Urg!!! Please Help, Someone, I'm new

[curly2k3]

I was just out side right, so I start up my car, everything is going great, let it warm up for 10 min, I go back out and the Check Engine light is on, I try to restart it and check it then, its still on. Does anyone have any ideas on what might have happened, why do you think its on? like I said, I've had it for 4 days now and haven't had any proiblems, please respond with some ideas.

Chris

[lee]

you need to find out what error code the car is storing for the light before anyone can say more. the codes can be found here (courtesy of a fellow forum member).

http://svx-iw.com/

[immortal_suby]

check the how to locker for instructions on pulling codes and what they mean. Post back here with your results.

[svxcess]

Most likely cause ig the light is a bad oxygen sensor (part of the emission system). You have 2 of them, one on esch exhaust pipe by each satalytic converter. Since yours is a 92 it probably has a lot of miles on it and these wear out.

Look in the "How-To" Documents on the top right of the homepage. Click on the ENGINE folder, then open the CODES folder. There are instructions on how to interpret CHECK ENGINE codes. Oxygen sensors will either be a 32 0r a 37 code.

If it is O2 sensors, it is not a serious thing. They are easily replaced from underneath the car and run about $150.00 each for OEM. Check out an alternative source at http://www.oxygensensors.com

Check out this thread: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...or+replacement

Your gas mileage will probably go down until the problem is resolved. For more information, type in CHECK ENGINE or OXYGEN SENSOR in the search link

[curly2k3]

well it was just a dirty O2 sensor, the light turned off and all so, but now my damn doors won't lock, what next, oh and my Sun roof refuses to open for me, Cant you just pull the shade open some how?

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by curly2k3
well it was just a dirty O2 sensor, the light turned off and all so, but now my damn doors won't lock, what next, oh and my Sun roof refuses to open for me, Cant you just pull the shade open some how?

Nope. You may have noticed that that roof isn't glass - it's metal. There is no shade to open separately.

How did you determine that the 'O2 sensor was dirty?' Just because the light turned off doesn't mean that it's not going to turn on again in the future. I would absolutely, positively still follow the advice in this thread. If the light came on before, even if it turned off again, the ECU is storing a fault code. Find out what that code is and let us know.

[curly2k3]

because my dad cleaned it with his kit(got it for his 502 Ram Jet)
Does anyone know how to get my doors locked?!? I'm worried about my car and I don't get it, the button inside won't go down and the key is tuff to turn and does nothing really, is it solinoid operated? that might be the problem if it is. The roof is no big deal but I was just wondering if you could have the shade open and the widow closed at all. Seriously, If you have ANY ideas on how ot lock my doors tell me, Oh, BTW, my remote is dead so, yeah, PM me or post with some ideas, Love the car though, I really like how people stare at you and how they like the car.

[SilverSpear]

I go for the Knock Sensors, since those are the only problem I had so far when I had 20000 miles on my car. When they need to be replaced a check engine lights appears. But to make sure, you need to check the codes as the guys said...
concerning the door lock, you should take out the door panel and check the lock mechanism inside.... it could have a million reasons for not locking... and welcome to the forum !

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by curly2k3
because my dad cleaned it with his kit(got it for his 502 Ram Jet)

Cleaning the O2 sensors sounds like more work than just following the advice in this thread and having the ECU tell you what codes it's storing. The ECU could be storing fault codes for any number of things. Granted, an O2 sensor is a very common failure, but you still don't actually know why the CE light was on until you ask the car, man.

Your light may not be on right now, but the failure the ECU detected could very well be intermittent for now.

As for the locks, I remember seeing posts about people having problems with thir locks and sunroofs and that those problems were caused by the same fault. I recommend you try searching for it.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally posted by SilverSpear
I go for the Knock Sensors, since those...

Every bit as random as Curly's stab in the dark - neither of you have actually read the codes the ECU is storing, so either guess is just as valid.

[thumper_svx]

I'll just say that for anyone with a 96 or 97 SVX (or any OBDII car) I highly recommend getting a Carchip (http://www.carchip.com). It actually helps a lot since it sits permanently in the OBDII port and stores codes which you can then download to your PC and store over time. You can also grab a lot of other details to see how the engine's running (customized list) and clear CE lights. They're not really terribly cheap at about $100, but to me it's been invaluable. The grab I had in my post about my sensors dying was from my Carchip, downloaded on 12/31/04.

As far as the problems here, I would agree with everyone else; get the ECU codes by hook or by crook... you can even get a loaner OBDII scanner from Autozone if you have a 96 or 97 like me... it'll tell you WHY the CE light came on. Just cleaning the O2 sensor wouldn't have made the light go off... there's something going on. Maybe it WAS an O2 sensor... but that's something you need to know.

As for the other problems, they're probably unrelated;

Doors; probably a dirty or failed solenoid. I had the solenoid fail in my 94 on my drivers side door... it was a royal bear to lock the doors when that happened because pushing the physical button down was almost impossible, and of course electrically it wouldn't lock at all.

Sunroot; The SVX sunroof sticks... trust me I've owned three of them and ALL of them stuck. Assuming the motor's turning, the best way to release it is to start the motor to open the roof and push up (gently) at the rear end of the sunroof. If that still doesn't work, apply more pressure but don't overdo it. It's possible the seals have broken down and "glued" it shut... happened to my 96. I got new seals on her a few months back right before the weather turned to crap. Haha... irony!

[curly2k3]

Well the guy i bought it from said it could use a new spring for the sun roof, don't know what one or anything but whatever, and You think it is probably a dirty solinoid, no problem then, once it breaks 30 again or I can get into the garage I will take off my door panel and clean it, should I lube up all the linkages in the door do you think? or wouldn't it help anything, I also noticed another thing on my car today, the key doesn't work in the passenger or drunklid key holes, are yours the same way?

[thumper_svx]

Cleaning the solenoid MIGHT help... but it might just result in a sparkling broken solenoid. They DO wear out ver time... this is NOT a new car.

Your key... does it have an almost black plastic end, or a sort of medium grey? If the latter, then it's the "Valet Key"... a key that you hand to valets so they can't open the trunk (with the switch off), or passenger door... only use the drivers door and ignition.

[curly2k3]

black, and its the only one I got from him. So your saying I need to have my local Subaru dealer install a new solinoid, alrighty, I'll try to make an appointment sometime. I'll keep you updated when I finally get the computer codes read and diagnosed and when I find out whats all up with my door locks, sun roof and now my passenger window( about a mile a day to roll it down) because it takes an eternity to get it down. Oh well, even with its tempermental problems through out my ownership of it(5 days now) I still wouldn't get rid of the car, I can now understand why the guy was so bummed that his wife made him sell it and why you guys own so many of them and are so attached to them. like I keep posting, tell me when the meets are and where and hopefully I can make it to a few, if any are up here in or around Minnesota tell me, I would love to come and meet you guys, its cool that such a limited group of owners are all so nice, friendly, and Very helpful, especially to me(being the newb I am), I really appretiate all the help, if any of you play paintball or every have questions about paintball or RC cars I can help you out LOL, I would really like to meet up with some of you guys sometime and check out your rides.

Curly2k3

[NikFu S.]

So what did you name your kid?