Lerroy's 2014 JDM VMG (NZ)

lerroy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2023
Messages
203
Location
Wanaka NZ
Vehicle(s)
VMG (A) Levorg
I took car on the track last week, they have a 'breakfast and laps' event here every month $50 at highlands track Cromwell. It is billed as a "tour of the track" but we got up to around 160+kmh, got to really test the car for 2 laps. Super happy with how she handled and kept up with some quicker cars. I did try to film but my camera mount failed me, vibrated the power button and turned off :(.
I will defiantly go again so stay tuned.

After doing the swaybar and seeing the dirty looking exhaust, felt I could make it look a bit better, grabbed some cleaning products and polishes and used 000 mesh. Was pretty hard work, but came up pretty nice. Really want to do mid pipe but PITA to get to with just jack stands, one day.

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Now gotta do the right side :)

Scored a Levorg STI speedo from Be-forward that had 1500km more than my current milage, had a scratch on the plastic cover so negotiated with seller and got a little bit off. I just swapped my current cover with the the STI one and no scratch :)

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Have been waiting to install when milage became close or even exactly the same. I caved and installed today, was a few hundred km more, but close enough.

Bit of an indulgence, the only difference is the blue lights are now red and it has a glowing STI log on the Rev gauge. I was kind of hoping for a different animation or welcome screen but same as the GTS.

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My interior now is all matchy red, will put a night photo up when I get a chance.

Probably should have just saved on all these parts and got an STI but fun researching / installing parts
 
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lerroy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2023
Messages
203
Location
Wanaka NZ
Vehicle(s)
VMG (A) Levorg
Couple of updates this week

Sold my old STI wheels so free'd up some funds for other bits

Received CARGO STEP PANEL with Faux carbon look from japanparts

Car gets used most weekends shuffling bikes and other bits for the family, every time a bike goes in I cringe in fear of the rear step panel. finally got one of these protectors to cover it, goes with the other faux carbon bits. Comes with 3M tape on the back make sure you get in correct position mines ever so slightly off but good enough.

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Also got some STI DOOR INNER PROTECTOR (STSG18100521) from japanparts

These stick on to the door cards to protect from scratches, same look as what's under my door handle carbon look. make sure you clean the surface so stick properly ones of mine wasn't going down that well so took a hair dryer to it :)

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Picked up a Dragy GPS timer as well last week. Have been doing some testing my first few runs was a bit disappointing.
The dragy wasn't mounted correctly, but even so times were way over what i was expecting. what ever mode I was in.
Best I could get was a 7.4 0-60 was hoping to at least crack into 6 second mark.

This was traction on (tried off as well), S# (tried others slower) no air con and launch mode used.

Please note these all done on private roads

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I felt a bit gutted what was wrong with my car ?
I did a bit more research see if I was doing anything wrong but seemed all ok.

So my car maybe not running as well as it should. my annoyance turned to semi happy, now i have work to do and something to chase.

Car has just had a basic service but decided I would try and clean MAF sensor and ordered some new spark plug as well (will install later).

Mass Air flow sensor is on the intake piping I carefully removed and then sprayed the sensor insides and left to dry. Reinstalled and started car all seemed good.

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I adjusted tyre pressure bit lower to 34/35 ( was on around 38-39 from when wheels done)
Mounted dragy correctly

I took car out again to see if had any effect.
First run in I mode was about the same 7.2

I then tried in S# again, TC off, launch

Was pleasantly surprised, was able to get into the 6 seconds with a 6.74 for 0-60 and 14.75 1/4

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So I still think she has more in her, there are others on here around 6.4 or less with mild mods.

