check engine light

i have 66,840 mile on my 96 ...and my check engine light just came on. i double checked all the fluids and everything seems ok....does this light automatically come on at certain miles.....i just had my 60,000 mile tune up in november............

[Aredubjay]

This light usually means you need to replace your O2 sensors, but, run the self diagnosis to make sure. THe following are compliments of VKYKAM:

To retrieve codes:

1) Remove the kick panel just beside the left foot rest on the driver's side.
2) Locate blue wires.
3) Locate black connector. Hold it notch up.
4) With ignition off, insert one of the wires into top row, 2nd pin from left.
5) Turn key to on position, but do not start the car.
6) Watch blinky check engine light on dashboard. Count blinks. Long blinks = 10, Short blinks = 1.
7) Keep watching blinky light until you get mesmorized.

You may want to clear codes to make sure that old codes are removed from system before determining problem. I would personally read codes now, clear the codes, then wait until the CE light comes on again to retrieve the codes.

To clear codes:

1) With engine off, stick the blue wires to 1st and 2nd pin in the top row counting from left on the black connector, with notch facing up.
2) Start car. Shut off car. Remove pins.
3) Read codes to make sure they are clear. No codes = steady blinks at 1/4 second intervals.

CODE PROBABLE CAUSE
11 Crank Angle Sensor or Circuit
12 Starter Switch or Circuit
13 Cam Position Sensor or Circuit (TDC Sensor on Justy)
14 Fuel Injector No. 1 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
14 Fuel Injector No. 1 and 2 (XT, Loyale, GL, DL)
15 Fuel Injector No. 2 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
15 Fuel Injector No. 3 and 4 (Loyale, GL, DL)
15 Fuel Injector No. 5 and 6 (XT-6)
16 Fuel Injector No. 3 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
16 Fuel Injector No. 3 and 4 (XT)
17 Fuel Injector No. 4 (Legacy, Impreza, SVX)
17 Fuel injector No. 1 and 2 (XT-6)
18 Fuel Injector No. 5 (SVX)
19 Fuel Injector No. 6 (SVX)
21 Coolant Temperature Sensor or Circuit
22 Knock Sensor or Circuit (Right Side on SVX)
23 Air Flow Meter or Circuit (Exc. Justy)
23 Pressure Sensor (Justy)
24 Air Control Valve or Circuit (Exc. Justy)
24 Idle Speed Control Solenoid Valve (Justy)
25 Fuel injector No. 3 and 4 (XT-6)
26 Air Temperature Sensor (Justy)
28 Knock Sensor No. 2 (SVX, Left Side)
29 Crank Angle Sensor (SVX, No. 2)
31 Throttle Position Sensor or Circuit
32 Oxygen Sensor or Circuit (No. 1, Right Side, On SVX)
33 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) or Circuit
34 EGR Solenoid or Circuit
35 Purge Control Solenoid or Circuit
36 Air Suction Solenoid Valve (Impreza)
36 Ignitor Circuit (Justy)
37 Oxygen Sensor (No. 2, Left Side, On SVX)
38 Engine Torque Control (SVX)
41 Air/Fuel Adaptive Control

[QA Man]

At 59,102 miles, my check engine light just came on as well. Before I do what you suggest, and it does turn out to be the O2 sensors, how much can I expect this to cost?

Thanks

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by QA Man
At 59,102 miles, my check engine light just came on as well. Before I do what you suggest, and it does turn out to be the O2 sensors, how much can I expect this to cost?

Thanks

Fortunately, I've not had to replace my O2 Sensors *desparately looking for wood among formica clad countertops -- ah, found it -- KNOCK, KNOCK*

The sensors, can probably be ordered separately, but, subaruparts.com sells them as an "assembly" (both O2 sensors) for 91.40, plus shipping (10% of purchase price = 9.14). Then, tack on whatever your local exhaust shop, or dealer charges for labor, unless you're going to do it yourself. Shouldn't be more than a couple of hours labor (and 2 hours is on the "high" side).

[QA Man]

Ok, removing the kick panel was quite easy. However, upon looking, there seems to be 3 black connectors, so I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Also, there are 2 somewhat thick blue wires (they are thicker than all the other wires underneath this panel. Can you possibly tell me which black connector I'm looking for?

Sorry, but I don't have any service manuals to reference.

Thanks.

