Jacob Stabler Its ok. After a month of driving, Im starting to feel like I downgraded from my 14 Accord Coupe v6. I did need a bigger car for my daughter tho. Its a fun car to drive. The biggest thing I hate is how the far pretty much dies between 4500-5k rpm. I mod my cars but everything engine wise seems to need a tune on this car. My advice, talk to as many ppl you know with the car for their opinions. Also check out some FB groups prior. If I could go back, I would have gotten an STI.
Larry B wow, never heard that before! So do you have the Cobb AP... have you tried maximum automotive performances 91/93 octane tune? What were you looking for in this car? I guess if you just want power, of course the STI would better suit you, but fo you think the WRX is underpowered or underwhelming?
Jacob Stabler I have zero mods yet. Its new & I only have 1500 miles on the car. Im kind of hessitant to purchase the AP b/c I dont want to potentially lose some warranty. Not looking to make gains but I just think it could be more driver friendly. Look up some "why I hate WRX" vids 😂😂😂. Also do your homework on trim package differences.
Just bought myself a 2020 wrx, like a few people on here it's my first turboed car. I just want to say that this was a great video, extremely informative. Answered all the questions I had regarding the stock throttle response.
I just bought a 2017 wrx and its my first turbo as well.I feel like the car is quick from the factory.The car hits boost even when i barely push the throttle. Since mine is a 6speed manual,im wondering if the autos do the same. I mean it seems like im always in boost. In start and stop traffic,the awd makes it take off so fast when I barely give it throttle. I ordered the remark muffler delete catbacks and look forward to them.I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. This car is a beast
Thanks so much. Just installed mine yesterday with a stock dyno remap since my car is brand new and just wanted to get the most I could get out of it. Very nice piece of equipment Cobb got available for us. Once again thank you so much. Did learned a lot today from you
if ur in the US your protected by moss magnuson act. doing mods on ur car does not void warranty unless they can have solid proof on which aftermarket caused which ever part in the car to fail.
Great video! I'm thinking of getting a wrx (my first turbo car), but I heard a lot of stories about dead zones in certain RPM ranges, and heard that a tune would fix that. You really helped me understand the basics of tuning.
Excellent video. Thank you for this, not many people work on the new 18's and they are different in small ways. I love how you started at the beginning for a new tuner POV. Not all of us are pro tuners. This answered so many simple questions, again, Thank you!
Thanks for the video. Do you know what happen with the 3 differents mode of SI-Drive in a 2019 STi using the Cobb Accessport? Do Still working? does it overwrite the original maps?
Thanks bro. New sub just for your thorough explanation on the cobb accesport. We all greatly appreciate this. Have a 02' wrx.. thinking of getting a accesport and cobb downpipe and exhaust and all that.. just dont want to hurt her.. we will see. Thanks again.
you all probably dont care at all but does anyone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow lost my password. I would love any help you can give me
@Harrison Westley I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Best mod by far is a universal Subaru flex fuel kit from eBay saving 200-250$ from buying same thing branded by Cobb and then getting a flex fuel tune. Hands down best money spent. And if you bundle the ap purchase with their e tune then you save 100-200$ on that as well. Just went e50 with universal flex kit and power gains are insane. 360/360.
Thanks for the video. Subie tech told me to hold off on ECU tune...they can tell if original map was recently restored. There is a frequent problem with EMU...they couldn’t update WRX history after a repair. Flash would have voided the warranty. Instead I got the EMU replaced under warranty because I didn’t use the Accessport (it’s in the box until the warranty expires).
My question is, if I want to do a stage 1 tune, do I need to already have parts in and if so what parts do I need to look at it? I plan on getting a 15 wrx and I'll have 5 grand to drop on it
Looks like the setup process has been streamlined vs the 2000s WRXs. My 02 required you to plug in a pair of green cables and then pug in an included bypass cable before you could install the access port. A bit of a pain in the butt as those plugs and cables were jammed up under the dash on the driver's side and you basically had to either lay down on the floor looking up into the guts of the dash (not comfortable) or do it upright by kissing the dash and blindly reaching your hands underneath and try to find and plug in the cables by feel. I just got an 18 WRX and am looking to throw a Cobb AP at it down the road and it is nice to know I'm not going to need to take Yoga classes to dick around with cables under the dash.
Definitely something I will highly consider for my 2019 wrx. It is a nice car, but clutch/throttle sync'ing is proving a bit more difficult than my 04 gti; the wrx is more sensitive and requires less "effort" than the gti which is what is throwing me off
K03sport Agree 100%. I have a 2018 and even now (after almost 2 years of ownership) I honestly don’t really enjoy driving it because of the throttle map and the rev hang. My 03 Civic Si and 05 WRX were much better drivers cars....I’m considering buying an Accessport and saying f the warranty to be honest lol.
I dont have a warranty...but what if you just detuned it and took the Cobb back out before taking it in to Subaru. Im in my first wrx debating if i should get a tuner. I had one for my 03 gt mustang and it was a huge game changer. I had it tuned to race mode. Was an automatic but had 1, 2 and then drive. I could hit 55 in first and 90 in second. So i could cruise on the freeway at 80. Speedy guy comes up on me. Drop it in to second and matt it to the floor and that car took off. Was so much fun. But my wrx is pretty fast already dont want to sacrifice reliability to go a lil faster unless it really effects the overall drivability in a positive way.
My 2018 Outback Premium 2.5 has plenty of throttle response, heading down the highway , cruising around 75 mph in 7th gear/Overdrive CVT I barely have to touch the gas
1. What I've heard is that when you do the first reflash for a tune it ticks something in the ECU and stops a certain counter or something like that. When you reflash the stock tune itll come back but itll leave a gap of the whole time you had the tune... In example - Stock tune:15000 miles > Stage 1: 30000 miles >|Reflash to stock tune| 30500 miles. Itll read as a stock tune up to 15000 > 30500 leaving a gap inbetween showing it was tuned.. like I said thats what I've heard. Can't confirm it as a fact. 2. Any basic 91/93 octane tune will fix that.
