2006 Outback, Lost (then Found?) Acceleration

[Ted Kerin]

Yesterday, my wife was driving her 2006 Outback home from our vacation, and
after about 2 hours on the highway, she heard a "bang" and the car lost all
acceleration. The engine was still running, lights and radio worked, etc,
but pressing the accelerator did nothing. She pulled off the road as the car
drifted to a stop. I was driving behind her, and, as far as either of us
saw, she hadn't hit anything.

We had to get towed about 80 miles to the Subaru dealership. And today, the
Subaru guys tell her the car runs fine. They said they found the battery
dead from leaving the lights on all night (I don't know about that -- maybe
something the tow truck driver did), but they say the car can be driven with
no problems.

Any ideas about what is going on here???

Wife thought that the accelerator cable had broken, because that happened to
her quite a few years ago (with GM car), and the sound and the effect were
similar. But, Subaru says the Outback's accelerator is all electronic, no
cable.

We're out about $250 for the tow, plus $100 to the Subaru dealership which
claims there is no problem. And of course, the wife now has no confidence
that the car can be driven beyond convenient towing distance. The car is
maybe 8 months old.

Advice, please???

 

[Ted Kerin]

Yesterday, my wife was driving her 2006 Outback home from our vacation, and
after about 2 hours on the highway, she heard a "bang" and the car lost all
acceleration. The engine was still running, lights and radio worked, etc,
but pressing the accelerator did nothing. She pulled off the road as the car
drifted to a stop. I was driving behind her, and, as far as either of us
saw, she hadn't hit anything.

We had to get towed about 80 miles to the Subaru dealership. And today, the
Subaru guys tell her the car runs fine. They said they found the battery
dead from leaving the lights on all night (I don't know about that -- maybe
something the tow truck driver did), but they say the car can be driven with
no problems.

Any ideas about what is going on here???

Wife thought that the accelerator cable had broken, because that happened to
her quite a few years ago (with GM car), and the sound and the effect were
similar. But, Subaru says the Outback's accelerator is all electronic, no
cable.

We're out about $250 for the tow, plus $100 to the Subaru dealership which
claims there is no problem. And of course, the wife now has no confidence
that the car can be driven beyond convenient towing distance. The car is
maybe 8 months old.

Advice, please???

I should add, the car has automatic transmission. Thanks.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Yesterday, my wife was driving her 2006 Outback home from our vacation, and
after about 2 hours on the highway, she heard a "bang" and the car lost all
acceleration. The engine was still running, lights and radio worked, etc,
but pressing the accelerator did nothing. She pulled off the road as the car
drifted to a stop. I was driving behind her, and, as far as either of us
saw, she hadn't hit anything.

It's hard for me to imagine a failure mode
such as you're describing. If it does happen
again, you're going to have to do some
troubleshooting of your own, like shutting
down the car, restarting it and trying to
drive it.

Was the engine idling smoothly when she stopped
the car?

Something just doesn't seem right here...

 

[Ted Kerin]

It's hard for me to imagine a failure mode
such as you're describing. If it does happen
again, you're going to have to do some
troubleshooting of your own, like shutting
down the car, restarting it and trying to
drive it.

Was the engine idling smoothly when she stopped
the car?

Something just doesn't seem right here...

Thanks, Jim, for the reply. I of course agree that it's pretty strange.

Yes, the car idled smoothly -- she just couldn't get the engine to run any
faster when she stepped on the accelerator, or make the car speed up when it
was moving. Even if she had somehow knocked the geadshift into neutral, or
if there was a transmission problem, I expect she should have been able to
gun the engine -- instead, the engine just faded down to an idle and could
not be speeded up.

If the accelerator is all electronic, does anyone think it could be a
problem with a chip or other computer-type part?

 

[Chris Werner]

A couple questions. How can the lights be left on when the ignition switch
is off? Why didn't the Subaru road side warranty cover towing?

