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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

19283 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 9:15 AM

You are in the Subaru Crew Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, SUV


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Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 412 of 1929

#4104 of 19283 by ateixeira

Nov 12, 2004 (10:25 am)

The throttle for the Phase II engines (1999 until they went by-wire in 2004) is hyper sensitive, it's like an on/off switch.
 
My 98's throttle is more linear so I think it's smoother than the engine in my wife's 2002 Legacy.
 
I think that's what causes the jerkiness. Combined with AWD that puts that on/off power to all four wheels, it can be a challenge to crawl slowly and smoothly.
 
Maybe check the throttle cable, there should be a tiny bit of slack. They replaced my wife's throttle assembly completely and it's a bit smoother now.
 
The Outback Sport actually does not have AVCS, Subaru's version of variable valve timing. Only the turbos and the H6 have it. Even then not the base WRX, only the STi.
 
-juice

#4105 of 19283 Re: Please help diagnose my ongoing MPG issue [lfdal] by gray

Nov 12, 2004 (11:27 am)

Replying to: lfdal (Nov 12, 2004 10:04 am)
The first time it went in and they did the fuel induction stuff they pulled codes and did not find anything (so they said). Unfortunately, since my wife is now the primary driver of this car it would be difficult to reset the ECU on every fill up. I guess I could just take it myself every Saturday for the next couple of weeks, fill up no matter how much has been used, track miles, reset it and repeat the next week to see how it goes. Thanks for clarification on the variable valve timing, juice.

#4106 of 19283 MPG issue by lfdal

Nov 12, 2004 (11:32 am)

Resetting the ECU may do nothing, but if you can do it, that's what I'd try first. At that point if it works, you can do the the dealer with some definitive data.

#4107 of 19283 Re: Please help diagnose my ongoing MPG issue [gray] by xwesx

Nov 12, 2004 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: gray (Nov 12, 2004 7:26 am)
I think I have this exact same problem with my '96 Legacy Outback. I consistently get 20-22 mpg with a 75/25 highway/city drive (usually commuting). On trips to Anchorage, (350 miles, 100% highway) I can make it up to pehaps 26 which is enough to make it there on one tank, but without much left in the hold.
 
I don't have the pinging/knocking any more since I replaced the timing sensors and reset the ECU, but the mileage has not changed much (went from about 18 mpg right before the repair back up to 21ish) and I did not notice even a temporary increase. When I first bought the car (80K), I was running about 28 mpg highway, sometimes higher, but it's been at 21ish for three years now. Summer mileage is actually higher than winter; I can sometimes hit 23 or 24 but it is rare. Some of that is due to increased idling in the winter, though.
 
It is an auto as well, though I typically run it semi-manually on the road-like trails/hills to my house.

#4108 of 19283 by ateixeira

Nov 12, 2004 (12:59 pm)

Same here, in winter my mpg drops by about 2. In summer, if I use the A/C, I lose about 1 mpg. So the cold causes more loss than A/C does.
 
-juice

#4109 of 19283 by locke2c

Nov 12, 2004 (1:45 pm)

pinging and knocking eh? so what happens if you run 89 or 91-93 octane?
 
and yep, juice's winter MPG loss is definitely reformulated gas.
 
~c

#4110 of 19283 Re: [locke2c] by gray

Nov 12, 2004 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: locke2c (Nov 12, 2004 1:45 pm)
Nothing really. Perhaps not quite as much knock, but really not much change when I used 91 for a month+.

#4111 of 19283 by ateixeira

Nov 12, 2004 (2:05 pm)

I get peak efficiency in Spring and Fall, so must be.
 
And the funny thing is most of our highway road trips happen in the Summer.
 
-juice

#4112 of 19283 Re: [locke2c] by xwesx

Nov 12, 2004 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: locke2c (Nov 12, 2004 1:45 pm)
93?! Not available in these parts, but I did notice that it would take longer for the 'pinging' to resurface when using 91 after running some injector cleaner through the system: It would take about 5-6K rather than 2 or so with 87. The mpg was the same, so I quickly stopped using 91. At an extra $20/month, that's nearly an extra fill up on 87. If I had an H6 or a turbo, I'd be willing to spring for the .20/gal.

#4113 of 19283 Help: Outback 2000 Stalling - On Occasion by bobb1

Nov 12, 2004 (5:31 pm)

Help: My 2000 Outback with 116,000 great miles has decided to stall, but only on occasion. Have done all maintenance on time. Use Mobil gas - regular. Engine stalls whether hot or cold, only on occasion and I mean maybe once or twice a week. Have done the following: Into dealer 2 times - no result(no codes), run mid grade gas, run hi-test - still stalls, now trying a shift of gas stations to SHELL and starting with premium , will add red heet on Sunday and injector cleaner.
Suggestions????

Messages Page 412 of 1929

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