@@SJS_Devin I just thought it reset the ECU counter. Such as how many miles/ignition cylces since the last flash. Didnt think it kept a log like that. Everyone who flashed their car would be red handed at that point lol
@@nightwalker1h773 Indeed, but some dealers are mod-friendly so it's ok if they're ok with it. Edit: I'd ask your dealer if they're mod friendly with APs or not if you're concerned about the warranty.
@@SJS_Devin it's not your dealer at the end of the day that's going to deny a warranty claim. It's SOA. Mod friendly means nothing to me and shouldn't to you. Do not trust them!
Proud to say I am officially WRX STI owner. My car at the moment is COMPLETELY stock. I was on the Cobb website and it recommends that I use Stage 1 map or 91 or 93 octane map. Are these ok to use with no modifications to the car?
Yeah a stage 1 is just a tune. Stage 2 is when you get into bolt-ons usually. A tune will reduce your turbo and oil life. The 2.5 are not that strong so I would be careful going above a stage 1. I'd make sure to pick low torque tunes if you like to drive it hard to avoid connecting rod stress (just my opinion)
Excellent video, the most informative deep dive into the Cobb AP that I've seen. I just purchased a 2020 WRX Limited, which I've been looking forward to getting for a LONG time. I will tune it at some point, but probably not while it's under warranty. This car was way too expensive to risk losing my warranty, at least not this soon. I agree that the factory tune is definitely not great. The car is not very smooth to drive, but I will tolerate it at least for the first 30,000 miles or so. I plan to get regular oil analyses done along the way to monitor for engine wear. If no abnormal wear is detected, I will probably tune the car somewhere around 30k - 35k, which is only 1.5 years of driving for me.
A lot of subaru dealers are mod friendly, at least with an accessport. If you talk to them first and stay stage 1 during warranty you may be able to work that out.
@@kevinmucha5996 depends on the state 🤷🏻♂️ I'm in Cali so all that just went out the window. Can't tune your ECU legally here at all 🤦🏻♂️ but check with your dealer, more often than not they will work with you as long as you are using parts from reputable brands.
I got the 2015 wrx. When i prest the gas pedal i can feel the power but after 3500 rmp feel like a dead spot no power at all just feel like a. Air blowing out Any idea.
The info in the video is great. The thumbnail is however a bit misleading. An access port doesn't always guarantee gains. A proper tune could actually decrease power for safety of the vehicle. I know mine lost some for safety and due to crappy 91acn octane.
So everything you add like a j pipe or exhaust all the brands are already on that access port and you add them into a folder basically and that’s how you create your tune???
I have a CNT axle back exhaust, Cobb Big SF Intake, & A Boomba BPV on 91. How do I go about setting my AP to those exact settings, will it already be pre loaded?
Will the car run w/o the AP plugged in for when I have to take the car into the dealer for maintenance? Then I can plug it back in after leaving the dealership?
The car will run without the AP plugged in, the tune will remain active if you unplug the AP as well. The problem is that the ECUs in the new WRXs keep track if there were any changes done to them, even if you reinstall the original factory tune. I don't think it keeps track of what was done, just that changes were made.
@@Reaper_Racing is that true? I literally am looking at vids and stuff trying to research before I buy one. I didnt know if they left a foot print. But if it is the same code as when the battery dies I'm 100% going to buy one lol.
I'm new to this device but not new to tuning. I thought for most tuners you can flash your car with them but then unplug the tuner and the car's ecu will remain flashed. But at the end you make it seem like if you unplug the tuner after uploading the tune it still removes the tune. Did i miss understand that or is this correct?
You do not have to leave the Accessport plugged in - once the tune is uploaded it will remain. There is an option to change the tune on the fly which happens instantly but will not stay stored on the ECU but you can choose which way you want to load the tune.
About to buy a 2018 wrx in just a few days and looking for some reliable upgrades that make the car run better and healthier. With the COBB access port, what is a good axel back exhaust and intake to buy to go with it for reliability and some more power?
You will want to get the COBB intake if you don't plan on getting a protune/etune since COBB has a stage 1+ map for that specific intake available. If you are going to get a protune/etune then I would recommend Grimmspeed. The axleback won't matter for performance/reliability so I would just go with whatever you think looks the best.
thank you so what is the best option I can get for my wrx2021(gs intake,greddy exhaust,and a cobb access) stage1+sf map now, but the car is not running as good as stage 1 I am looking forward to a etune? or a protune? or ??
The best mod for the money is getting a flexfuel kit and running E85. You will have massive gains with it just depends on how easily accessible E85 is in your area tho.
Feel like this tuner is more complex than my mustang. My mustang tuner had 3 options. Economy/gas saver. Then a middle one ..cant remember. And race mode. Of course i was always in race mode. Just made the car shifter a lil higher in rpms. A lot faster. Could get from 80-120 incredibly fast
No. If you're waiting for the refresh get a 2021. Never buy a first year car. Look up "2015 wrx problems". If you like the current wrx the 2019 is probably the best year in the generation.
The Accessport won't tell you what type of exhaust you will need but it doesnt matter as long as it is an exhaust. it based on what you want. Currently for myself, Im running a SPT exhaust with Nameless Muffler deletes but im looking into get a Catless J-Pipe.
I just got 18’ wrx too. 1600 miles and I’m almost ready to pull the trigger. The whole falling over itself at 4K is unbearable. It feels like I bought a new car that is broken. My god. The REV HANG!!! WTF!
