The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > SVX Main Forums > Technical Q & A

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-10-2005, 07:33 PM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
Question engine not happy

since i've bought the car about 6 months ago, it's always had it's little periods where it would idle up and down between 1000 rpm and nearly stalling,and sometimes it will die when i put it in gear. but now the problem seems to be happening more since it warmed up outside. also, my gas mileage is absolute crap. i consistently get 200 miles to a tank and it's killing me with the price of premium nowadays.but, every now and again it will get like 300 to 375 to a tank but it's rare. the only thing i've done is bypass the throttle body coolant and put in a k&n airfilter. i run fuel injection cleaner all the time and keep the throttle body clean and so on. i just changed the pcv valve too. any help would be great.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-10-2005, 10:45 PM
Mr. Pockets's Avatar
Mr. Pockets Mr. Pockets is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 6,916
Send a message via ICQ to Mr. Pockets
Registered SVX
The number one cause of a bad idle, in my opinion, is a vacuum leak. I'd start there.

Is the car ever difficult to start?
__________________


2005 RX-8 Grand Touring
2005 Outback
2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon

END OF LINE
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-11-2005, 01:42 AM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
no the car is never hard to start and i have no vacumm leaks that i can find and i had the dealership look too. the ones they found got fixed.the idling thing doesn't happen constantly it's just starting to happen more often now.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-11-2005, 04:27 AM
Beav's Avatar
Beav Beav is offline
Not as old as Randy
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 3,883
Significant Technical Input
First off, quit using f.i. cleaner all of the time. Gas has detergents already in it and the fuel pump and injectors rely on the fuel for lubrication. Once or twice a year is fine, more than that is overkill and potentially harmful.

The problem you're having could be crud built up in the IAC (search cleaning the throttle body - it has to be removed to clean properly) and throttle body, the MAF could be going bad or dirty (search cleaning MAF and use of aftermarket filters.) It could also be a coolant sensor going bad. Since your mileage is suffering, I'd concentrate on the MAF and coolant sensor.
__________________
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1.
ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician.
Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-11-2005, 07:31 AM
immortal_suby's Avatar
immortal_suby immortal_suby is offline
Thread Killah
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 5,835
Registered SVX
Like Beav alluded to - my guess would be oil on the MAF sensor from that k&n.
__________________
Matt
Locker Link
2015 BRZ Limited 6MT
92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting
92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles
19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !.
89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-11-2005, 11:38 AM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
anybody know how to check the coolant sensor and where it is? i'll try claning the mass airflow today and get back to you on that.the throttle body will have to wait for another day.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-11-2005, 05:51 PM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
Red face

i cleaned the mass airflow with electronics cleaner and unhooked the battery for a few hours just for the fun of it. it seems to be running better but we'll know for sure probally tommorrow if it really helped.it usually doesn't do it until the computer learns alittle then it goes to crap. it did try to stall once though as i pulled into a driveway so chances are something still needs some work.this car is so damn tempermental!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-12-2005, 04:42 PM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
ok so today i set the throttle position sensor at .505 volts and drove around for awhile. after cleaning the mass airflow and setting the tps it is definitely running better but the fuel economy still hasn't seemed to improve. i'm still getting just 25 miles to a eight of a tank! but it's too soon to really judge it yet. i'll see hows it's done by the end of the week and report back.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-16-2005, 05:01 AM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
Angry

weel still no big improvement in mileage. 100 miles to a half tank. this blows! my trans am had a 350 in it and far from stock, would smoke 99% of cars i came across and got 17 to 24 mpg at all times! even with burned out maf sensor! this is lame as hell. the idle problem is definitely fixed for now though. someone help with ideas please.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-16-2005, 06:43 AM
Beav's Avatar
Beav Beav is offline
Not as old as Randy
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 3,883
Significant Technical Input
Sometimes it is better to just have the car checked out by an experienced mechanic than to just throw parts and choice words at it. The money spent should be recovered quickly considering the amount of gas you are using.
__________________
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1.
ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician.
Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-16-2005, 08:08 PM
Budfreak's Avatar
Budfreak Budfreak is offline
Banned
Subaru Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Akron,Ohio
Posts: 3,094
Send a message via AIM to Budfreak
Arrow

i had the car checked out by my subaru dealership and they say theres nothing wrong. no codes in the computer and so on. they say it's not gonna do much better than that because it's so heavy. whatever! the trans am was 150lbs. heavier!!! makes no sense to me. I took a drive today to my moms and the idle problem started acting up again, and i got about 160 miles to a half tank on mostly highway travel. i'm starting to think the maf sensor is just screwed up enough to ruin my mileage but not trigger the ses light. what do you guys think??
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-17-2005, 09:55 AM
floatingkiwi's Avatar
floatingkiwi floatingkiwi is offline
A flight-less flyer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Taupo, New Zealand
Posts: 271
Send a message via Yahoo to floatingkiwi
Don't forget that the gas gauge is vauge at best - what is your MPG doing?
I had an idle hunt too (after foolishly trying to clean the IAC the quick way) - then I did it the "proper" way!

Matt
__________________
'92 JDM (E) Burgandy/Black 100Km

Just Crusin'
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-18-2005, 04:42 PM
Earthworm's Avatar
Earthworm Earthworm is offline
Meow!
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 11,957
Send a message via ICQ to Earthworm Send a message via AIM to Earthworm Send a message via MSN to Earthworm Send a message via Yahoo to Earthworm Send a message via Skype™ to Earthworm
Quote:
Originally Posted by floatingkiwi
I had an idle hunt too (after foolishly trying to clean the IAC the quick way) - then I did it the "proper" way!
Care to elaborate?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-18-2005, 05:29 PM
Beav's Avatar
Beav Beav is offline
Not as old as Randy
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 3,883
Significant Technical Input
Due to the IAC being underneath the t-body the only proper way is to remove the assembly.
__________________
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician w/L1.
ASE Certified Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician.
Certified EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician)
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-18-2005, 08:09 PM
mikecg's Avatar
mikecg mikecg is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Esconidido, CA
Posts: 2,422
Send a message via AIM to mikecg Send a message via Yahoo to mikecg
Since you havnt had the car long, I'd try unhooking the battery for a while to reset the ECU. It's possible the privious owner ran crappy gas and the ECU is adapted to it. Unhooking the battery will clear its memory and make it relearn. Just make sure your running good clean gas (no additives from a bottle). At the least it'll improve the power, and it doesnt cost you anything.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122