subaru impreza running problems

subaru impreza running problems

Author
Discussion

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
hi guys, the trouble with my car seems to be a never ending....

car: subaru impreza 2.0 non turbo auto

issue:
1 month ago the car was just fine parked it as usual and nearly 2 weeks later when i turned it on again it was just not right.
initially was thought to be a valve problem, so the usual deal of placing slick 50 on petrol was done, also got a valve release stuff that u place in the oil and a spray that is used directly on the engine air admission.
it got better but not good....
a compression test revealed that it isnt as all the cylinders have the same compression

the initial symptoms were:

-the engine was working on 3 cylinders instead of 4

- the engine was noisy

- the car wudnt have much power to move

- after the 2000 rpm it seemed better

- working rpm dropped from 1000 to 500

after the compression test:

- engine rpm went back to 1000 rpm for a wile and eventually dropped to 500 again

- engine runs way way smother now, just like before the issue started, just no power

- seems to now have the 4 cylinders working and still struggling to move, though its much better


an engine flush has been done and it has new oil and filter, and spark plugs and spark leeds.

im starting to get desperate as i visited already 5 garages and no 1 seems to be able to find the problem and i have my doubts that this will sort itself out....

any 1 has any idea how to help me on this?

a mate of mine suggested that this could be an ECU issue and that an ECU reset could be the solution....
also there was a suggestion of an air lock in the system somewhere..
and the idea of as i haven't been using much the car(before this happened) could be a case of accumulated carbon in the exhaust system and engine?

have a booking for friday to get it connected to the computer to see if any faults pop up, but i really really am getting frustrated with this

mnkiboy

4,409 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Can't believe 5 garages have fobbed you off and not done any proper investigation.

Think you need to get the codes read and perhaps swap out the coil pack/s. My other thought is look for any collapsed rubber pipes maybe strangling the engine of air.

Does the engine now sound ok, or does it still sound like it's mis-firing?

Prizam

2,346 posts

142 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Any additional smoke from the exhaust?

If its not smoking, then its probably a coil pack.

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
no smoke at any point before or during the issues or oil leaks from exhaust or engine, the air hoses all seem to be ok including the breathers, i also had the injectors tested today and all is good, after i left the garage at some point the car seemed to be ok for a few seconds and than came back to its normal, there seems to be no faults what so ever....
in fact most garages as soon as u say the words subaru or boxer engine they refuse the work or even touch the car....

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
PS- the miss fireing noises type only happen when the car is in gear and u press the accelerator, its like if i had a 50cc scooter engine trying to move the car

at some point the car was actually spending as much as double of the petrol...

as u acelerate and pass the 2000 rpm it sounds better but not right, struggles way less to accelerate but not going anywhere near what should be and a top speed of 60mph is in place...

Prizam

2,346 posts

142 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Coil packs.

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
doogz - Does yours have the coil on plug assembly, or is it bang smack in the middle on the top of the engine?

midle of top of eengine

Mr Gearchange

5,892 posts

207 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Google ecu reset or try a Subaru specific forum before you do anything else.

My legacy had similar symptoms and my mechanic was about to change all the plugs and leads before I advised him what to do.

Only those very knowledgeable about Subaru's seem to know when and how to reset the ECU - but you can easily do it yourself.

Might not fix it - but it will take 10 minutes and wouldn't cost anything

Migx

791 posts

180 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Mr Gearchange said:
Google ecu reset or try a Subaru specific forum before you do anything else.

My legacy had similar symptoms and my mechanic was about to change all the plugs and leads before I advised him what to do.

Only those very knowledgeable about Subaru's seem to know when and how to reset the ECU - but you can easily do it yourself.

Might not fix it - but it will take 10 minutes and wouldn't cost anything
glad to know i gave a good advice.

Monkeylegend

26,516 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Sounds like a turbo issue.

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

244 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Sounds like a turbo issue.
It's a non-turbo! hehe

Monkeylegend

26,516 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
Monkeylegend said:
Sounds like a turbo issue.
It's a non-turbo! hehe
Exactly wink

750turbo

6,164 posts

225 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
Monkeylegend said:
Sounds like a turbo issue.
It's a non-turbo! hehe
Exactly wink
He could do with adding one... wink

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

244 months

Wednesday 24th July 2013
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
Monkeylegend said:
Sounds like a turbo issue.
It's a non-turbo! hehe
Exactly wink
Heh I see hehe

An Impreza without a turbo is like PH without the spelling nazi's hehe

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
the coil packs are fine and i have really good spark going to each one of the cylinders.
the issue is on cylinder number 3.
i guess i will just have to wait for tomorrow and see what the diagnostic comes up with frown

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
some 1 has suggested that this could be the MAF sensor, but would it just affect 1 cylinder?
i thought it would affect all the cylinders.....

littleredrooster

5,542 posts

197 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
Alex79Goncalves said:
the issue is on cylinder number 3.
How do you know this?

rb5er

11,657 posts

173 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
Alex79Goncalves said:
its like if i had a 50cc scooter engine trying to move the car
Non turbo and Auto box will do that smile

To reset the ECU just disconnect the battery for 10 mins or so and reconnect. At least it wont cost anything, does sound like coil pack or maf issue though.

markCSC

2,987 posts

216 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
What age is the car? If it is an older one it it much easier to DIY

ECU reset http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.php/Knowledge/E...

Reading Error codes: http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.php/Knowledge/R...

Alex79Goncalves

Original Poster:

14 posts

133 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
quotequote all
littleredrooster

Alex79Goncalves said:
the issue is on cylinder number 3.
How do you know this?

its the 1 that is having miss fire, also been checked by 2 garages that agreed to have a look and they all said it was number 3, and a few tests were performed

rb5er


To reset the ECU just disconnect the battery for 10 mins or so and reconnect. At least it wont cost anything, does sound like coil pack or maf issue though.



markCSC


What age is the car?


it is a 1999 its the facelift version


If it is an older one it it much easier to DIY

ECU reset http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.php/Knowledge/E...

Reading Error codes: http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.php/Knowledge/R...


did that and the only thing i got was the POWER light(its the equivalent to the sport mode) flashing and no difference

i did clean the MAF sensor though and when i took it out it was BLACK so the idea of the car being with a lot of carbon inside due to not much use lately kind of prevail, though how do i clean inside withought really take out all the parts? is there anything i can put on the petrol or oil or something that will clean all this?
redex, slick 50 and others have already been used....