@@rallyfreak08 I got an 18 back in July so I feel your pain. I bought an AP yesterday and flashed the stage 1 tune and all those problems were gone. It does feel like a totally different car, like many people say, in some ways good in others not so much. I love the lack of rev hang and that boost pulls all the way to 6200k. But I miss the "surge" on the stock tune. I'd say go for it if you haven't already. I'd be pissed if I'd waited for the warranty to run up but to each their own.
Bigblack Cockus thanks for the reply. I have not gotten the AP yet. I’m getting more used to the stock tune now. I’m at 6500 miles. I’m considering keeping it full stock now and getting an older wrx to mess around with and tune. I do have 100k bumper to bumper and a lifetime Powertrain warranty. Also I know what you mean about the “surge” on the stock tune. For everyday driving and not doing pulls to redline the surge is fun. Is it worth the 650 to lose the rev hang and flatten the power curve? Maybe. Also with the risk of voiding possible warranty claims makes it a very hard decision. 😬
Bigblack Cockus I’m interested in how your stage 1 tune does on the highway. I just got back from a 1500 mile road trip with all highway driving. At 75mph it’s so easy to overboost in 6th gear. Revs are at 2.75k and you can build full boost with just a little throttle. Great for passing but I worry about low speed preignition. Curious if the stage one is better cause it makes the throttle curve more linear. Any thoughts???
You can use nay exhaust combo as long as it’s catted. The CAI is a different story because it depends on the tuning size and the placement of the MAF. So I would either stick with a Cobb intake or just go for a custom turn which should get you a lot more power anyway.
@@jacob5412 That is correct! Altho the map will just be meant to get you to the shop (not really for extended driving) but should run reasonably smooth
Stage 1 is strictly NO MODS. You will damage your car if you run any tune that is not matched to the correct parts for it. You can see this in the map notes for both stage 1 and stage 2 etc.
So i bought a 2018 subaru wrx, guy who sold it to me had an accessport in it and it was tuned, he uninstalled the accessport and flushed the ecu back to normal but the check engine light came on. Why?
Does your car have any mods on it? If so, most aftermarket parts will trigger a check engine light without the proper calibration/tune from the accessport.
It still has an aftermarket intake, im guessing is probably because of it sending too much air? It idles below 500 rpm in stops or when reversing. Im so confused man.
jay bosher i bought an accessport and tuned it to stage 1. It actually helped a lot! No more check engine, no more rough idling. Runs better. I noticed that before the tune the cars PSI was on 13. I did a tune and it jumped all the way to 17. I have no idea what that means but im guessing its good?
@@itsmeecjay4769 the stock tune is based on stock parts. a high flow intake will cause you AF ratio to go lean. in turbo cars this can be very bad. by adding the proper tune your telling the computer to use more fuel so it corrects the ratio and your car will run better and will make a bit more power. remember to always get a proper tune for any mods that change your eng ine like headers or j pipe that remove or change the catalytic converters thus changing your flow
Question im planning to install a magnaflow catback and stage 1 accessport with the intake that comes in the package , will I have anyproblems running with that setup? Dont want to push the engine to the point it may blow just want to keep a safe tune , just looking for better response and minor performance hp upgrade. Nothing big just safe. Thank you
Hi David, what you are looking to do would definitely be just fine. I absolutely think the best place to put your money after an accessport is a custom tune tho - it will make more power, be the most reliable and your car will run the best. There really are no downsides as long as you choose a good tuner (I recommend Ron Watson) you can do an E-Tune so your location doesn't matter. I would also consider doing muffler deletes rather than the magnaflow if you DON'T plan on doing a downpipe. The cat back with the stock downpipe isn't going to be that much louder and the muffler deletes with the stock down pipe are a nice aggressive sound but nothing too over the top - just my $0.02
Each Accessport has a range of vehicles that it falls under. For examples an AP3-SUB-004 covers ONLY 2015-current WRX/STI MT and CVT as well as 2014-2018 Forester XT. So the Accessport from a 2014 WRX would not work on a 2015+ unfortunately.
DJ Wolf thank you so much! I was close to buying an 003 from someone. It was unmarried but it’s a relief that you answered quickly. I appreciate it a lot!
What tint % are your windows? And can you unplug the Accessport after you install your map without any issues or does it need to stay plugged in until you "un-marry" it from the car?
25% and yes, you can unplug it and the current tune will stay on the ECU until you un-marry it. The downside is you have no monitoring this way so you want to be sure your tune is running well before you do that. Also if you loose your accessport it is a very big deal to get your car back to a stock map. You cannot just buy another one, you will have to send your ECU into Cobb so be aware of that. This particularly sucks if someone breaks into your car and steals your AP.
@@DJWolf after the Accessport makes a copy of the stock map is it possible to export that stock map and keep a back up copy on a computer or with your tuner? In case you do lose the unit?
@@LoveUnderWill Unfortunately the accessport installs a specific serial onto the car and when you plug it in they need to match up, otherwise it won't work. So even if you have a backup you still need the original physical acessport. They do this because otherwise one person could take the accessport and just install maps on an unlimited number of cars.
@@LoveUnderWill You can use it on another vehicle but it first has to be completely uninstalled (unmarried) then you can install it on another car. Each accessport has a model number tho which is tied to a specific range of cars, in this case it's 2015-2021 WRX/STI. So you cannot use the same accessport on a 2008-2014 WRX/STI.
Bro Bro I uploaded a stage 12 map and I smoked that 400hp Honda civic, but then the engine blew up and the dealer won't replace it under warranty, but I can't afford a new engine because I spent all my wage on vapes other than the monthly car payments Bro what do I do.
Thanks for responding so quickly! I get that but on Cobb's site they show exhaust and intake components with the stage 2 access port. Do you have to have those bolted on before you upgrade to the Stage 2 Maps?
Not on 2 cars at the same time. When you install the AP to your car it marries it to that car and if you try to use it on another car the AP will go "Hey, this isn't the car I was installed to!" If you uninstall it from the car you can then use it on a different car.
