Help... what could cause one side of the engine...

[kwren]

not to function. Anyone have a clue?

At times the car runs great and then suddenly only one side of the engine is working. One side works great all the time... the other side stops functioning and is totally doing nothing. If anyone knows a possibility, please give a suggestion.
Keith

[Trevor]

Hi Keith,

Someone else had this problem and Tom advised that a common lead splits into two separate leads for each bank of plug mounted coils and one lead can become faulty.

Cheers, Trevor.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Trevor

Hi Keith,

Someone else had this problem and Tom advised that a common lead splits into two separate leads for each bank of plug mounted coils and one lead can become faulty.

Cheers, Trevor.

Will check it out am looking at the engine wiring diagram as we speak!
I will be a happy camper when I finally get this worked out!
Thanks so much!
Keith

[kwren]

the smell of unburnt fuel when this happens.
That will be real easy to check out!!
Could it cause a code 37? left 02 sensor...

[YourConfused]

Originally Posted by Trevor

Hi Keith,

Someone else had this problem and Tom advised that a common lead splits into two separate leads for each bank of plug mounted coils and one lead can become faulty.

Cheers, Trevor.

That was what I was thinking when you were talking to that other guy in the other thread. I believe YT is the one who discovered this issue on a car of his, maybe it was the SUS.

[TomsSVX]

You need to be able to reproduce the problem. When it rears its ugly head again, you must test voltages on all the coils... Start there

Tom

[kwren]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

You need to be able to reproduce the problem. When it rears its ugly head again, you must test voltages on all the coils... Start there

Tom

How much voltage are we looking for, Tom?
Thanks,
Keith

[kwren]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

You need to be able to reproduce the problem. When it rears its ugly head again, you must test voltages on all the coils... Start there

Tom

is the black and white on both banks, right?

Does the two connect at a quick disconnect or just a wire splice?

Thanks,
Keith

[Subie59]

Keith I think you are on to something here. I will email my mechanic with this information......
Vic

[TomsSVX]

Yes, should be 12-10guage wire. Black w/ a white tracer. You should have 12v. w/o the car running and the key on and 13-14 while running. If there is a problem, you will know

Tom

[kwren]

...............

[SVX-FF]

Keith

I had this problem the Friday of Reading 4. I took off hard from a stop and the car ran like crap. It was in "limp mode" The whole right side of the engine was dead. Then engine code was a left O2 sensor. I replace the sensor and the problem was still their. It turned out to be the timing belt jumped a tooth or two. I reset the timing belt and it fired right up. It took me all weekend to fine so I missed Reading.

If your problem is constant you might want to look at items related to the timing; belt, crank sensor

just my 2 cents
Steve

[kwren]

Originally Posted by SVX-FF

Keith

I had this problem the Friday of Reading 4. I took off hard from a stop and the car ran like crap. It was in "limp mode" The whole right side of the engine was dead. Then engine code was a left O2 sensor. I replace the sensor and the problem was still their. It turned out to be the timing belt jumped a tooth or two. I reset the timing belt and it fired right up. It took me all weekend to fine so I missed Reading.

If your problem is constant you might want to look at items related to the timing; belt, crank sensor

just my 2 cents
Steve

These are complicated contraptions!

Thanks Steve.

I already bought a new timing belt four weeks ago and it is scheduled to go on my car the day I get it towed home from the dealer! Got to happen soon... 6 weeks today with the new Subaru loaner.

Thanks again,
Keith

[kwren]

big problem differentiating between the real problem and the unrelated symptoms. The last 2 months I have been disparately trying to analyze my problems with a car that:
Starts easy!
Runs great!
And suddenly sounds and feels like half the engine falls off.

I got a 37 code and immediately replaced the correct 02 sensor.

Got in the car, started it up. Ran great! problem solved.

Road tested it and a happy camper!

2 miles later...Disaster strikes again Back to square one.

Snow was coming and my unheated garage looked less inviting all the time si I took it to a Subaru dealer.

The new Subaru loaner was better than renting a car and spending my time in the cold garage.

As they began to try to solve the problem, I became more certain that they would never work it out. Six weeks later, I brought the car home.


conversation with Tom!

One of the tom types... said to check the timing on the passenger side.

Re: the passenger side out of time....

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I know it sounds weird but I have heard of it before... its worth looking into

TomsSVX


Quote:
Originally Posted by kwren
would that allow the engine to start easy... run great for a while like a mile? and then go whacko?
Looks like timing would be bad all the time??
Just wondering, trying to understand it.

Thanks for your help,
Keith

Tom was right! Still, In my case, the timing belt was in all the right places, so not an easy diagnosis, as the dealer found out. They ended up after keeping the car 6 weeks, not having a clue.

On the passenger side the where the sprocket is bolted to the cam shaft was rusted out and had slipped, throwing the bank out of time. Looked great with the belt all lined up but wasn't.

Replaced the cam shaft and sprocket and now a happy camper! Car runs great!!!

Moral of this story... I understand that we are "blessed" wit a smart car that has a limp home mode in the computer. Be careful not to try only to only analyze the symptoms that are present in the "limp home" mode.

When we get a weird result, might want to check if timing is all correct?

Keith

p.s. "Thanks again TOM"!!!

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Last edited by kwren : Today at 10:38 AM. Reason: added "Thanks again TOM"!!!

[TomsSVX]

glad to hear you solved the issues... Did you get the seal figured out too?

Tom