Chris

 

[Ted Kerin]

A couple questions. How can the lights be left on when the ignition switch
is off? Why didn't the Subaru road side warranty cover towing?

Chris

The car is so new (to me at least -- it's not "my" car) that I can't answer
the lights question with certainty. I know that with her previous Subaru,
there was no need to turn off the headlights, for the reason you mention.
I've noticed that some interior lights (if any were on) do stay lit with the
ignition off. But she has left those small lights on overnight before,
without killing the battery. I'll ask tonight.

I also don't know whether she discussed the warranty issue with the dealer,
although I certainly agree that the tow ought to be covered (that is,
reimbursed -- the AAA wrecker would only take cash) -- unless the hitch is
that Subaru wants to say they won't pay when their service dept finds no
known cause. Thanks for the reminder about that needing follow-up.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Yesterday, my wife was driving her 2006 Outback home from our vacation, and
after about 2 hours on the highway, she heard a "bang" and the car lost all
acceleration. The engine was still running, lights and radio worked, etc,
but pressing the accelerator did nothing. She pulled off the road as the car
drifted to a stop. I was driving behind her, and, as far as either of us
saw, she hadn't hit anything.

We had to get towed about 80 miles to the Subaru dealership. And today, the
Subaru guys tell her the car runs fine. They said they found the battery
dead from leaving the lights on all night (I don't know about that -- maybe
something the tow truck driver did), but they say the car can be driven with
no problems.

Any ideas about what is going on here???

Wife thought that the accelerator cable had broken, because that happened to
her quite a few years ago (with GM car), and the sound and the effect were
similar. But, Subaru says the Outback's accelerator is all electronic, no
cable.

We're out about $250 for the tow, plus $100 to the Subaru dealership which
claims there is no problem. And of course, the wife now has no confidence
that the car can be driven beyond convenient towing distance. The car is
maybe 8 months old.

Advice, please???

Perhaps some exhaust baffle/part came loose and blocked the exhaust? It
might then 'fall down/away' after being stopped or towed. I assume they
tried to read a code.

Even if the tow truck driver used a flat bed (PLEASE tell me he did!) he
likely would have to unlock the steering to get the car on and off the
towtruck. He probably hit the parking switch on top of the steering
column reaching through the window.

Did she hear only or also feel a bang? maybe something weird with a
differential?

how odd

Carl

 

[Michael Pardee]

Along the same lines as Carl's question about whether the bang was only
heard or also felt, a better description of what it was like ("like somebody
hit the body with a brick" or "like somebody hit the underside with a small
hammer") might help. My instinct says figuring out what the bang was about
is the key.

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest the nature of the failure was
electrical (electronic, even). I base that on the accelerator "doing
nothing." I think if it did something but not much you would have described
it that way. It sure sounds like the electronic throttle control quit.

I agree with your wife; I think it is going to happen again, with or without
the bang. I also am not ready to rule out a charging system problem, causing
the electronic throttle to shut down.

It's a strange one, I'll say.

Mike

 

[crazedrabbits]

We had to get towed about 80 miles to the Subaru dealership. And today, the
Subaru guys tell her the car runs fine. They said they found the battery
dead from leaving the lights on all night (I don't know about that -- maybe
something the tow truck driver did), but they say the car can be driven with
no problems.

Any ideas about what is going on here???

Transmission or Suspension
Better take it back to Subaru and have tthe ENTIRE
driveline checked. My guess is they'll find a nice dent in the transaxle
case or somewhere else along the drivetrain and/or suspension

DO THIS:

Take it in an empty parking lot. Get it up to 20, let go of wheel keeping
acceleration constant. Apply brakes and still do not touch the wheel.
Do it again at 40 and 50 MPH. If it pulls to the right or left you have
suspension impact damage. (I run a body/collision shop and see this
all the time in many models of cars beside's Subaru)

Any clunking or odd noises? Ditto! Tranny and/or driveline damage.