Best video on the AP I've seen yet. I have a 2015 wrx and I'm way overdue to try the AP. In my experience the stock tune is difficult to drive smoothly from a stop, through first gear, and into second. Like you said, when you start out from stop it's like there's a dead zone in the pedal--nothing happens when you first step on the gas, then all of a sudden the engine starts revving a bit too high, which makes starting out without jerking kind of tricky. You have to take extra time and modulate the clutch more carefully than you should have to. My question is: what kind of difference does the AP make in this area... is it a big difference, or just a minor improvement? Thanks!
Liander Garcia yes if you go to cobb's website and check the Oem map you will see where the stock tune has the rev hangs especially the 3.5 - 4k rev hang.
No, you only need to keep it plugged in to monitor the engine, once the map is loaded it will stay you can also do a "realtime" flash which is basically a temporary flash if you wanted to use valet mode for example.
Man this is such a great vid. I bought a 18 WRX a month ago & driving a turbo car is new to me. You answered every possible question I had about this.
Larry B how do you like the car so far? When I get back from
Deployment in May 18 I’m getting a new WRX. Can’t wait
Jacob Stabler Its ok. After a month of driving, Im starting to feel like I downgraded from my 14 Accord Coupe v6. I did need a bigger car for my daughter tho. Its a fun car to drive. The biggest thing I hate is how the far pretty much dies between 4500-5k rpm. I mod my cars but everything engine wise seems to need a tune on this car.
My advice, talk to as many ppl you know with the car for their opinions. Also check out some FB groups prior. If I could go back, I would have gotten an STI.
Larry B wow, never heard that before! So do you have the Cobb AP... have you tried maximum automotive performances 91/93 octane tune?
What were you looking for in this car? I guess if you just want power, of course the STI would better suit you, but fo you think the WRX is underpowered or underwhelming?
Jacob Stabler I have zero mods yet. Its new & I only have 1500 miles on the car. Im kind of hessitant to purchase the AP b/c I dont want to potentially lose some warranty. Not looking to make gains but I just think it could be more driver friendly.
Look up some "why I hate WRX" vids 😂😂😂. Also do your homework on trim package differences.
This is literally what the cobb fixes. You should try it.
Just bought myself a 2020 wrx, like a few people on here it's my first turboed car. I just want to say that this was a great video, extremely informative. Answered all the questions I had regarding the stock throttle response.
I just bought a 2017 wrx and its my first turbo as well.I feel like the car is quick from the factory.The car hits boost even when i barely push the throttle. Since mine is a 6speed manual,im wondering if the autos do the same. I mean it seems like im always in boost. In start and stop traffic,the awd makes it take off so fast when I barely give it throttle. I ordered the remark muffler delete catbacks and look forward to them.I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. This car is a beast
Man you made understanding this access port thing super easy. I watched other videos which were so confusing.
This video is 10/10 excellent explanation, simple to understand, great pace and editing.
Excellently thorough walk-through. Just picked up a 18 WRX. Can't wait to install the AP! Keep up the great content!!
Thanks so much. Just installed mine yesterday with a stock dyno remap since my car is brand new and just wanted to get the most I could get out of it. Very nice piece of equipment Cobb got available for us. Once again thank you so much. Did learned a lot today from you
What stage are you on if you don’t mind me asking planning on picking up a wrx either the end of this year or early next year
@@nathanmelendez2624 I’m also planning on picking up a WRX, I wanna trade my Si in for one cause of the all wheel drive and fun factor
Just got a 2020 wrx month ago, and just purchased a used accesport!!! Cant wait
This video helped me understand it, most other videos talk like the people watching are pro tuners. Thankyou!
Just bought a 2018 wrx. Definitely the most informative channel ive found so far. thanks alot my guy
Check out Smeedia. Way better
if ur in the US your protected by moss magnuson act. doing mods on ur car does not void warranty unless they can have solid proof on which aftermarket caused which ever part in the car to fail.
wait for real? I want to get a new exhaust for my STI but don't know if it would void my warranty
@@austinyates4923 unless it's a turbo back exhaust it won't void your warranty. Cat back, axle back, choose one and slap that sucker on.
@@bigblackcockus9530 Are you sure Obama? I don't trust people who make my taxes go up
@@austinyates4923 No I'm not, trust me anyways
Great video! I'm thinking of getting a wrx (my first turbo car), but I heard a lot of stories about dead zones in certain RPM ranges, and heard that a tune would fix that. You really helped me understand the basics of tuning.
Excellent video. Thank you for this, not many people work on the new 18's and they are different in small ways. I love how you started at the beginning for a new tuner POV. Not all of us are pro tuners. This answered so many simple questions, again, Thank you!
Thanks for the video. Do you know what happen with the 3 differents mode of SI-Drive in a 2019 STi using the Cobb Accessport? Do Still working? does it overwrite the original maps?
Thanks bro. New sub just for your thorough explanation on the cobb accesport. We all greatly appreciate this.
Have a 02' wrx.. thinking of getting a accesport and cobb downpipe and exhaust and all that.. just dont want to hurt her.. we will see.
Thanks again.
Can you set different custom tunes for i mode, S mode and S#? or do they become redundant once cobb tuned?
Yes you can on the STI!
you all probably dont care at all but does anyone know a tool to log back into an Instagram account?
I somehow lost my password. I would love any help you can give me
@Henrik Drake Instablaster =)
@Harrison Westley I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Harrison Westley it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thanks so much you saved my ass !
Purchasing a 2016 STI, how much does this help with fuel economy?
Best mod by far is a universal Subaru flex fuel kit from eBay saving 200-250$ from buying same thing branded by Cobb and then getting a flex fuel tune. Hands down best money spent. And if you bundle the ap purchase with their e tune then you save 100-200$ on that as well. Just went e50 with universal flex kit and power gains are insane. 360/360.
