the shelf Stage 2 tune, and call it a day.

If you have a couple weeks, I'll probably have a V1 AccessPort up for grabs.

Do exactlly this  but spring for the V2 or V3. V1 can kill...

I've had my V1 Stage 2 flash for a couple years. No problems here. But I am going to add an upgraded fuel pump, injectors, and EBCS and get protuned to get everything I can out of the stock turbo. If that still leaves me wanting, I'll throw in a VF39 or the like and be done. For now.

Would leaving it stock and a stage 1 flash be of any benefit? I'm not to the point where I want to replace the turbo back just yet.

If at all possible don't mess with off the shelf tunes, find a local reputable tuner to street tune it. Cheaper and will result is a much better fit for your car. Modest driveability improvements if you tune a stock car, significant improvements if you swap out the stock DP.  Tactrix cables are around $100 if you want to dabble in tuning or data logging.

If you live in the northeast there are many quality guys to choose from.

does the catless up pipe set off the check engine light?

TNAero2005 wrote:

does the catless up pipe set off the check engine light?

Some UPs have a bung for the EGT probe, so you can install it and have no CEL. Not worth the hassle, much better off using the simple resistor mod to take the EGT out of the mix.

Always use new gaskets with an UP. It is one of the biggest PITA job on these cars because it is so easy to get a leak that will squeal like a stuck pig on boost. I usually drop the EM and wiggle out the bottom, I may do my next one removing the turbo since I'm swapping the DP at the same time.

TNAero2005 wrote:

ok guys, new question, i got the catless up pipe and downpipes with all new denso o2 sensors installed and headers,  didnt get an exhaust bc i like it quiet.   Now, i need to get it tuned, but someone told me on here dont get the cobb accessport v2, get a pro tune locally.  Well i am in east tennessee and the only place i found that can do it, wasnt 500 dollars to tune it.   Is that not an outrageous price?  Also if i did go with the accessport, is it something i can do myself?    Is it ok to be driving the car before it gets tuned?

thanks for the help guys

AP can do Stage 2 just fine, but custom tune is the best since it is catered to your car.  Most places make a custom map that you can use with your AccessPort, thus allowing you to flash back to stock easily instead of having to go back to them.

TNAero2005 wrote:

hey drew, i remember you, how ya doing man?     2 questions, is 500 alot to tune it?   and why would you need to go back stock?

I don't know if that is a lot for a custom tune, but it does sound high.  When I had my car, I just used the Cobb Stage 2 Map and had no issues.  Going back to stock is just if you plan on taking some parts off in the future or you want to sell the car more stock.  It's not that important though.

Also, I was able to use my accessport to turn off the check engine light with a catless up-pipe and any other exhaust related lights.

$500 for a dyno tune is reasonable for a quality job you'd be using the dyno for an hour or so. I don't understand the AP appeal, but I haven't used on since v2 so maybe they offer some to account for their $500+ price tag. A $15 OBDII scanner and $5 Torque app can monitor a lot of things if you like gauges, a $150 Tactrix cable lets you change maps or go back to your stock map.  More power, smoother, safer, all pros for custom tune.

TNAero2005 wrote:

thanks for the info guys, i guess i will make my appointment and get the tune for 500 dollars.........i have no plans to return it to stock, and there are no vehicle inspections in tennessee, and i have alot of cars, this is just one i will drive from time to time............but i still have the question, can i buy a cobb access port 2 and just hook it up and do a tune that it comes with myself or is there alot more to it than just plug it in and set it up, i have never done anything like that before.......thanks

A Cobb Accessport comes with preloaded OTS Stage I, Stage II, etc tunes which are plug and play as you mentioned. Only thing is these are not optimized for catless downpipes like I believe you went with. OTS maps are iffy at best even with a high flow cat, so I agree with everyone else get a protune. Make sure the tuner knows what he's doing though and is preferably authorized as a Cobb protuner or at the very least has experience with WRXs (even if you don't go with the Accessport being an authorized Cobb Protuner shows some level of competency), list can be found here https://www.cobbtuning.com/dealers.

Last edited by sohlman (2017-04-30 00:06:51)

tooalmazing wrote:

Make sure all maintenance are in check before making it perform more than it's expected.

This  Do an oil change etc before the dyno tune even if it isn't due yet.