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Subaru Legacy/Outback "Check Engine" Light Problems

406 messages,  Last post on Mar 07, 2013 at 11:38 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Wagon

Messages Page 37 of 42

#354 of 406 CEL,sport and cruise control light flashing by kldbh

Jul 08, 2012 (12:48 pm)

I have a 2007 Legacy GT sedan with turbo- first post but after reading all the previous posts, having same issue. Approx 88,000 miles, first starting happening in Nov 2011 at just over 80,000 miles. Getting same runaround- have done required, recommended maint per manual, good gas, no demanding driving conditions (live in CA). Recently replaced spark plugs and did 75K maintenance early to help solve problems. Just had at dealer on Mon, 7/4- returned to me evening of 7/5- didn't even last a week this time. Supposedly, tech support at Subaru has been contacted- was told replacement of computer module would not be covered under my extended warranty because nothing would link back to that but looks like this posting trail might provide some ammunition. Thanks everyone for your help and will postl if anything comes out of it. But...Mainly posting this so if any class action suit is ever pursued, I am able to put our two cents in. Just like other posters, this was my 5th Subaru, 3 of which were Legacys, 1 impreza - 2005 GT was totaled in accident so will never know if this would have developed, replaced with essentially identical car with 2007 model.

#355 of 406 Re: Check Engine light and cruise control blinking/Whining noise when accel [skymar] by mcharlie

Jul 08, 2012 (12:59 pm)

Replying to: skymar (Oct 31, 2011 8:11 am)
The dealerships are cagey..it is **always** a gas cap issue.....not something a lemon law will help....well...after the 2nd 'gas cap' report, I marked the gas cap, and when the light came on again, I had a neighbor, who is an attorney and a notary, inspect the gas cap and noted that I had marked it for easy identification. I then took vehicle to the dealership, where, yes, you guessed it, they 'found' a defective gas cap, which they stated, they replaced. End of issue...no lemon law here..nothing to prove the ame thing had happened 3 times in the year. Welp, went back to my attorney neighbor, had him inspect the 'new' gas cap, and guess what, Subaru must be manufacturing all their new gas caps with my secret identification, because this one still had my mark, which was photographed, and then the photographs were notarized, as was the statement my attorney neighbor wrote (on his practice letterhead). I do believe Subaru is going to buy me a new Subaru over this one. We have filed a preliminary notice of intent to sue (initiate) an action against the dealer and Subaru of America. If we are lucky, we may even get the service manager and his service writers to serve some jail time for fraudulantly falsifying documents to avoid a legal action.
 
In short...gang....don't let these dealerships get away with the loose gas cap crap...mark your caps and make sure you get the info documented before you take your vehicle into the dealership for the umpteenth time for the warning light issue. There is no doubt in my mind that Subaru is trying to cover their asses because they do NOT know how to fix the problem.

#356 of 406 Re: Check Engine light and cruise control blinking/Whining noise when accel [mcharlie] by kldbh

Jul 08, 2012 (1:26 pm)

Replying to: mcharlie (Jul 08, 2012 12:59 pm)
that is such an interesting comment- I was initially told in Nov 2011 that it could just be a loose gas cap when I contacted dealer about bringing in the shop. Yesterday, the same service person that helped my spouse on Monday told me that he couldn't figure out why anyone would have told me it could be a gas cap issue. Obviously, I am not the only one who has been told that could be an issue and I believe even the manual mentions that could trigger the lights. Incidentally, NOv 2011-code P0457 EVP leak detected
Feb 2012- code P0304- misfire cylinder 4, replaced all spark plugs
March 2012- misfire Cyl 2 and 4- update on ECM done
July 2012- code P0304- loose connector on ignition coil 4
will wait and see what next code is ---

#357 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [csmilich] by teedeebug14

Aug 20, 2012 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: csmilich (Dec 22, 2011 8:43 am)
I have a 2007 Legacy GT my check engine light comes on steady and cruise control blinks and the car has I S and S# mode the S continues to blink also.
The Code is P00011 Camshaft Sensor Timing Advance . Advance auto and Auto zone has a free scan. Had it fixed one year later it is back.