Do you have a dyno sheet for this? You are sayings flex fuel and e tune you are at 360? Hard to believe!
Thanks for the video. Subie tech told me to hold off on ECU tune...they can tell if original map was recently restored.
There is a frequent problem with EMU...they couldn’t update WRX history after a repair. Flash would have voided the warranty. Instead I got the EMU replaced under warranty because I didn’t use the Accessport (it’s in the box until the warranty expires).
My question is, if I want to do a stage 1 tune, do I need to already have parts in and if so what parts do I need to look at it? I plan on getting a 15 wrx and I'll have 5 grand to drop on it
Independent Rawb on Cobb’s website it will tell the required upgrades you need for each stage of turn.
Stage 1 is for a stock vehicle.
Looks like the setup process has been streamlined vs the 2000s WRXs.
My 02 required you to plug in a pair of green cables and then pug in an included bypass cable before you could install the access port.
A bit of a pain in the butt as those plugs and cables were jammed up under the dash on the driver's side and you basically had to either lay down on the floor looking up into the guts of the dash (not comfortable) or do it upright by kissing the dash and blindly reaching your hands underneath and try to find and plug in the cables by feel.
I just got an 18 WRX and am looking to throw a Cobb AP at it down the road and it is nice to know I'm not going to need to take Yoga classes to dick around with cables under the dash.
Snadzies hahaha been there done that, also came from an 02 now I have a 17. Super easy now.
Definitely something I will highly consider for my 2019 wrx. It is a nice car, but clutch/throttle sync'ing is proving a bit more difficult than my 04 gti; the wrx is more sensitive and requires less "effort" than the gti which is what is throwing me off
K03sport Agree 100%. I have a 2018 and even now (after almost 2 years of ownership) I honestly don’t really enjoy driving it because of the throttle map and the rev hang. My 03 Civic Si and 05 WRX were much better drivers cars....I’m considering buying an Accessport and saying f the warranty to be honest lol.
I dont have a warranty...but what if you just detuned it and took the Cobb back out before taking it in to Subaru. Im in my first wrx debating if i should get a tuner. I had one for my 03 gt mustang and it was a huge game changer. I had it tuned to race mode. Was an automatic but had 1, 2 and then drive. I could hit 55 in first and 90 in second. So i could cruise on the freeway at 80. Speedy guy comes up on me. Drop it in to second and matt it to the floor and that car took off. Was so much fun. But my wrx is pretty fast already dont want to sacrifice reliability to go a lil faster unless it really effects the overall drivability in a positive way.
Do I have to leave it plugged in all the time? Or can I flash and Then unplug it without it reverting to stock tune?
I have the same question
What a great, detailed video. Thanks for taking the time do do this.
My 2018 Outback Premium 2.5 has plenty of throttle response, heading down the highway , cruising around 75 mph in 7th gear/Overdrive CVT I barely have to touch the gas
Cvt has one gear bro lol
A couple of questions:
1. Can I restore the factory tune and leave no flags that I modded the ECU?
2. Does stage 1 get rid of the dreaded rev-hang?
With a lease when you go to turn it in would it they know you had an AP on it if the cars running perfectly fine after you flash it back to stock?
1. What I've heard is that when you do the first reflash for a tune it ticks something in the ECU and stops a certain counter or something like that. When you reflash the stock tune itll come back but itll leave a gap of the whole time you had the tune... In example - Stock tune:15000 miles > Stage 1: 30000 miles >|Reflash to stock tune| 30500 miles. Itll read as a stock tune up to 15000 > 30500 leaving a gap inbetween showing it was tuned.. like I said thats what I've heard. Can't confirm it as a fact.
2. Any basic 91/93 octane tune will fix that.
@@SJS_Devin I just thought it reset the ECU counter. Such as how many miles/ignition cylces since the last flash. Didnt think it kept a log like that. Everyone who flashed their car would be red handed at that point lol
@@nightwalker1h773 Indeed, but some dealers are mod-friendly so it's ok if they're ok with it.
Edit: I'd ask your dealer if they're mod friendly with APs or not if you're concerned about the warranty.
@@SJS_Devin it's not your dealer at the end of the day that's going to deny a warranty claim. It's SOA. Mod friendly means nothing to me and shouldn't to you. Do not trust them!
just did the stage one on my 2015 wrx totally worth the money woke the car up
with the cold air forgot to add that
how many hp now ?
Proud to say I am officially WRX STI owner. My car at the moment is COMPLETELY stock. I was on the Cobb website and it recommends that I use Stage 1 map or 91 or 93 octane map. Are these ok to use with no modifications to the car?
Yeah a stage 1 is just a tune. Stage 2 is when you get into bolt-ons usually. A tune will reduce your turbo and oil life. The 2.5 are not that strong so I would be careful going above a stage 1. I'd make sure to pick low torque tunes if you like to drive it hard to avoid connecting rod stress (just my opinion)
Excellent video, the most informative deep dive into the Cobb AP that I've seen. I just purchased a 2020 WRX Limited, which I've been looking forward to getting for a LONG time. I will tune it at some point, but probably not while it's under warranty. This car was way too expensive to risk losing my warranty, at least not this soon. I agree that the factory tune is definitely not great. The car is not very smooth to drive, but I will tolerate it at least for the first 30,000 miles or so. I plan to get regular oil analyses done along the way to monitor for engine wear. If no abnormal wear is detected, I will probably tune the car somewhere around 30k - 35k, which is only 1.5 years of driving for me.
A lot of subaru dealers are mod friendly, at least with an accessport. If you talk to them first and stay stage 1 during warranty you may be able to work that out.
@@worldfamous1949 how true is this statement? Looking to go Stage 1 but have 1.5 years of warranty remaining.
