engine (shake) problems

When I drive and the engine is getting warm the engine starts to shake and it is loosing power. When I drive on cruise control it shifts back in gear.
We found out there is not always a good ignition. This made it posible that there was gas burning after the engine and the katalic was burned.
Subaru Holland dit not know what to do whith it and advised to replace a lot of thinks whithout giving any garantie it wil work again.
Is ther anybody who knows what this can be.
(Sorry for the spelling)

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by rosloot
When I drive and the engine is getting warm the engine starts to shake and it is loosing power. When I drive on cruise control it shifts back in gear.
We found out there is not always a good ignition. This made it posible that there was gas burning after the engine and the katalic was burned.
Subaru Holland dit not know what to do whith it and advised to replace a lot of thinks whithout giving any garantie it wil work again.
Is ther anybody who knows what this can be.
(Sorry for the spelling)

Rosloot, welcome! And, don't worry about your spelling. We're happy to have you here. Now that Holland has joined our number, we can continue to take pride in calling ourselves the "World" Network.

Have the Throttle Position Sensor checked on a graphing meter. Sometimes it will be defective, but it will remain within specifications and will not give you a trouble code in the self diagnostic system. That would be my first guess. After that, check the coils and boots to make sure they are not defective.

I'm wishing you the best of luck. Please let us know what you find out.

[Aredubjay]

Oh, and check the Mass Airflow Sensor for proper operation.

[svxistentialist]

Welcome Rosloot,

The English and Irish SVX owners are currently debating meeting this summer in Amsterdam. You interested in meeting up if it happens?

Can't add much to what Randy says, sounds sensible. However, the engine shake you mention would indicate the car is not firing on one or more cylinders. This can be intermittent, which can make it difficult to trace. I can understand that a misfire will send unburnt fuel down the pipes, which would be bad for the cats. I assume you know the SVX has three of them, would be very expensive to replace, and I hope you do not have to do this.

A suggestion. Buy six replacement plugs and prepare to install them. This is a long all-day job, they are hard to access.

Run the engine of your car in the garage to the point where it shakes, then stop the engine. When you remove all the plugs, any that is dirty or oily is not firing. Carefully take note of which plug [boogies] comes from which cylinder. Hopefully assuming it is only one cylinder, if the plug itself is not damaged, then you must assume that the coil on that plug, or possibly the lead to it [or both ] is defective. Replace them, and your car will be back to its old smooth self.

The TPS and the MAF sensors Randy mentioned may be defective, and cause strange effects. I am willing to bet with the shaking effect you describe you have bad ignition to one or more cylinders.

Best of luck with it. What are the mechanics suggesting to replace??

Joe

[kuoh]

Why do people keep saying that when it can be done in under an hour with no special tools?

KuoH

Originally posted by svxistentialist
Buy six replacement plugs and prepare to install them. This is a long all-day job, they are hard to access.

[svxistentialist]

Hey Kuoh

I got a set waiting for install. Can you come over to my place next Saturday?

[I am assuming the airbox and the battery and a few things need to come off, which most people would not be familiar on dis-assembly]

Joe

[kuoh]

You buy the plane tickets and furnish room and board and I'm there!

KuoH

[mattski]

Originally posted by svxistentialist

A suggestion. Buy six replacement plugs and prepare to install them. This is a long all-day job, they are hard to access.

Run the engine of your car in the garage to the point where it shakes, then stop the engine. When you remove all the plugs, any that is dirty or oily is not firing.
Joe

I believe the plugs should be taken out with the engine cold, which this method will not permit. Perhaps just disconnecting the ignition wires from the distributor, one at a time, can lead you to the same result of finding out which cylinder is misfiring.

Matt

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by kuoh
You buy the plane tickets and furnish room and board and I'm there!

KuoH

Room & board, can do.

How good are you at flapping your arms for long periods of time?

Joe