impreza 2000 engine problem?

[Charlez]

Hi all,

Impreza 2000 awd
2.2l man
130000km about 80000milles

When I drove to work this morning, the engine was running really bad,
misfire, loss of power, stalling and the check engine went on, flashed for a
while and went steady on

I pulled over, drove less than 1 mille like this.

About 2 hours later, went back to the car, started the engine, still runs
very bad and fuel comes out of the exhaust pipe.

I went to the dealer: Missfire cylinder 1-2-3-4 wants to change all four
injectors + fuel filter + oil + oil filter, strongly suggest to change the
plugs and wire (plugs are NGK Iridium 8 month old) estimate is over 1000$ US
so far!

The dealership manager suggest that I had bad gas but I do not believe him
since I always fill up at the same service station IRVING and that nobody
else reports any problems.

I am thinking:

MAYBE the fuel filter might has been damaged and stuff went into the
injectors? BTW fuel filter is Subaru original installed by another subaru
dealer as part of the normal maintenance.

MAYBE I might have sugar in the gas tank or something like that? Even is I
do not leave my car unattented often, I went to a shopping mail, might be
that, I will try to get a sample of the gas analysed, if it is that, my car
insurance should cover it.

MAYBE I had water in the gaz tank, we had alot of rain and it was pouring
yesterday.

MAYBE the Subie dealer is trying pull a fast one, I just moved and I am now
located in a remote area, second nearest dealer is a few hours drive from
here!

Any comment, suggestions?

This car was fairly problem free so far, not perfect but not too bad, I had
the original battery failing after 6 month, covered under warranty. A few
lightbulbs burned, refused to start one time last winter and had to be
towed.

For me the injector faillure is a major issue after only four years of
driving. I am driving fairly conservative and the only hard driving was
when I was pulling my 1000lbs trailler

Charles

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi all,

Impreza 2000 awd
2.2l man
130000km about 80000milles

When I drove to work this morning, the engine was running really bad,
misfire, loss of power, stalling and the check engine went on, flashed for a
while and went steady on

I pulled over, drove less than 1 mille like this.

You didn't, by any chance, fill up at the
new Arco AM/PM in Davis, Ca did you?

They pumped water/ethanol into a bunch of
cars and are now paying for the repairs.

 

[Charlez]

You didn't, by any chance, fill up at the
new Arco AM/PM in Davis, Ca did you?

They pumped water/ethanol into a bunch of
cars and are now paying for the repairs.

Unfortunatly no, the gas station is Irving in Canada.

BUT I am starting to think that I might have some humidity in my fuel system
and I am thinking about a fuel system purge + oil change before going with
the injectors replacement.

Charles
Impreza 2000

 

[Juhan Leemet]

By misfire do mean just "missing" (lost power) or "backfiring" (detonation)?
I'm hoping (for your sake) it's not, but the last time I had that symptom
(with detonation, and lots of noise) was many years ago with an Alfa GTV.
It was a busted exhaust valve. Yikes!

Unfortunatly no, the gas station is Irving in Canada.

BUT I am starting to think that I might have some humidity in my fuel system
and I am thinking about a fuel system purge + oil change before going with
the injectors replacement.

With my '98 Legacy I noticed a difference in performance after a 96K Km
dealer service (including replacement of timing belt). It wasn't running
"quite right". Then I did some bad clutching/accelerator (while distracted
and listening). I stalled it a couple of times in quick succession. My
engine check light came on, and stayed on (for a while). I was quite
concerned! I drove it gently home. Didn't seem to be busted. Later the
engine check light went out. I think the ECU got upset because I stalled
it 2x and the ECU must have overcompensated? Then took time to recover?

Two other cases (Land Rover, Audi 5000 STD) that kind of rough engine
performance was a timing belt that had "jumped a notch". You must have had
the timing belt changed a while ago? Shouldn't need it again for a while?

In your case, it sounds serious! Hope it's not too expensive.

 

[Henry Paul]

You have raw fuel coming out of the tail pipe so the fuel injectors are
working. You might have a fouled spark plug and/or wire. You might also
check the air filter and make sure it is clean. You might also check for a
vacuum leak. Another possibility is the timing belt could have jumped a
tooth or two in timing. The 2.2 is non-interference engine so this will not
cause internal valve/piston damage.

It sounds like the dealer wants to solve your problem by throwing money at
it. I would get a second opinion from a local garage.

 

[Jim Stewart]

for a


Unfortunatly no, the gas station is Irving in Canada.

BUT I am starting to think that I might have some humidity in my fuel system
and I am thinking about a fuel system purge + oil change before going with
the injectors replacement.

By all means try to resolve it without dropping
$1000 for a bunch of work you might not need. If
the problem came on suddenly, I'd suspect bad
gas, bad fuel pump, or a bad fuel filter. I don't
think all the fuel injectors would fail at the
same time.

 

[Charlez]

I am back from the dealer. I just move in this city and I spoke with some
co-workeds and they seem to think that the manager is a crook! I took back
the car and will eighter work on it myself of go to an alternate shop.

However, they did put my car on the diagnostic and they did a few things on
it...

They say that the machire reports code P301 P302 P303 P304

They said that they tried another ingnition coil w/o change
Said that the cylinders were flooded with gaz, I know that I have some gas
in the oil pan from the smell

Wire set leaking a spark on #4, possible, original set with more than 4
years on it.

Right now it is running, it is rough, loss of power, hesitating blue smoke
coming out from the back, difficult idle, check engine light on after 10s.

It was good enough to drive back home
It is probably good enough to go to another garage

In the mean time, I will try to change:

oil and filter because of the contamination
plugs, I have a spare set barely used
gas filter, in case I have water in the fuel

Air filter is 3 month old
Fuel filter is less than a year
Plugs are less than a year

I will order the wires for it, in the mean time, I will put silicon spray on
it.

I am thinking about removing the injector and have them cleaned

Anyways, I no mechanic but I am so upset with this situation tyhat I will
try a few things and I will go get another mecanic to look at it

Charels