@@kevinmucha5996 depends on the state 🤷🏻♂️ I'm in Cali so all that just went out the window. Can't tune your ECU legally here at all 🤦🏻♂️ but check with your dealer, more often than not they will work with you as long as you are using parts from reputable brands.
Where on accessport can show your current tune? Not just to flash it?
I got the 2015 wrx. When i prest the gas pedal i can feel the power but after 3500 rmp feel like a dead spot no power at all just feel like a. Air blowing out Any idea.
I notice that the throttle in 1st has a crazy delay. I feel like I notice it more when I come to a stop that is longer than normal.
I have a pbd2 dash camera on my car wuld i have to leave it on or just put it and take it out
Could you run a stage 1 tune on a stock 2019 WRX STI?
Don’t listen to this guy ^ You can mod your car and be fine. You just have to be tactful when dealing with the service reps.
The info in the video is great. The thumbnail is however a bit misleading. An access port doesn't always guarantee gains. A proper tune could actually decrease power for safety of the vehicle. I know mine lost some for safety and due to crappy 91acn octane.
So everything you add like a j pipe or exhaust all the brands are already on that access port and you add them into a folder basically and that’s how you create your tune???
I have a CNT axle back exhaust, Cobb Big SF Intake, & A Boomba BPV on 91. How do I go about setting my AP to those exact settings, will it already be pre loaded?
Will the car run w/o the AP plugged in for when I have to take the car into the dealer for maintenance? Then I can plug it back in after leaving the dealership?
The car will run without the AP plugged in, the tune will remain active if you unplug the AP as well.
The problem is that the ECUs in the new WRXs keep track if there were any changes done to them, even if you reinstall the original factory tune.
I don't think it keeps track of what was done, just that changes were made.
Having your battery die causes the same code to come up as flashing it so they have to prove it
Alexander Woytowitz proof of this?
@@Reaper_Racing is that true? I literally am looking at vids and stuff trying to research before I buy one. I didnt know if they left a foot print. But if it is the same code as when the battery dies I'm 100% going to buy one lol.
Thanks man, definitely educated me on my new accessport.
Thanks for the info it helps a lot!!
Awesome vid! This is going to be a silly question but can we still do OTS tunes with a start button and not a key?
If it put a muffler delete and an k&n air filter I just need the stage 1 map?
K&n filters are worst than stock stay away
I'm new to this device but not new to tuning. I thought for most tuners you can flash your car with them but then unplug the tuner and the car's ecu will remain flashed. But at the end you make it seem like if you unplug the tuner after uploading the tune it still removes the tune. Did i miss understand that or is this correct?
You do not have to leave the Accessport plugged in - once the tune is uploaded it will remain. There is an option to change the tune on the fly which happens instantly but will not stay stored on the ECU but you can choose which way you want to load the tune.
Is the cobb ap only can use for usdm subaru only? How about the jdm subaru, can use the same cobb ap usdm spec?
About to buy a 2018 wrx in just a few days and looking for some reliable upgrades that make the car run better and healthier. With the COBB access port, what is a good axel back exhaust and intake to buy to go with it for reliability and some more power?
You will want to get the COBB intake if you don't plan on getting a protune/etune since COBB has a stage 1+ map for that specific intake available. If you are going to get a protune/etune then I would recommend Grimmspeed. The axleback won't matter for performance/reliability so I would just go with whatever you think looks the best.
Thank U great video!
I am looking to make a few mods to get 10 more or more HP out of my Subi 2019 WRX Sti
Excellent video. Thank you for making this so clear.
thank you
so what is the best option I can get for my wrx2021(gs intake,greddy exhaust,and a cobb access)
stage1+sf map now, but the car is not running as good as stage 1
I am looking forward to a etune? or a protune? or ??
The best mod for the money is getting a flexfuel kit and running E85. You will have massive gains with it just depends on how easily accessible E85 is in your area tho.
Feel like this tuner is more complex than my mustang. My mustang tuner had 3 options. Economy/gas saver. Then a middle one ..cant remember. And race mode. Of course i was always in race mode. Just made the car shifter a lil higher in rpms. A lot faster. Could get from 80-120 incredibly fast
Excellent excellent video how you change the code if you want to use a ets cold air intake or mishimoto
Preparation H would need to get specific map for specific intake
Has anyone figured out how to use the COBB Accessport for those with the keyless autostart feature on the WRX STI Limited?
Shouldn't all regular wrx have the same tunes for stage 1? I'm confused.
Helpful video thank you! Getting a 2019 WRX soon or should I wait for the 2020 refresh? New engine?
No. If you're waiting for the refresh get a 2021. Never buy a first year car. Look up "2015 wrx problems". If you like the current wrx the 2019 is probably the best year in the generation.
If you want new, wait. But the 2019-2020’s are at the end of the cycle so they’re the most “refined” of this gen. I own a 2020 wrx base & love it
Wait so if I wanted to stage 1 tune, would the access port tell me what type of exhaust I would need?
The Accessport won't tell you what type of exhaust you will need but it doesnt matter as long as it is an exhaust. it based on what you want. Currently for myself, Im running a SPT exhaust with Nameless Muffler deletes but im looking into get a Catless J-Pipe.
Does it work too on forester sj xt from japan?
Wife and I said to hell with it. Stage 2 with boost controller & protune on our 18 wrx very soon. 😛
Let me know how much WHP you get out of it, thanks
I just got 18’ wrx too. 1600 miles and I’m almost ready to pull the trigger. The whole falling over itself at 4K is unbearable. It feels like I bought a new car that is broken. My god. The REV HANG!!! WTF!
@@rallyfreak08 I got an 18 back in July so I feel your pain. I bought an AP yesterday and flashed the stage 1 tune and all those problems were gone. It does feel like a totally different car, like many people say, in some ways good in others not so much. I love the lack of rev hang and that boost pulls all the way to 6200k. But I miss the "surge" on the stock tune. I'd say go for it if you haven't already. I'd be pissed if I'd waited for the warranty to run up but to each their own.
