[RSXKiller]

Thanks for the great DIY guide as I will be getting AP in future and now I know what to do.

[Irishman]

I need to bring my car in for some paint work and was wondering how the real time maps work. I want to put it in valet mode so it won't boost or rev past 3200rpm so I don't have some idiot romping on my car when I leave. Do I just flash it with the valet and then flash it back to STG 2 when I get my car back?

[0bluesti4]

Nice write-up!

Man I was just checking out COBB site and stage 2 sounds soooo tempting...

I haven't had time to look at COBB forums, but does anyone know if stage 2 is street legal and passes emissions and whatnot? I am in Cali and this **** is pretty strict around here. Does anyone have stage 2 in Cali and have any input as to legality/smogability of all this?

Thanks a bunch!

[GZA]

Great write up and high quality pictures!

[ilami01]

great write up!

[JiveMasterT]

Does anyone have a picture of where those test connectors are on the passenger side? I found them on the driver side but I'm not sure if the other ones were unplugged.

[WXRTSI]

I just plugged the ones together from under the driver's side.

[hey_allen]

Originally Posted by Irishman

I need to bring my car in for some paint work and was wondering how the real time maps work. I want to put it in valet mode so it won't boost or rev past 3200rpm so I don't have some idiot romping on my car when I leave. Do I just flash it with the valet and then flash it back to STG 2 when I get my car back?

In a word, yes.
You just flash the realtime map for valet mode onto it, and suddenly, no more boost. It takes all the fun out of the car, and as you mention, it moves the redline, and the fuel cut, down to around 3200, maybe almost 4000.
I set it there just to see what would happen, and then almost imbeded my belt in my collar bone, when it choked the engine off after I put my foot in it.

Just remember not to leave your accessPort in the car to let the paint monkey play with, or you might find it mapped back to something else, and run ragged.

-Josh

[RageSTi06]

hey guys i am considering buying a cobb turback exhaust system (high flow cat) along with the cobb access port. If there is anything better please let me know and also tell me why it is better. Im a little new with this and ive been looking around reading alot but I am still very new at it. I would like to know if you guys can help answer a few questions before i make a final decision. I feel I know some of it but im not 100% sure so I just want to double check with you guys since you guys seem very experienced. I have a stock 06 STi. Ok here I go.

1)So this is what an ECU reflash is right?

2)I know this might be obvious but I just want to make sure. Once I install the turboback exhaust and install and use the accessport... will my sti now be at stage 2?

3)Probably most important question I need to know: Do I need a protune after I install both the turbo back exhaust and access port? Or is protune only required if I decide to add more power later?

4)Whats the worse that can happen if I do something wrong while installing the turboback exhaust and accessport?

5)what is the official cobb website?

6)Will these modifications void out any warranties? My warranty is still valid and I want to know if dealers are ok with these modifications?

7)Are these good mods to start off with? or do you guys recommend I get something else before I go with the Cobb turboback exhaust and cobb accesport?

Sorry for all the questions but I would appreciate it if you guys can answer every single one numbered in the same order like i did. I drive like a champ and I love the stock power, but recently I have been feeling like i need more power now. The stock power output is good but I feel like it's not enough anymore. I'm sure you all felt the same at some point that inevitably lead you to modify. Stock just feels slow for me now I need more but I don't know where to start with mods. I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks guys.

[DragonXero13]

1)So this is what an ECU reflash is right?

1a) Yes

2)I know this might be obvious but I just want to make sure. Once I install the turboback exhaust and install and use the accessport... will my sti now be at stage 2?

2a:Yes

3)Probably most important question I need to know: Do I need a protune after I install both the turbo back exhaust and access port? Or is protune only required if I decide to add more power later?

3a) No, but I would highly reccomend it because when you flash to Stage 2, your car will run rich because Cobb made it that way so you can't blow up your car.

4)Whats the worse that can happen if I do something wrong while installing the turboback exhaust and accessport?

