"02/'03 WRX ABS issues

[S]

Hi All!

This came from a member on our local autocross email list:
ABS Notice on 02 and 03 WRX cars

I got a letter today in the mail from Subaru about a problem with the
ABS
that there is a "Delayed Brake Response" under ABS braking under heavy
braking, and over uneven surfaces. They said they will reflash the ABS
computer for free if you want it. Has anyone gotten the letter and
have any
insight if this would be triggered under autocrossing?
<<<

Not that I'd _ever_ be one to say "I told you so", but
I TOLD YOU SO! Neener, Neener, Neener! ;-)

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[CompUser]

Hi All!

This came from a member on our local autocross email list:

ABS Notice on 02 and 03 WRX cars

I got a letter today in the mail from Subaru about a problem with the
ABS
that there is a "Delayed Brake Response" under ABS braking under heavy
braking, and over uneven surfaces. They said they will reflash the ABS
computer for free if you want it. Has anyone gotten the letter and
have any
insight if this would be triggered under autocrossing?

Dooubtful, unless your autocross course has a lot
(a LOT) of loose gravel strewn across the
hardball, or some other poor traction aspect.

 

[budburr]

Yes, It's been a pain in the ass to get decent stopping after hitting a bump with the
right front wheel under heavy breaking. Even a highway expansion joint will do it. And
after running under a truck trailer (he ran a stop sign) I think that extra second of
braking could have kept me out of trouble.

 

[James Meyer]

Yes, It's been a pain in the ass to get decent stopping after hitting a bump with the
right front wheel under heavy breaking. Even a highway expansion joint will do it. And
after running under a truck trailer (he ran a stop sign) I think that extra second of
braking could have kept me out of trouble.

I got my letter last week offering the free replacement of my ABS
electronic control unit. Can someone tell me exactly how to test the ABS to
make the problem show up on my '02 WRX because I've never had anything happen
that lead me to belive my ABS isn't doing exactly what it should. Perhaps I've
never pushed it that hard.

Anyway, what road surfaces make the "problem" show up most reliably?
How fast should I be going for the test? Should I slam on the breaks? Should I
be going in a straight line? What does the "problem" feel like?

Do I really have to hit a truck trailer to find out?

Jim

 

[CompUser]

I got my letter last week offering the free replacement of my ABS
electronic control unit. Can someone tell me exactly how to test the ABS to
make the problem show up on my '02 WRX because I've never had anything happen
that lead me to belive my ABS isn't doing exactly what it should. Perhaps I've
never pushed it that hard.

Anyway, what road surfaces make the "problem" show up most reliably?
How fast should I be going for the test? Should I slam on the breaks? Should I
be going in a straight line? What does the "problem" feel like?

It's actually not a "Subaru ABS problem", it's a
*Bosch* ABS problem. You can see all the
information, including scans of original docs, at
NHTSA.org.

I don't have a MY02, but I'd probably go for the
fix, even if only to get a new module installed.