vtdaug

Porcupine: It's an MT that does idle roughly (even on a full tank). I've replaced the plugs and was about to check the wires. I'll check fuel injector resistance, camshaft/crankshaft position sensors, camshaft sprockets, timing belt and ignitor at your suggestion. The new/used coil I just put in could also be a problem. I've heard that cylinder misfire is a common(?) problem with the 2.5L engine and that even a new NAPA coil is not as good as a new Subaru coil. Also, could the hotter weather be making the misfires worse? Last year I bought 72 hours on techinfo and thought that I downloaded a full set but I seem to be missing some things so I guess I'll try ebay. It looks like I can get the techinfo PDFs on CD for $24.50 or the full OE printed set for $69.99. The printed manuals would probably be a better investment. The comment about the POS PDFs from techinfo was a frustration with their pricing policies, not the quality of the documentation. tcspeer: I'll get a set of noid lights and test the ECU. A new tool!

Thanks. I'll try the cheap stuff first. I would love to invest in Outback manuals, but the Haynes Outback book stop at '98 and Chilton stops at '96. I guess they didn't want to compete with the POS PDFs that I downloaded from techinfo.subaru.com.

My 2000 Outback started running rough about 6 months ago. The CEL would only come on when I was climbing a hill here in Vermont and would eventually go out. The diagnostic was sometimes P0301, 303 or 304. Since it drove OK, I didn't do anything for about 5 months. Recently the CEL came on solid with an occasional blink. The code was now P0301 so I replaced the 88K mile coil with a used 37K coil at the suggestion of my local garage. The CEL code is still P0301 and he says I have either a blocked injector or 'bad cylinder' and he doesn't want to touch it. Should I believe him and get fleeced at my local Subaru dealer or just get a better mechanic? It runs smoother with the new coil but still doesn't have the power or mileage that it had when I bought it at 50K. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for all your replies. I tried the lightsout method and it worked but I did some research after all the pro-DRL comments and decided to leave the lights on. Thanks for the advice.

I'm a proud owner of a 2000 Outback Limited. It's a great car but the headlights are aways on. I realize this is a safety feature, but does anyone know how to shut them off without major surgery? Thanks in advance.