Legacy gt no top end power

[2.0legacygt]

Hi I have a 2009 legacy gt that I just got done swapping a jdm ej20 in and I am having a problem with getting up to speed. It seems like the car has no power at all it will barely do 80 on the highway. it was doing the same thing with the 2.5 before I swapped it. Long story short I got the car from a shady car lot and it’s never been right the 2.5 blew up days after purchasing and I was hoping the 2.0 swap would solve all the problems. The engine runs great idling fine no shakes or stutter but if I put my foot to the floor I go no where. It is an automatic I’m not sure if it could be transition problems or not. The car is all stock except the engine swap. I just really need some help. Thanks!

[mcotton998]

What all did you use from the 2.5?

[whitetiger]

so seemingly without any diag, you throw a motor at the car and nothing changes. you mention nothing about ECU changes to adapt the jdm engine, nor any other diag processes you made to try to figure something out.

 

how is anyone gonna help you with the sparse amount of info you have given us.

[2.0legacygt]

I used the turbo, intake, fuel system, and Harness from the 2.5. it is on the factory 2.5 ecu just without the exhaust avcs hooked up. The car is throwing no codes. So I don’t know where to start with diagnosis. The 2.5 blew because of a fan that stopped working there for it over heated and spun the rod bearings. So whatever the problem It didn’t cause the 2.5 to blow.

[dgoodhue]

While I suppose it is possible that over heating cause the rod bearing to fail, I would guess the prior owner turbo failed and sent bearing material throughout the motor. They may have put another turbo on it to get it running good enough to sell it. Turbo failures are very common.

 

The turbo you reused may have been damaged and sent bearing material through your new motor. Stop driving the car immediately. I would next check the turbo to see if it spins freely. Do an oil change and check for glitter in the oil. You can also cut the oil filter and check the filter material for glitter. If you are lucky the motor doesn't have metal in it.

[2.0legacygt]

While I suppose it is possible that over heating cause the rod bearing to fail, I would guess the prior owner turbo failed and sent bearing material throughout the motor. They may have put another turbo on it to get it running good enough to sell it. Turbo failures are very common.

 

The turbo you reused may have been damaged and sent bearing material through your new motor. Stop driving the car immediately. I would next check the turbo to see if it spins freely. Do an oil change and check for glitter in the oil. You can also cut the oil filter and check the filter material for glitter. If you are lucky the motor doesn't have metal in it.

 

Yes prior owner did have a blown turbo the dealer I purchased the car from replaced the turbo. it is a used turbo but it has no shaft play and spins freely I can hear it spool up while driving but it adds no power.

[boxkita]

Yes prior owner did have a blown turbo the dealer I purchased the car from replaced the turbo. it is a used turbo but it has no shaft play and spins freely I can hear it spool up while driving but it adds no power.

 

the number one cause of engine failure for original engine is turbo failure. putting in a used turbo is usually number two reason engines fail. putting in jdm 2l because cheap and not tuning for it is usually number 3.

 

not a honda. parts swapping rarely fixes anything unless you also do the tuning. did you work with a tuner? do you want to?

[2.0legacygt]

the number one cause of engine failure for original engine is turbo failure. putting in a used turbo is usually number two reason engines fail. putting in jdm 2l because cheap and not tuning for it is usually number 3.

 

not a honda. parts swapping rarely fixes anything unless you also do the tuning. did you work with a tuner? do you want to?

 

Yes I understand it’s a cheap alternative. I didn’t put the turbo on I did do the swap though. And yes I would love to work with a tuner and no I have not. I don’t know where to start in terms of finding a tuner or what to ask of them. The car will barely do highway speed and going up a hill it feels like a lawnmower. Do you think a tuner could help it did the same thing with the 2.5 and that was with both the bad turbo and the used reman turbo.

[dgoodhue]

As mention the 1st turbo, is what took out the motor's bearings. The 2nd turbo that was install is probably also damaged, metal circulating in the engine oil.

 

Are you sure the current turbo still spins freely? If still does, it you probably have a mechanical issue to figure out. Did you replace the intake gaskets, injector gaskets when you did the swap? Also this gasket are old and brittle by now. I would check the intake tract for leaks as well (ie do a smoke test)

 

The car should be tuned for the EJ20, but you can't tune an engine if it has mechanical issue. The current turbo in the engine if it still work is also probably also not for life as well.

[2.0legacygt]

As mention the 1st turbo, is what took out the motor's bearings. The 2nd turbo that was install is probably also damaged, metal circulating in the engine oil.

 

Are you sure the current turbo still spins freely? If still does, it you probably have a mechanical issue to figure out. Did you replace the intake gaskets, injector gaskets when you did the swap? Also this gasket are old and brittle by now. I would check the intake tract for leaks as well (ie do a smoke test)

 

The car should be tuned for the EJ20, but you can't tune an engine if it has mechanical issue. The current turbo in the engine if it still work is also probably also not for life as well.

 

 

I have found a leak at the turbo where the intake tube connects it’s a bad rip in the tube like it’s not even connected. I have a new one ordered. Hopefully it will change something and yes the turbo is free spinning and spools great i can here it spoil and I took the down pipe off and checked for shaft play and it has none. It just builds no boost.

[whitetiger]

^that would cause a CEL, but not a boost leak/no boost. check the TB to IC charge pipe, and make sure your tune allows this motor to properly work with the factory boost control systems.

[NORULZleggy]

Hi I have a 2009 legacy gt that I just got done swapping a jdm ej20 in and I am having a problems

 

As soon as I saw this, I just laughed, cause so many people do this thinking it is the way to go. I have truly only seen this work with JDM EJ207 with no corners cut and using the correct ECU.

 

I think you should either cut your losses, go back to a used ej255, or take it to a subie performance or shop that work on them and knows what they are doing, and have then take care of it.

 

I see so many people end up never getting these to run right and they have problems. Trying to sell them is impossible. Before I got my 06 LGT, I passed on tons of them.