#358 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [teedeebug14] by skiera2

Aug 22, 2012 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: teedeebug14 (Aug 20, 2012 3:48 pm)
I have a 2007 2.5 legacy gt as well and just ran into overheating issues last weekend. I took it into a subaru specialist and while he couldn't guarantee me, he thought that if I replaced the radiator that would solve the problem. I drove it up a mtn pass in Tahoe and as I was going ip the hills again, the temp began to spike just below the red line. I broughht it back in the shop since the $800 repair didn't repair the issue. Now they can't find ant hydrocarbons in the exhaust, no excessive consumption of coolant, no contamination of the oil, cooling fans are working...so they are concluding it could bea blown head gasket. This is not common in this model year. Has anyone else run into similar issues? I don't want to spend $3000 if this head gasket isn't the problem.

#359 of 406 Re: Randomly overheating [skiera2] by xwesx

Aug 22, 2012 (3:01 pm)

Replying to: skiera2 (Aug 22, 2012 2:30 pm)
Very unlikely for the GT's block to have a blown head gasket. With them finding no evidence of that, I wouldn't go for broke quite yet.
 
How many miles are on the car? There's no mention of thermostat or water pump yet, or even the possibility of an air bubble in the block some where, so it seems there's still some checking to do.

#360 of 406 Check engine light/low coolant by silvercoop

Aug 28, 2012 (5:35 pm)

Last week my check engine light turns on, thus disabling ebrake, cruise and traction control. Took it in to the dealership. They told me loose gas cap bs. Light comes on 4 days later, either a sensor or engine problems. Back to the dealership I go.
Btw. Double checked my coolant again, somewhere I'm losing coolant...

#361 of 406 Re: Check Engine light and cruise control blinking/Whining noise when accel [csmilich] by winter2

Aug 29, 2012 (8:03 am)

Replying to: csmilich (Jan 10, 2012 10:02 am)
I am in the market for a new car. My final choices are a Subaru Outback or a Honda CR-V AWD. I have been reading a goodly number of the posts here and I am getting a bit concerned about purchasing a Subaru. I realize you see lots of them out there and the few owners I have spoken with are quite pleased with them. Some have > 100K miles on them and have been problem free.
 
In reading some of your concerns, I have some suggestions.
 
1. Before you replace the MAF, clean it with the appropriate solvent. I do this yearly and I can feel a difference and it is cheaper than a new MAF.
2. De-carbon the engine. Unfortunately we are stuck with ethanol and the amount will be increasing to 15% in the near future. I use Power Foam from Amsoil. Make sure the engine is fully warmed up. You disconnect the intake hose at the throttle body and start the engine. Spray the Power Foam into the throttle body. The engine will cough, sputter and run badly while you are spraying and may almost stall.
3. Once the can is empty, shut off the engine and re-attach the intake hose to the throttle body.
4. Wait ten to twelve minutes, re-start the engine. It will run badly and smoke will appear out of the tailpipe. Drive the car sort of hard to blast the crap out of the engine. The smoke maybe blue, brown or black. Once the smoke stops, then you are done. I have done this to various Dodges, and Fords with good results.

#362 of 406 Re: Chemical Cleaning of a Subaru Engine by mcharlie

Aug 29, 2012 (8:24 am)

Replying to: winter2 (Aug 29, 2012 8:03 am)
>
 
I would check with your local Subaru dealer before doing this. I have had he heads off 150,000 mile Subaru's and have seen no indications of carbon build up. And these newer Subaru's burn ultra clean.
 
Doing a MAF cleaning and/or decarbonizing the engine may void any emmision warranties.
 
A thought about increased ethanol content of fuel. Some vehicles, Subaru is one, do not support high alcohol content fuel. That may change on new models, but through 2012, alcohol fuels are not recommended. Here in Nevada, our fuels go 3% ethanol for emission control in the winter. Both my 2000 Forester and my new Outback run like a lame race horse during the 3 months we have to endure the stuff.

#363 of 406 Re: Check Engine light and cruise control blinking/Whining noise when accel [winter2] by dswiss

Aug 29, 2012 (3:52 pm)

Replying to: winter2 (Aug 29, 2012 8:03 am)
Pick the Honda. You won't be disappointed.
I had a new Subaru Legacy and it had lots of problems. Now, any car can have problems, so the issue really is how the company takes care of the problem. And with Subaru, I experienced incredible frustration. The bottom line was that no dealer knew how to fix the problem, and Subaru would not help at all. They kept stringing me along until the warranty ran out.
With Honda on the other hand, you will get super service. They stand behind the product and they have superior engineering.
 
good luck

Messages Page 37 of 42

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