I'm gonna try 98 fuel (yes I know should be 98 all the time but NZ fuel is exy as)
 
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Robsyuk

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2022
Messages
407
Vehicle(s)
LEVORG Sti
Try doing this. It made a huge difference on mine

 

lerroy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2023
Messages
203
Location
Wanaka NZ
Vehicle(s)
VMG (A) Levorg
Try doing this. It made a huge difference on mine

Thanks man so just to confirm

  • PCV valve replace / clean - Will Replace ( Part No. 11810AA141 ) Steps here to change
  • Throttle body and breathers EGR carb cleaner
  • MAP sensor / Manifold ambient pressure sensor part no. 22012AA240 (will check condition not cheap) or Clean with MAF cleaner
  • Spark plug NGK Spark plugs ( part no. ILKAR8H6 ) Guide here
  • Intercooler fins ( checked mine today pretty good)
 
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Robsyuk

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2022
Messages
407
Vehicle(s)
LEVORG Sti
Thanks man so just to confirm

pcv valve replace / clean
Throttle body and breathers carb cleaner
Spark plugs
Intercooler fins ( checked mine today pretty good)
The fins was more of a cosmetic thing for me.
 

leonyy

New Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2024
Messages
11
Take your car to a local dyno and see if your cars power/torqur match other levorgs.
 

lerroy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2023
Messages
203
Location
Wanaka NZ
Vehicle(s)
VMG (A) Levorg
Take your car to a local dyno and see if your cars power/torqur match other levorgs.
Ide love to, have been searching around for dyno and tune but none in my local area 4-5 hour drive and not cheap.

Always good idea to do some maintenance anyway. The dragy seems likea pretty good tool to see results as well.
 

lerroy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2023
Messages
203
Location
Wanaka NZ
Vehicle(s)
VMG (A) Levorg
Maintenance day

nov-1000.jpg

  • PCV Replace ( Part No. 11810AA141 ) Steps here to change
  • Throttle body and breathers EGR carb cleaner
  • MAP sensor and EGR Clean with MAF cleaner
  • Spark plug NGK Spark plugs ( part no. ILKAR8H6 ) Guide her

Found some shipped from AU cheaper than Repco by quite allot you can get them here arrived pretty quick as well - https://www.sparkplugsdirect.com.au/

Spark plugs are a bit of a pain, removed Intake airbnox, ECU on drivers side and Battery on the passenger side to access the plugs.

fiddly to get to, elbow joint socket set is a must. Unfortunately when I removed the plugs there is a bit a oil on every plug on outer, might be sign of rocker cover seals or something worse.

Have ordered valve cover gasket set for each side to get on top of it. Will be another fiddley job

Right side link NZ Repco
Left side link NZ Repco

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Removed intercooler and cleaned throttle body (not that bad) EGR pretty gunked up and the MAP sensor.

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Replaced the PCV valve still had a rattle so likely all ok but was there anyway.

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put all back together, man the intercooler is a pain. Started her up no engine lights slight bit of smoke let her idle for 5 mins and it all settled down. took for a test drive car feels good cant say made a huge difference but happy I've done the maintenance. Will test with Dragy soon.

In other maintenance news. My air con has been playing up it has been to mechanics last year as the cold just shuts off and stops. only way to fix is turn off and on again, it will sometimes come back on but sometimes not just normal air not cold. They have re-gassed and fixed seals but now its got hot im using more and its still doing it :(
I have replaced the air con relay in the fuse box found a 35amp 14v 4 plug relay on jay car and will give a try. quick drive seemed promising but generally happens over longer trips.


Also got a red STI starter button cap from Aliexpress, came with a tool to remove old black one and worked a treat i painted the chrome surround black. Much cheaper option than the OEM starter, couldn't warrant the couple of hundred.


nov-1008.jpg
 
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tom397

New Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2024
Messages
12
Location
NZ, Auckland
Vehicle(s)
2.0 Levorg 2015
Wow thanks for the maintenance walk throughs mate. I just bought the same spark plugs on black friday at repco for $60 each down from $80 but good to know for next time! Will add some of these to my ever growing maintenance list coming up. Dragy GPS looks interesting, might look at getting on myself. Cheers
 
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