Note: A BIG problem with Subaru is that external Tranny filter
mounted on the driver's side of the case. I've seen 5 of em get bashed
in, leak, person drives on, fluid leaks, and tranny goes into self destruct
from lack of Dex-II hydro oil. This is a MAJOR design flaw with Subaru.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Transmission or Suspension
Better take it back to Subaru and have tthe ENTIRE
driveline checked. My guess is they'll find a nice dent in the transaxle
case or somewhere else along the drivetrain and/or suspension

DO THIS:

Take it in an empty parking lot. Get it up to 20, let go of wheel keeping
acceleration constant. Apply brakes and still do not touch the wheel.
Do it again at 40 and 50 MPH. If it pulls to the right or left you have
suspension impact damage. (I run a body/collision shop and see this
all the time in many models of cars beside's Subaru)

Any clunking or odd noises? Ditto! Tranny and/or driveline damage.

Note: A BIG problem with Subaru is that external Tranny filter
mounted on the driver's side of the case. I've seen 5 of em get bashed
in, leak, person drives on, fluid leaks, and tranny goes into self destruct
from lack of Dex-II hydro oil. This is a MAJOR design flaw with Subaru.

I don't doubt you encounter the issues you write about - but how would
they cause loss of acceleration/gas pedal function?


Carl

 

[Jim Stewart]

Yesterday, my wife was driving her 2006 Outback home from our vacation, and
after about 2 hours on the highway, she heard a "bang" and the car lost all
acceleration. The engine was still running, lights and radio worked, etc,
but pressing the accelerator did nothing. She pulled off the road as the car
drifted to a stop. I was driving behind her, and, as far as either of us
saw, she hadn't hit anything.

We had to get towed about 80 miles to the Subaru dealership. And today, the
Subaru guys tell her the car runs fine. They said they found the battery
dead from leaving the lights on all night (I don't know about that -- maybe
something the tow truck driver did), but they say the car can be driven with
no problems.

Any ideas about what is going on here???

Wife thought that the accelerator cable had broken, because that happened to
her quite a few years ago (with GM car), and the sound and the effect were
similar. But, Subaru says the Outback's accelerator is all electronic, no
cable.

We're out about $250 for the tow, plus $100 to the Subaru dealership which
claims there is no problem. And of course, the wife now has no confidence
that the car can be driven beyond convenient towing distance. The car is
maybe 8 months old.

I've been thinking about this some more and
wondering if the dealer checked for ECU trouble
codes...

Give them a call and find out. If they didn't,
a trouble code mights still be set and worth a
trip to a repair shop or parts store to get it
checked.

 

[keith.mishkind]

Just a quick note.

I have an 05 obxt, about a year ago the car started making a really
awfull rubbing noise. I thought something got caught in the suspension
system but never found it.

Anyway...I brought it in for service recently and the tech found a
scuff in one of the wheel wells.

So I suppose there is a chance that something got wedged in there,
maybe in or around the disk, caliper or somewhere that was interfearing
with the rotation of the wheel.

The question I would ask is whether or not the car was getting dragged
to a stop or did really just not respond to the accelerator. When you
stepped on the gas did you hear the engine laboring?

ANyway....this seems like an incredible long shot but the replies that
say check out your drive line make some sense to me. You have roadside
assistance. If it happens again just call them.


Keith

 

[Edward Hayes]

I think Subaru has a towing number that is good for some years
(3/36,000?). The tow should be reimbursed unless you chose not to use
the Subaru Road Assistance number. You incident sounds strange,
especially with the bang-before the power loss. I wonder if something
was hit on the road and it triggered the roll-over switch which was
reset where the vehicle was restarted. I would certainly have the
computer checked for a code and many of the codes are stored in memory
and may not trigger a continuous CEL. A do believe the Subaru rep.
should be informed of this oblivious safety issue and to get it on
Subaru's documentation for future reference.