Bigblack Cockus thanks for the reply. I have not gotten the AP yet. I’m getting more used to the stock tune now. I’m at 6500 miles. I’m considering keeping it full stock now and getting an older wrx to mess around with and tune. I do have 100k bumper to bumper and a lifetime Powertrain warranty. Also I know what you mean about the “surge” on the stock tune. For everyday driving and not doing pulls to redline the surge is fun. Is it worth the 650 to lose the rev hang and flatten the power curve? Maybe. Also with the risk of voiding possible warranty claims makes it a very hard decision. 😬
Bigblack Cockus I’m interested in how your stage 1 tune does on the highway. I just got back from a 1500 mile road trip with all highway driving. At 75mph it’s so easy to overboost in 6th gear. Revs are at 2.75k and you can build full boost with just a little throttle. Great for passing but I worry about low speed preignition. Curious if the stage one is better cause it makes the throttle curve more linear. Any thoughts???
Should I be fine with muffler deletes AEM intake and stage 1 pre loaded map?
I have a AEM intake and COBB told me they don't have a map to use with it...... I know, it sucks !
I have a 2013 wrx what port should I look for
AP3-SUB-003 (make sure it's unmarried if you are going used!)
Would a stage 2 tune work for a 2018 with tomei unequal length headers and turbo back exauhst?
Protune or etune. Protune preferred, don't install and drive without either of those
Can i use the stage one if my ‘16 WRX is completely stock? I wanted it mainly to eliminate some of the rev hang. For now hehe
Yes, stage 1 is either for stock or stock+Catback.
Thanks brotherman🤙🏼
I want this but I don’t wanna void my warranty on my 2019 STI plus I bought the extended warranty.
I would just enjoy your car the way it is if you are worried about it.
Can you use the accessport with different branded CAI, Tb exhaust? or is it only recommended with Cobb items?
itsChanz you can use whatever exhaust you choose.
You can use nay exhaust combo as long as it’s catted. The CAI is a different story because it depends on the tuning size and the placement of the MAF. So I would either stick with a Cobb intake or just go for a custom turn which should get you a lot more power anyway.
how to read memory snapshots?
Does the AP always have to be connected all the time when the car is running?
arempee26 no if you flash it you can remove it after I would never recommend leaving it in your car unattended for someone to break in
How do you drive to a tuner with all the parts on that require a tune? Use an ots tune?
Most tuners will send you a base map that will allow you to safely drive to the tuner.
DJ Wolf gotchya so basically I sent him the list of my mods and he sends me the most fit map?
@@jacob5412 That is correct! Altho the map will just be meant to get you to the shop (not really for extended driving) but should run reasonably smooth
DJ Wolf thank you, you’ve been very helpful!
Wait so I need to put mods on the car before trying stage 1 low waste gate or I don’t need anything
Stage 1 is strictly NO MODS. You will damage your car if you run any tune that is not matched to the correct parts for it. You can see this in the map notes for both stage 1 and stage 2 etc.
@@DJWolf okay so no mods at all just what the access port does thank you so much for replying
So i bought a 2018 subaru wrx, guy who sold it to me had an accessport in it and it was tuned, he uninstalled the accessport and flushed the ecu back to normal but the check engine light came on. Why?
Does your car have any mods on it? If so, most aftermarket parts will trigger a check engine light without the proper calibration/tune from the accessport.
It still has an aftermarket intake, im guessing is probably because of it sending too much air? It idles below 500 rpm in stops or when reversing. Im so confused man.
DJ Jose pull that intake n go back to stock or retune it back to stage one. Run that intake on a stock map will mess up your car
jay bosher i bought an accessport and tuned it to stage 1. It actually helped a lot! No more check engine, no more rough idling. Runs better. I noticed that before the tune the cars PSI was on 13. I did a tune and it jumped all the way to 17. I have no idea what that means but im guessing its good?
@@itsmeecjay4769 the stock tune is based on stock parts. a high flow intake will cause you AF ratio to go lean. in turbo cars this can be very bad. by adding the proper tune your telling the computer to use more fuel so it corrects the ratio and your car will run better and will make a bit more power. remember to always get a proper tune for any mods that change your eng
ine like headers or j pipe that remove or change the catalytic converters thus changing your flow
So is this or will it be available for the new Impreza generation or is it only for turbo models?
to be clear I'm talking about the base non wrx or sti models
Question im planning to install a magnaflow catback and stage 1 accessport with the intake that comes in the package , will I have anyproblems running with that setup? Dont want to push the engine to the point it may blow just want to keep a safe tune , just looking for better response and minor performance hp upgrade. Nothing big just safe.
Thank you
Hi David, what you are looking to do would definitely be just fine. I absolutely think the best place to put your money after an accessport is a custom tune tho - it will make more power, be the most reliable and your car will run the best. There really are no downsides as long as you choose a good tuner (I recommend Ron Watson) you can do an E-Tune so your location doesn't matter.
I would also consider doing muffler deletes rather than the magnaflow if you DON'T plan on doing a downpipe. The cat back with the stock downpipe isn't going to be that much louder and the muffler deletes with the stock down pipe are a nice aggressive sound but nothing too over the top - just my $0.02
Are Accesports Vehicle specific? Would an unmarried v3 from a 2014 wrx work on a cvt 2016 wrx?
Each Accessport has a range of vehicles that it falls under. For examples an AP3-SUB-004 covers ONLY 2015-current WRX/STI MT and CVT as well as 2014-2018 Forester XT. So the Accessport from a 2014 WRX would not work on a 2015+ unfortunately.
