mlanepa44

I have had the same problems recently with my 1996 Legacy wagon. However my starting problems seem to occur after the car has sat for a least a couple of days. When it does start it takes about five minutes to run smooth and by that time the CEL has come on. I have been able to clear the light by disconnecting the battery for at least a minute. Now, I am trying to cause the bad start because I found that Auto Zone parts stores will code read for free.

now that I have not let my car sit for more than one day, the problem has not occured again. The symptoms I am hoping will occur again after I let it sit for the next couple of days. This way I can get the check engine light to come on again and get the code read. I found the all "Auto Zone" parts stores will read codes for free.

Should I go to the dealership or find an independent mechanic for this. I guess I could also buy my own code reader if it is worth it. Thanks for your input. I am also starting to think it is a fuel issue the more i research this problem. I am now starting to think it is the fuel pump or filter.

My car recently sat for a while and when i went back to start it. I had an unbalanced start. What i mean by that is the car did not start smooth and ran like only a couple of the cylinders were firing. Then of course the check engine light came on. I replaced the spark plugs and wires hoping that the problem resided in them. Then I let the car sit for a couple of days and went to start it and again the same thing happened. I let it run for a couple of minutes and the car smoothed out but the check engine light came on again. I drove it to a friends house about 15 miles away and then cleared the check engine light again. I then drove it home a few hours later with no problems. I am guessing that it is an ignition problem but I don't know where to start. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!! Does anyone know a good mechanic in the Salt Lake City area?