Fixing 6-cylinder hesitation with after-market stuff and tuning

[Bill Bradley]

I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC that is driving me crazy with the hesitation
it has intermittently. I've taken it to the dealer several times, it DOES
have latest firmware, they've reset the learning mode, and, I've had the
Regional Rep take data dumps while driving around to send to Subaru to
analyze and try and fix, twice, now.

I am not sure, exactly if it's the engine or transmission that's causing the
hesitation, but, am sure that it's really the chip or programming that's
directing things.

What impact will there be if I take it to a tuner, and, could this be
reversed (or, even have two chips), so that I don't totally have to void my
warranty?

Thanks.

 

[.._..]

I think you are jumping to conclusions about what the problem is. It's not
always the computer and the shifting.

With a car that age, you shouldnt have an O2 sensor problem yet. But it's
not unheard of.

Have you checked the O2 sensors?

By the time you are done dinking around with the computer, you could have
paid for new O2 sensors....

And, has the computer thrown any codes?

 

[Oscar_Lives]

May he has fouled up his catalytic converters with addititives, etc.

The 3.0 is not as peppy as the 2.5 turbo. Maybe there is nothing wrong
here...

 

[Edward Hayes]

If you have unauthorized people work on the engine and something goes
bad later. Find another dealer or contact SOA and get a regional rep
to check it out.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC that is driving me crazy with the hesitation
it has intermittently. I've taken it to the dealer several times, it DOES
have latest firmware, they've reset the learning mode, and, I've had the
Regional Rep take data dumps while driving around to send to Subaru to
analyze and try and fix, twice, now.

I am not sure, exactly if it's the engine or transmission that's causing the
hesitation, but, am sure that it's really the chip or programming that's
directing things.

What impact will there be if I take it to a tuner, and, could this be
reversed (or, even have two chips), so that I don't totally have to void my
warranty?

Thanks.

I dunno how much ECU stuff is available for that car. Dale Teague at
www.boxer4racing.com would know as much or more about tuning any Legacy
chassis. You could email him about what's available for the H6. Digging
arouns at nasioc is a good idea as well. Most of that stuff can be
reversed more easily than mechanical mods. Being an intermittent problem
though is kinda odd.

Carl

 

[Bill Bradley]

I've read about the O2 sensor problems in this newsgroup, and, mentioned it
several times to my Service Manager, but, he says there's nothing in the
codes, and, he's not going to replace it without reason. From what I've
read...it's usually NOT in the codes, when it's bad...

Sigh...

 

[Bill Bradley]

I've had the Regional Rep drive it three times, and, the last two they
plugged in a laptop to the diagnostics port and took a dump to send to
Subaru. They all say that they DO feel the problem, but, that it's "normal
for the 3.0". It's bothering me so much at this point that I'm going to get
rid of the car.

 

[Bill Bradley]

Thanks. I'll write him.

I dunno how much ECU stuff is available for that car. Dale Teague at
www.boxer4racing.com would know as much or more about tuning any Legacy
chassis. You could email him about what's available for the H6. Digging
arouns at nasioc is a good idea as well. Most of that stuff can be
reversed more easily than mechanical mods. Being an intermittent problem
though is kinda odd.

Carl