Followup to 2006 Outback with hesitation

[Bill Bradley]

I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC Wagon with the 6-cylinder engine, and, it has
noticeable hesitation, several seconds, when slowing down (NOT stopping) to
turn the corner, then trying to accelerate, or when trying to pass on the
left (I've almost gotten rear-ended). You push on the pedal, and.....it
just pauses, THEN CATCHES UP.

I just took it in for my initial 3,000 Mile checkup, and, told the Service
Manager about this. After I got it back, I asked them what they found--he
suggested that "I not put the all-weather floor mats on top of the regular
mats, as, they could rub against the accelerator pedal, and, not let you
press it down enough". Well...I do NOT have that problem, at all, and, I
brought him out there to look, and, the pedal is no where near the top of
the mat.

He then said that the technician said the car drives fine. I asked to drive
another Outback to make sure that it's not me, but, all they had was a
standard 4-cylinder. I drove that, and, it behaved just exactly like I
thought a car should--you push on the gas, and, it goes.

The Service Manager then told me that "you only have 3,000 miles on the
engine, so, it's probably just not broken in, yet". I gave up, and, left.
Vowing to go to another dealer.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I've heard that it could be a firmware
upgrade (I asked, and, he said that there was none), or a bad oxygen sensor
(he said it tested good, and, refused to replace it, as a test).

Thanks.

 

[Bob H]

I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC Wagon with the 6-cylinder engine, and, it has
noticeable hesitation, several seconds, when slowing down (NOT stopping) to
turn the corner, then trying to accelerate, or when trying to pass on the
left (I've almost gotten rear-ended). You push on the pedal, and.....it
just pauses, THEN CATCHES UP.

I just took it in for my initial 3,000 Mile checkup, and, told the Service
Manager about this. After I got it back, I asked them what they found--he
suggested that "I not put the all-weather floor mats on top of the regular
mats, as, they could rub against the accelerator pedal, and, not let you
press it down enough". Well...I do NOT have that problem, at all, and, I
brought him out there to look, and, the pedal is no where near the top of
the mat.

He then said that the technician said the car drives fine. I asked to
drive another Outback to make sure that it's not me, but, all they had was
a standard 4-cylinder. I drove that, and, it behaved just exactly like I
thought a car should--you push on the gas, and, it goes.

The Service Manager then told me that "you only have 3,000 miles on the
engine, so, it's probably just not broken in, yet". I gave up, and, left.
Vowing to go to another dealer.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I've heard that it could be a firmware
upgrade (I asked, and, he said that there was none), or a bad oxygen
sensor (he said it tested good, and, refused to replace it, as a test).

Thanks.

There's a TSB on low throttle hesitation on 4-bangers, which provides a
couple methods ot getting the ECU to spark up better.

Chances are you need to quit pussy footing your new car so much.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4321

 

[AJB]

Sure did have the exact same issue. although mine is a 05 outback 2.5. i
took it in at least 3 or 4 times, and was very patient and let them tell me
it was my driving, or it was nothing at all, just my driving. sound
familiar? well, i finally spoke to the manager, and insisted quite firmly.
he took over the case, found there were no available firmware upgrades, but
said, he would try and replace the O2 sensor in spite of a lack of "codes"
on the computer. guess what? after replacing the sensor, hesitation was
gone. go figure. if you want the name of the dealer and service manager's
name so your dealer can contact him, i'll be happy to oblige via private
email. let me know.
AJB

 

[Bill Bradley]

Even if I slam the pedal to the metal...it pauses a second or two, THEN
kicks. It's not my lack of tromping on the gas, it's the lack of that doing
anything that's the problem...<G>

I do push it, but, this hesitation is frankly scaring me. I just got rid of
a 96 Saturn to get this, and, it didn't have near the problem my Outback
does.

Thanks.

 

[whinylilbitch]

And the 4-cylindar WAS broken in? Oh my .. what do they take you for?
Amazing

 

[Bob H]

Try another dealer. You must be able to demonstrate the exact problem,
repeatedly if need be.

