94 Subaru Legacy - Got probs!

[Cayuga]

Hi Y'all,

I recently bought a 94 Subaru Legacy Wagon (2.2). It just turned 100,000 and
now I'm having problems. First, it began to take two or three tries to get
it to start in the morning(winter). While doing so it would gurgle, shake,
and sputter. It now idles at 300-400rpm. Once I got going, it drove fine.
And if I just let it sit for a couple of hours it will start right up. I
thought, PLUGS! After some under the hood inspection, I ended up changing
the plugs, wires, coil, fuel filter, and air filter. I cleaned the choke, as
well. The new problem is - After the cold start troubles the car will have
no power. Then it will warm up and power is restored. That is until I
attempt to climb a hill. When doing this, the car will go flat. 20mph max
(with the pedal to the metal). The transmission (automatic) will eventually
kick into a low gear and the car will pick up speed. However, the rpms will
rev and it will kick into the next (I assume) gear and back to crawling.
This cycle will repeat several times while angry motorists honk and swear
from behind.

I dont know - compression, torque converter, transmission?

I should mention that it leaks oil. I would appreciate any helpful replies.

Thanks

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi Y'all,

I recently bought a 94 Subaru Legacy Wagon (2.2). It just turned 100,000 and
now I'm having problems. First, it began to take two or three tries to get
it to start in the morning(winter). While doing so it would gurgle, shake,
and sputter. It now idles at 300-400rpm. Once I got going, it drove fine.
And if I just let it sit for a couple of hours it will start right up. I
thought, PLUGS! After some under the hood inspection, I ended up changing
the plugs, wires, coil, fuel filter, and air filter. I cleaned the choke, as
well. The new problem is - After the cold start troubles the car will have
no power. Then it will warm up and power is restored. That is until I
attempt to climb a hill. When doing this, the car will go flat. 20mph max
(with the pedal to the metal). The transmission (automatic) will eventually
kick into a low gear and the car will pick up speed. However, the rpms will
rev and it will kick into the next (I assume) gear and back to crawling.
This cycle will repeat several times while angry motorists honk and swear
from behind.

I dont know - compression, torque converter, transmission?

I should mention that it leaks oil. I would appreciate any helpful replies.

Thanks

possible O2 or MAF and/or Engine Temp Sensors, at that age/mileage,
one or mere sensors can be bad or out of tol;erance. Could also be some
dorty/corroded ground connections or wiring.
take a look at www.troublecodes.net and see if connecting the green
plugs under the dash gives any useful info.

Carl


Carl

 

[Cayuga]

Thanks Carl,

I'll Look into it.

 

[johninKY]

Cold start problem sound like a coolant temp sensor problem.

No power sounds like a failing airflow meter.

 

[SHUNJU HU]

Hi I had the same problem as you descript few year ago, it's the coolant
temp sensor (for cold start). just to make sure- the check engine light did
not came on, right (no trouble code) ? James

 

[Cayuga]

Hi,

No, the check engine light came on a number of times. It appeared only when
restarting the car after driving it for awhile. Then, after parking it, I'd
get back in to go - and no check engine light.

I thank Carl and John for their help. However, I can't locate my ECU under
the dash (Haynes doesn't mention it). I had some suggestions from others who
said my rough idle and power loss problems were the MAF sensor. I installed
a working MAF and no change in problems.

So I guess it's to the mechanics for yet another grim prognosis.

The persisting problems are; Cold start trouble - the car takes two or three
tries to start - then, it idles erratically. The big, and getting bigger and
more frequent problem is that from a dead stop I step on the gas and
craaawwwwlllllll. No response. But then the rpms rev and finally the car
starts moving.
Now, this doesn't happen all the time but more so than not lately.

 

[philcycles]

The persisting problems are; Cold start trouble - the car takes two or three
tries to start - then, it idles erratically. The big, and getting bigger and
more frequent problem is that from a dead stop I step on the gas and
craaawwwwlllllll. No response. But then the rpms rev and finally the car
starts moving.
Now, this doesn't happen all the time but more so than not lately.

I've got a 2.2 that did the same thing. Replacing the coolant temp
sensor cured it. But it's a pig to get to. Yoiu've got to move a bunch
of vacuum hoses. Use a 19mm socket.
good luck,
Phil Brown