[Landshark]

my check engine light come on also. also couldn't figure out the blue wires in the kick panel. my buddy, who is a svc mgr at a Chrysler dealer scanned it for me - misfire #1 cylinder. needed new coil pack, and got all spark plugs changed (they were nasty) - $400+ !!!! would have changed them myself, but i'm too busy and had to take the beating. this was with a 15% discount, because he knows the svc. mgr. at the Subaru/VW dealer next to him. $90+ for o2 sensors!!! i was under the impression that selling my Porsche and getting a SVX would be saving me some maintenance loot. i may be wrong. any Bosch or other aftermarket o2 sensors available? i'd like to do them sometime soon.

Alan

[Beav]

O2 sensors might be available aftermarket, it mainly depends on the leads and connectors. They all operate in a range of 0-1 volt. Not that I'm reccomending anyone part with their hard earned coconuts to find out, but when my turn in the O2 sensor barrel comes I'll be soldering my old leads to the least expensive aftermarket sensor I can find (the least expensive QUALITY sensor, that is...)

Last Saturday I replaced a knock sensor in a Nissan Quest for a body shop owner that sends his mechanical work to us. The sensor is the same as the SVX sensor (imagine that...) they operate identically. Best price locally - $290, SVX price - $43. Guess who's a hero...

[Earthworm]

Originally posted by QA Man
Ok, removing the kick panel was quite easy. However, upon looking, there seems to be 3 black connectors, so I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Also, there are 2 somewhat thick blue wires (they are thicker than all the other wires underneath this panel. Can you possibly tell me which black connector I'm looking for?

Thanks.

The correct connector is the large black one with approx. 16 wires to it. Take either thick blue wire and plug it into the appropriate hole in the connector.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Beav
O2 sensors might be available aftermarket, it mainly depends on the leads and connectors. They all operate in a range of 0-1 volt. Not that I'm reccomending anyone part with their hard earned coconuts to find out, but when my turn in the O2 sensor barrel comes I'll be soldering my old leads to the least expensive aftermarket sensor I can find (the least expensive QUALITY sensor, that is...)

Last Saturday I replaced a knock sensor in a Nissan Quest for a body shop owner that sends his mechanical work to us. The sensor is the same as the SVX sensor (imagine that...) they operate identically. Best price locally - $290, SVX price - $43. Guess who's a hero...

I may be called "stock boy" but, when it comes to dropping that kinda cash for sensors, I'll probably go A/M also, beav. I think our O2 sensors are 3-lead, srew-ins, with a heating element built in (if memory serves, but, I can't count on THAT any more). I believe Whitney has the 3-lead with platinum tip for around 50 bucks. The non-platinum tipped O2's are about 30 bucks from Whitney.

Carparts.com has prices from 31 to over 100 dollars and list a one wire non-flanged, which I don't think should be there. I could be wrong, though. I haven't really taken a good look at the O2's, even as many times as I've had to walk under the car and say "damn that tranny."

I'll have to check the ol' manual tonight when I get home.

[solarsvx]

speaking of o/2 sensors does the svx have a frount and rear o/2s i know obd 2 has 2 of them frount and back i beleive, the svx should have 2 anyways for the dual exhaust pipes coming down,, just curous, or does it have one whene it goes into the y pipe

just curous

[Beav]

Pre-OBDII SVX just has upstream sensors, as far as I can see.

[QA Man]

Well, I just got it back from the SVX shop. Now tell me what is up with this. According to their diagnostic equipment, the Check Engine light was cause by faulty #3 O2 sensor. I wasn't aware there were 3 as the codes listed above do not mention this. Any thoughts?

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by QA Man
Well, I just got it back from the SVX shop. Now tell me what is up with this. According to their diagnostic equipment, the Check Engine light was cause by faulty #3 O2 sensor. I wasn't aware there were 3 as the codes listed above do not mention this. Any thoughts?

Hmmm. I wasn't aware there were three either. To my knowledge, there are only two: one in each arm of the "Y" pipe.

[QA Man]

Well, the paper they gave me didn't have the exact code on it. So I'm going to call them tomorrow and ask what the code was. As soon as I find out, I'll post it here.

[vkykam]

Unless they added O2 sensors in those that are OBDII compliant, there's only two in the SVX.

Just be careful if they try to sell you blinker fluid as well.

VK
Lafayette or Bust!