4a) The worse would probably you not installing the DP right or having everything tightened.

5)what is the official cobb website?

www.CobbTuning.com

6)Will these modifications void out any warranties? My warranty is still valid and I want to know if dealers are ok with these modifications?

6a) Depending on your dealer, if your dealer is a prick most likely yes.

7)Are these good mods to start off with? or do you guys recommend I get something else before I go with the Cobb turboback exhaust and cobb accesport?

7a) Yes, after this you should get sway bars/endlinks and springs.

[IlliniSTi]

Originally Posted by RageSTi06

hey guys i am considering buying a cobb turback exhaust system (high flow cat) along with the cobb access port. If there is anything better please let me know and also tell me why it is better. Im a little new with this and ive been looking around reading alot but I am still very new at it. I would like to know if you guys can help answer a few questions before i make a final decision. I feel I know some of it but im not 100% sure so I just want to double check with you guys since you guys seem very experienced. I have a stock 06 STi. Ok here I go.

1)So this is what an ECU reflash is right?

2)I know this might be obvious but I just want to make sure. Once I install the turboback exhaust and install and use the accessport... will my sti now be at stage 2?

3)Probably most important question I need to know: Do I need a protune after I install both the turbo back exhaust and access port? Or is protune only required if I decide to add more power later?

4)Whats the worse that can happen if I do something wrong while installing the turboback exhaust and accessport?

5)what is the official cobb website?

6)Will these modifications void out any warranties? My warranty is still valid and I want to know if dealers are ok with these modifications?

7)Are these good mods to start off with? or do you guys recommend I get something else before I go with the Cobb turboback exhaust and cobb accesport?

Sorry for all the questions but I would appreciate it if you guys can answer every single one numbered in the same order like i did. I drive like a champ and I love the stock power, but recently I have been feeling like i need more power now. The stock power output is good but I feel like it's not enough anymore. I'm sure you all felt the same at some point that inevitably lead you to modify. Stock just feels slow for me now I need more but I don't know where to start with mods. I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks guys.

i am not going to answer all your questions, as they seem to have been aptly answered already.

4A: Installing an exhaust is fairly easy, just have air tools or a breaker bar ready if your car has gone through three Chicago winters. Otherwise, no problem. Check out the unabomber FAQ thread on NASIOC for any questions.

7A: I have just put on the cobb 3" TBE. I love it. To my ears it is no louder than stock at idle. It does make a nice sound at higher revs. Also it seems to spool faster, but that is calibrated butt dyno talking.

I would say that it is a good early mod, the only thing I would put above it are a set of whiteline sways, but if all you care about is straight line, go straight for stage 2.

2A: I run Autox in STU so I will probablly be getting a tune in the future, but I will focus on a map that gives me torque ASAP, not as much on power gains. Also, STU means I can't mess with boost, so we will see how that works out. I think that a tune is a good investment, as the car will be tuned to your gas, environment, etc...

[RageSTi06]

Originally Posted by DragonXero13

1)So this is what an ECU reflash is right?

1a) Yes

2)I know this might be obvious but I just want to make sure. Once I install the turboback exhaust and install and use the accessport... will my sti now be at stage 2?

2a:Yes

3)Probably most important question I need to know: Do I need a protune after I install both the turbo back exhaust and access port? Or is protune only required if I decide to add more power later?

3a) No, but I would highly reccomend it because when you flash to Stage 2, your car will run rich because Cobb made it that way so you can't blow up your car.

4)Whats the worse that can happen if I do something wrong while installing the turboback exhaust and accessport?

4a) The worse would probably you not installing the DP right or having everything tightened.

5)what is the official cobb website?

www.CobbTuning.com

6)Will these modifications void out any warranties? My warranty is still valid and I want to know if dealers are ok with these modifications?

6a) Depending on your dealer, if your dealer is a prick most likely yes.

