2005 forester xt CE light

[newman]

Esteemed and learned usenet readers:

Yes, you read the subject line right. This is regarding an '05
forester. I purchased this car *used* at a very reasonable price from
reputable dealer with a 100,000 mile warranty.

The CE light came on within 4 days of my driving it off the lot. The
dealer pulled the code and told me it was the O2 sensor. They said they
would replace the sensor if the CE light came back on. It did, and they
did. The second time, the service guy mentioned something about "slow
response" but I was not sophisticated enough to ask more questions.

Everything was fine for about a week, then it came on for a third time.
I was going to bring it in, but accidentally ran my battery down by
leaving my dome light on all weekend. After the jump, the light was off
for a few days, now it's on again.

I just got back from autozone and they pulled 3 codes:

O2 sensor CKT slow response Bank 1 Sensor 2 (2 times)
post catalyst fuel trim bank 1 system too lean (1 time)

I always use premium (i.e. 93 octane). I always (as far as I know: now
I'm nervous that I'm not) tighten the fuel cap to at least 1 click.

Assuming the 02 sensor really was replaced, and something else is going
on, what could this be? I think the Subaru mechanics at the dealer are
out of ideas. Spark plugs? Water in the tank? Bad cat? I'm reaching
here...

--b

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Well, they could always take the sensors out of a good runnibg car of
the same year and put those in your car, if the same codes pop up, they
probably need to look at the cat itself. If not, then the sensors Subaru
is sending them may be bad/different.

Carl

 

[Alan]

Esteemed and learned usenet readers:

Yes, you read the subject line right. This is regarding an '05
forester. I purchased this car *used* at a very reasonable price from
reputable dealer with a 100,000 mile warranty.

The CE light came on within 4 days of my driving it off the lot. The
dealer pulled the code and told me it was the O2 sensor. They said they
would replace the sensor if the CE light came back on. It did, and they
did. The second time, the service guy mentioned something about "slow
response" but I was not sophisticated enough to ask more questions.

Everything was fine for about a week, then it came on for a third time.
I was going to bring it in, but accidentally ran my battery down by
leaving my dome light on all weekend. After the jump, the light was off
for a few days, now it's on again.

I just got back from autozone and they pulled 3 codes:

O2 sensor CKT slow response Bank 1 Sensor 2 (2 times)
post catalyst fuel trim bank 1 system too lean (1 time)

I always use premium (i.e. 93 octane). I always (as far as I know: now
I'm nervous that I'm not) tighten the fuel cap to at least 1 click.

Assuming the 02 sensor really was replaced, and something else is going
on, what could this be? I think the Subaru mechanics at the dealer are
out of ideas. Spark plugs? Water in the tank? Bad cat? I'm reaching
here...

--b

Do you have the car running when you add fuel? If so, that is your problem.
Also, it should be several clicks.

 

[newman]

do you think a loose gas cap would throw these particular codes? and
no: i never fill a gas tank with the car running. isn't that how gas
stations blow up?

 

[Alan]

do you think a loose gas cap would throw these particular codes? and
no: i never fill a gas tank with the car running. isn't that how gas
stations blow up?

A loose gas cap could. It is a pressurized system. Anything is possible.

 

[CompUser]

Do you have the car running when you add fuel? If so, that is your problem.
Also, it should be several clicks.

Geeze, let's hope he's not refueling with the
engine running...arrrg!

 

[CompUser]

I'm not a tech, nor did I somnambulate at a
Holiday Inn last nite...but I associate "slow
response" with cat problems, usually...that said,
I'm not *sure* where that O2 sensor is---sounds
like that one ("Bank 1, Sensor 2") might be
upstream of cat, up in the exhaust manifold
somewheres...possibly they might have replaced
the wrong sensor, initially---tho, OTOH, you look
to be showing a problem "post-cat", on the same
bank 1...hmmmm...it's an 05, warranty service
time!!
Go a bit further than one click, get a coupla
three or four...this will better insure your
gasket is sealing.

Make them reach, under the warranty. Any info on
why vehicle was turned back so early---possible
you picked someone else's returned lemon?

Get documentation on each service call you make,
just in case this is the situation.

 

[CompUser]

@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
(e-mail address removed) says...

do you think a loose gas cap would throw these particular codes? and
no: i never fill a gas tank with the car running. isn't that how gas
stations blow up?

That, and people filling cans up on composite bed
liners.

No, the codes from loose gas cap are
different...I forget terminology, but nothing
like what you had.

 

[jabario]

Buying used is the problem- You probably bought a demo model and those
are HARD miles!!!

 

[newman]

yes, all warranteed work. not a cent out of pocket yet. the dealer has
been very apologetic and very helpful. it's just an inconvenience.

the car was never reported as a lemon, and it is not a dealer buy-back.
the story i got was a guy bought it new, decided it wasn't big enough
for his family and traded it in for an outback.

i'm hoping that it's just the matter of finding the part that didn't
tolerate sitting on the lot for a few weeks in the cold Indiana winter
without being run. more than a few people have suggested that the cat
might be bad...

i'm taking it in monday, so i'll let you know.

--b

 

[newman]

not a dealer demo, by the way. i wouldn't touch those.

they want to replace the rear o2 sensor. supposedly, this is the
recommendation from Subaru (whatever that means).

--b