DJ Wolf thank you so much! I was close to buying an 003 from someone. It was unmarried but it’s a relief that you answered quickly. I appreciate it a lot!
What tint % are your windows? And can you unplug the Accessport after you install your map without any issues or does it need to stay plugged in until you "un-marry" it from the car?
25% and yes, you can unplug it and the current tune will stay on the ECU until you un-marry it. The downside is you have no monitoring this way so you want to be sure your tune is running well before you do that. Also if you loose your accessport it is a very big deal to get your car back to a stock map. You cannot just buy another one, you will have to send your ECU into Cobb so be aware of that. This particularly sucks if someone breaks into your car and steals your AP.
@@DJWolf after the Accessport makes a copy of the stock map is it possible to export that stock map and keep a back up copy on a computer or with your tuner? In case you do lose the unit?
@@LoveUnderWill Unfortunately the accessport installs a specific serial onto the car and when you plug it in they need to match up, otherwise it won't work. So even if you have a backup you still need the original physical acessport. They do this because otherwise one person could take the accessport and just install maps on an unlimited number of cars.
@@DJWolf does that mean that if an Accessport has been more or less "registered" with one vehicle it cannot be married to another?
@@LoveUnderWill You can use it on another vehicle but it first has to be completely uninstalled (unmarried) then you can install it on another car. Each accessport has a model number tho which is tied to a specific range of cars, in this case it's 2015-2021 WRX/STI. So you cannot use the same accessport on a 2008-2014 WRX/STI.
So I would be able to tune a 19 wrx sti with out any mods successfully?
Yes
Really informative vid mate...keep it up!
Awesome information. Thanks for posting this video!
Can I run stage 1+ with Cobb intake and r400 exhaust?
Cobb has a Pre-made (OTS) tune for Stage1 + Intake, you would wan to run that tune. The R400 doesn't change it unless you are also running a downpipe.
Hey man, are you still in Portland, OR?
If I put Cobb in my wrx sti will it kill my ecu
Lyon Thor what??
I saw your top 5 mods and noticed you were in Oregon. If you still are, are you in osc?
what tune will i need for a wrx with just axleback and intake mods
The Noonies you don’t need a tune for an Axleback or catback. But for intake you need stage 1+
Chridfer ok. does the stock cobb come with a preloaded map i could use for my intake? thanks for the response
@@balance667 I believe it comes preloaded with a suitable map, but I bought my AP used so there were already maps downloaded.
Bro Bro I uploaded a stage 12 map and I smoked that 400hp Honda civic, but then the engine blew up and the dealer won't replace it under warranty, but I can't afford a new engine because I spent all my wage on vapes other than the monthly car payments Bro what do I do.
Keep calm and vape on :)
Great Video man! Thinking about tuning my 2018 Wrx after I’m done rebuilding it 🤔
Kade Vallace you have to tune when you do performance upgrades or car runs lean or rich
What would you need to program the ECU to Stage 2?
Hi Tom, there are pre-loaded stage 2 maps available on the accessport when you buy it.
Thanks for responding so quickly! I get that but on Cobb's site they show exhaust and intake components with the stage 2 access port. Do you have to have those bolted on before you upgrade to the Stage 2 Maps?
No Problem, yes you need to have the components that are listed for sure!
Can i use 1 accessport for 2 cars???
Not on 2 cars at the same time.
When you install the AP to your car it marries it to that car and if you try to use it on another car the AP will go "Hey, this isn't the car I was installed to!"
If you uninstall it from the car you can then use it on a different car.
Great ton of info mines stk untill this spring I really wanna be careful with everything I do to my 17 premium thanks.
Best video on the AP I've seen yet. I have a 2015 wrx and I'm way overdue to try the AP. In my experience the stock tune is difficult to drive smoothly from a stop, through first gear, and into second. Like you said, when you start out from stop it's like there's a dead zone in the pedal--nothing happens when you first step on the gas, then all of a sudden the engine starts revving a bit too high, which makes starting out without jerking kind of tricky. You have to take extra time and modulate the clutch more carefully than you should have to. My question is: what kind of difference does the AP make in this area... is it a big difference, or just a minor improvement? Thanks!
Madman6505 sounds like your hill assist, I've had no issues in first but this is my 3rd wrx/sti
You can disable hill assist
Will the hill assist engage on flat roads too?
Can this eliminate the rev hang ?
Liander Garcia yes if you go to cobb's website and check the Oem map you will see where the stock tune has the rev hangs especially the 3.5 - 4k rev hang.
Cosmic Lejon do i have to update muffler and intake or can i keep the car stock ?
Liander Garcia you can keep it stock
But if you push are Ride to brink to push for more power, aren't you shortening the life of the car and depreciating rapidly?
bless you with the information
It took me too long to realize you're the subiebros guy LOL
So can a tune bring my stock 18 wrx to 300+ HP??
Guided Hand no
Not stock. These cars are 220 to the wheels. You need some bolt ons to make the 300 whp that you want
+nathan you're an idiot lmao
Stance Volcom why the hell is he an idiot?
Possible if you run a e30 mix. MAPerformance just released this map and it doesn’t require a FF.
Great video. Good way to start a mod.
will this thing work on a cvt, non-usdm wrx?
Thanks bro, I’m about to get one next week
Make a video on economy mode show the miles per gallon
If you uninstall the access port will the dealership ever know?
They have methods of checking but it’s not likely unless you have a very expensive major failure.
Great video! A lot of description! And detail!
I have 2015 STI and I installed intake system on it. Can someone please tell me what map I need on it ?
Stage 1+ mane בן תמים
Do you have to keep the thing plugged in at all times?
No, you only need to keep it plugged in to monitor the engine, once the map is loaded it will stay you can also do a "realtime" flash which is basically a temporary flash if you wanted to use valet mode for example.
Natural teacher
This was informative, thanks dude. Looking to get mine soon