7)Are these good mods to start off with? or do you guys recommend I get something else before I go with the Cobb turboback exhaust and cobb accesport?

7a) Yes, after this you should get sway bars/endlinks and springs.

cool this really helps out a lot. Seriously, I feel like getting this after all this info. right now I have $11k that I saved for school purposes really, but I want to use some of it very soon to add a little more power to my car. I plan on saving seperate funds for STi purposes. Now I just plan on calling my dealer to ask them a few question regarding these parts and the warranty. I forgot to mention that I don't intend to go for fast straight line racing only. I like an all around feel especially for track use so I will definately be moddifying suspension... I might actually start with suspension first and then go to stage 2. I have a few final questions if you guys dont mind. I will save the suspension questions for a suspension thread because I don't want to overdue it with suspension mod questions. lol ok here I go...Again:

1)Is a protune and Dyno run pretty much the same thing?

2)Assuming my dealer is not cool with a ECU reflash...If I do mod to stage 2, is it possible to reflash the STi back to its standard default manufacturer setting to avoid confrontations with my dealer? Or can they tell how many reflashes have been made?

3)I read that with STi models an up-pipe isnt really required because the gains are so minimal you wont feel nothing unless you're running very high hp/tourque. I dont plan on doing straight line strictly so would you guys recommend this part with stage 2?

4)Do you guys recommend better headers(manifolds)? If so, any suggestions? What kind of power increase am I looking at?

5)This is the question I'm most interested in for my final questions: Do you guys recommend I get an intake mod to go along with the stage 2 upgrade? I haven't been able to confirm on this but I heard that it might be best not to mod the stock intake. If I do, would you recommend a short ram or cold air intake? What are the pros and cons for both. What are the advantages and disadvantages? I'm leaning more towards short ram but I am open to cold air as well if given the right reliable information.

K guys I want to end by saying that you guys are very helpful. This is by far the most helpful STi forum I have come across. You guys surely share very reliable info. I want to also thank the thread creator with the helpful easy install pics and steps. Without this, I would have still been skeptical about going upto stage 2. Now I really want it! Again thanks a lot guys.

[sti04dude]

I am also comtemplating a Cobb Stage 2 install.
So here's what I've learned during the research process...

1. Pro-Tune = dyno tune with Cobb software.

2. Allegedly the dealer can tell if the ECU has been reflashed even if the map has been returned to stock.

3.&4. Up-pipe and header only really needed for high hp applications.

5. I would also like some clarification on this topic as I have a short ram K&N Typhoon installed.
I read that this K&N intake is compatable with the Cobb Stage 2 OTS (off the shelf) map while other intakes are not.
True ?

Also...

6. Isn't porting of the wastegate an absolute requirement to prevent compressor over-run and the subsequent damage ?

Thanks.

[sti04dude]

Just in case anyone still has an interest in this thread...

Cobb claims that no wastegate porting is required when using the AccessPort.
The ECU programming contains safety mechanisms to prevent engine/turbo damage.

Cobb was a bit soft on the intake compatability questions.
They recommend a Pro-Tune to maximize potential or to eliminate any issues.

Also...

Cobb will not guarranty that their catted downpipe will pass emissions testing.
That was rather disappointing to hear, as it is a major reason to install a catted downpipe.
Does anybody have any experience passing/failing a state emissions test with the Cobb catted downpipe ?

Thanks.

[supermarkus]

I don't think ANY manufacturer will guarantee passing emissions testing for the simple reason that it is a federal offense to remove a functioning catalytic converter in the first place and nobody wants to be liable for that offense or encouraging the practice. It's a hefty fine, thats why all of these mods we do have the disclaimer of being intended for "off road use only". Sure, you might happen to pass with an aftermarket cat, and a properly tuned car should. Hell, in theory a properly tuned car could pass without any cats. But you'll never find an aftermarket manufacturer that will guarantee those kind of results.