 

[Bill Bradley]

I actually mentioned that to them, and...he didn't have a response...<G>

 

[Bill Bradley]

I'll do that. Thanks!

Sure did have the exact same issue. although mine is a 05 outback 2.5. i
took it in at least 3 or 4 times, and was very patient and let them tell
me it was my driving, or it was nothing at all, just my driving. sound
familiar? well, i finally spoke to the manager, and insisted quite firmly.
he took over the case, found there were no available firmware upgrades,
but said, he would try and replace the O2 sensor in spite of a lack of
"codes" on the computer. guess what? after replacing the sensor,
hesitation was gone. go figure. if you want the name of the dealer and
service manager's name so your dealer can contact him, i'll be happy to
oblige via private email. let me know.
AJB

 

[elevator farter #81]

After reading your report, I have reached the
conclusion that the "Subaru Factory Trained
Service Techs" you spoke with would not know
their ass from a hole in the ground if they needed
$2.50 in exact change for bus fare to get home
from work with. (no suprise really as I have had
numerous dealings with Subaru Corporate on an
unrelated issue at the NJ HQ, and they are just
as dumb-as-a-post and useless for Customer Service
as is my local Subaru Dealer Service Center that is
staffed by UTTER MORONS in "ASE Certified"
blue jumpsuits to make them look good for the suckers
who are dumb enough to believe Subaru/FHI's line
of ongoing corporate BS.

Apart from that, I think you have a injector issue.
methinks that something is plugged up or a sensor
is malfunctioning. Probably the Air Sensor or the
RPM feedback loop. Take it to a good PRIVATE
MECHANIC shop, not the Subaru Dealer.

You'll get the problem fixed for 1/2 the cost and 200%
less agrivation if you take it to the fools at Subaru.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I hesitate to suggest other than a Subaru dealer for a warranty issue.
What happens if the "independent mechanic" replaces something and
causes another larger problem? You may find yourself without a
warranty. Can you find another dealer?

 

[Bill Bradley]

I found a person with the same problem, and, have a number for THEIR Subaru
dealership, so, am giving that to MY dealership, to see if they can talk...

 

[Bill Bradley]

Although I may tend to agree, I'm not quite at that point, yet. Thanks.

 

[Bill Bradley]

Took it back to the dealer, insisting a technician drive it, and, they told
me that the automatic transmission fluid was low, not low enough to cause
damage, and, that was my problem.

I asked them why they hadn't checked this out when I bought the car, and,
was told "Subaru now does fluid checks at the port, and doesn't pay us to do
them when the car's bought, so, we don't check them at purchase.". I then
asked them then why they didn't check this at my initial 3000 mile check,
and they said "our technicians SHOULD do this, but, many of them don't,
because the automatic transmission never gives us any problems."

The Service Rep then reminded me that "Subaru may send you a survey on your
satisfaction with this service, and, they rate us pretty severely, so, you'd
need to mark us in the first two blocks.".

The car DOES seem to perform with less hesitation (I would have sworn it was
an engine, not transmission issue, but, time will tell for sure), but, I'm
VERY hesitant to take my car back to that dealership.

I'm writing Subaru about this, too.

 

[Bonehenge]

I asked them why they hadn't checked this out when I bought the car, and,
was told "Subaru now does fluid checks at the port, and doesn't pay us to do
them when the car's bought, so, we don't check them at purchase."

Bullcrap! <G>

Every brand of car I've ever bought, including my Outback, has had a
manufacturer provided pre-delivery checklist that included fluid
levels. Check your paper work, I'll bet it's there somewhere.
Checking fluid levels, tire pressures, etc... are so "dealer prep"
that it's not funny.

As far as your 3000 mile service goes, I'll bet they checked it off as
OK on your paperwork.

That's 0 for 2 when it comes to pride of workmanship at that
dealership.

I once had a Jeep salesman check off "rear wiper OK", when the factory
had forgotten to install the switch. I asked him to describe how he
tested it before I told him it wasn't there. Good times! <G>