D
Dave N
A problem has developed with our 1996 Legacy Outback, and I'm hoping you
folks can help me narrow down the problem before I take it in for
service again. The symptoms are that in the morning, when the car is
still relatively cold, it will lose power during acceleration (like when
getting on the freeway). Sometimes it will be so bad as to stall out,
and I'll need to pull over and wait for a couple minutes before starting
the engine again. After that, it seems to be ok. Oftentimes, the
"check engine" light will come on for a few minutes or hours, then go
off again.
This problem started last fall. It happened a few times before the
check engine light came on. The first time that happened, I took it to
a local repair shop. They put it on the computer and read the code --
misfire on #3 and 4 cylinders. The mechanic did a maintenance tune-up
(which included replacing the plug wire set, plugs, fuel filter, oil and
filter, fluids, top radiator hose, antifreeze, carb cleaner).
The problem might have gone away for a couple weeks, but it came back.
It was time for the 90K mile service anyway, so I took it back to the
mechanic a few months later. He read the codes from the check engine
light again, and found the same thing -- misfire on #3 and 4 cylinders.
He did the 90K servicing, but didn't find anything new about the
problem.
The problem continued for awhile, then went away for a couple months.
It's been a bit warmer lately, so that may have had something to do with
it. This week was a little colder and rainy, and the problem hit again
yesterday. It lost power and stalled out, but this time it was while I
was decelerating, coming up to a stop light. Otherwise the same
symptoms, and the check engine light is on again.
I need to get this fixed! I don't know much about car engines, but I've
got the Chilton's manual and I'm fairly handy. I'm hoping someone can
either suggest some things I can try on my own to isolate or repair the
problem, or else give me some ideas to bring to the repair shop so that
I'm not hit with a high troubleshooting bill. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
folks can help me narrow down the problem before I take it in for
service again. The symptoms are that in the morning, when the car is
still relatively cold, it will lose power during acceleration (like when
getting on the freeway). Sometimes it will be so bad as to stall out,
and I'll need to pull over and wait for a couple minutes before starting
the engine again. After that, it seems to be ok. Oftentimes, the
"check engine" light will come on for a few minutes or hours, then go
off again.
This problem started last fall. It happened a few times before the
check engine light came on. The first time that happened, I took it to
a local repair shop. They put it on the computer and read the code --
misfire on #3 and 4 cylinders. The mechanic did a maintenance tune-up
(which included replacing the plug wire set, plugs, fuel filter, oil and
filter, fluids, top radiator hose, antifreeze, carb cleaner).
The problem might have gone away for a couple weeks, but it came back.
It was time for the 90K mile service anyway, so I took it back to the
mechanic a few months later. He read the codes from the check engine
light again, and found the same thing -- misfire on #3 and 4 cylinders.
He did the 90K servicing, but didn't find anything new about the
problem.
The problem continued for awhile, then went away for a couple months.
It's been a bit warmer lately, so that may have had something to do with
it. This week was a little colder and rainy, and the problem hit again
yesterday. It lost power and stalled out, but this time it was while I
was decelerating, coming up to a stop light. Otherwise the same
symptoms, and the check engine light is on again.
I need to get this fixed! I don't know much about car engines, but I've
got the Chilton's manual and I'm fairly handy. I'm hoping someone can
either suggest some things I can try on my own to isolate or repair the
problem, or else give me some ideas to bring to the repair shop so that
I'm not hit with a high troubleshooting bill. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!