billybaru13 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Howdy All! I have been driving subabru's for years, and this is the first time I have cam across this problem. This problem just happened one day .. and wont go away. When I go to start my 1990 Loyale Wgn 4WD, it starts real hard. Wont idle unless I hold it at around 4K for a while. The check engine light is on, and the car runs rough for about 5 minutes, until the check engine light goes off. Also if the car is warm, and I got to restart it, I acts like it is flooded. I have to turn it over for a while until it finally catches. After it catches, it tries to die again. Weird problem. Is there any way to read check engine codes on these cars? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill90Loyale Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor. $33 at 1st Subaru parts online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJeep_1999 Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 I had the same question... check the link below: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52641 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azsubaru Posted March 13, 2006 Share Posted March 13, 2006 The ECU is up under the dash, easy to find and read. - check this: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49918&highlight=ecu+codes Your engine codes will most likely be in the section titled "-- 1988 and Later Models With Single-Point Fuel Injection -- " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybaru13 Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 Thanks for all the help guys. It turns out it is a code: 21 Coolant Temperature Sensor or Circuit That is the the sensor that is in the radiator right? Do these things fail often? Also is this a "dealer only" part .. or does my local "parts in box" place have it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misledxcracker Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 a local parts store should have it, checker auto had my coolant temp sensor... but it may be cheaper to grab one from a Junkyard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooziewhatsit Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 That is the the sensor that is in the radiator right? Do these things fail often? Nope, this one is on the thermostat housing. It has a two-wire pigtail coming off of it. There is another single lead sensor that is for the dash gauge. I've seen a couple different types of plugs on it. So... you can either make sure you get the right one, or you can cut/solder/heat shrink the old plug on the new sensor, or just cut off both connectors and solder the wires directly. Polarity doesn't matter. Oh yea, you should also check the plug for corrosion; it could be a simple fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybaru13 Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 Cool, ya I called the dealer and they told me where it was, and told me it wa $200. I have no problem soldering a new connector on, just need to find one of these .. all the local parts store are quoting me $100 .. seems a bit steep. Another quick question. If my coolant temp sensor was not working properly, would my temp guage in the car be wrong? My temp guage is working like it always was. thanks in adavance... Y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misledxcracker Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 Yes it would, there's two different sensors, one of them being for the gauge, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybaru13 Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 I measured the resistace that the sensor is putting out when cold - 800K and when warm 75K The book says 200 ohms when cold, 25-30 ohms when warm. Looks like I found it. Go figure, the computer was right. Thanks for all your help guys! billy ps - anyone got a spare coolant temp sensor for a 1990 loyale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill90Loyale Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 As I mentioned a few posts ago: Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor. $33 at 1st Subaru parts online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybaru13 Posted May 10, 2006 Author Share Posted May 10, 2006 Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor.$33 at 1st Subaru parts online. Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link. thanks billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooziewhatsit Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link. thanks billy it may be easiest if you called them and asked them to look it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill90Loyale Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link.thanks billy Billy- The link is at the bottom of my post. once you get to the 1st subaru site, go to parts lookup, plug in your make, model, year info, then when you get the parts page, instead of trying to guess "engine" or "electrical" or ?......just drop to the parts search, and type in "coolant", then wait: With this method, I found a coolant temp sensor for $33.30 for my 90 Loyale. https://www.1stsubaruparts.com/partscat.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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