Sundance

Yes I agree and it's going to the Subaru dealer. I would hope the heck the mechanic checked the pressures before installing a new fuel pressure regulator........ but I will find that out later.

It was installed by a mechanic I will check, I would hope it was bad........ $180 bad. I am on the road........... How do you reset the ECU?

Well add a new fuel pressure regulator to the new parts pile............ Did nothing................ Still starts like a pig.

We've had 3 Subaru's. The best was the '90. I'll not buy another...........

Others have been more polite......... but towing the car with an Outback is INSANE!!!!:eek: Find a buddy with a pickup and pay him/her a couple hundred (what a hitch would cost) for gas and time. A hitch may be rated for 3500# but it's connected to a uni-body, not a frame.

When cold the car starts hard. She has to give the pedal a little gas to get it to go. To much and she then has to keep it to the boards. Runs rough for a few seconds then it's fine. Once warm, even after sitting an hour or two, it fires right up. Codes were read twice in the last month with nothing showing. We replaced the coolant temp sensor anyway. That did nothing but empty the pocketbook.

I don't remember all the brands. NGK plugs and a Borg/Warner sensor. All parts were top quality.

Would that make for hard start when cold too?? She has had it scanned for codes twice with no codes showing. Like 115K or so. I am guessing but for sure no more than 20K ago along with engine seals, water pump, etc.

My wifes 95 Leg 2.2 has been hard starting when it's cold. Now she calls me and says her MPG was 14.5!! And smells like it's running rich. The cars had: *New Coolant Temp Sensor *New Fuel Filter *New Plugs and wires *New air filter

Well the problem persists. Now the car is getting an MPG (city) of 14.5!!! She says it smells rich, starts like a pig. I hate to throw her to the mercy of the local Subaru dealer..........

I stopped putting boots on a few years ago. Just isn't worth the time and effort when you compare the cost of a re-man axle. Most re-man axles are like $75 and are just so much easier to install. The only time I would consider a reboot would be a tear due to an object on a axle with just a few thousand miles on it.

If you're paying more than $600 to $700 look elsewhere. That's a load of miles. I'd personally pay $500 for the beast if it had good rubber.

John, We have confirmed that the correct sensor was installed. Unfortunately, the problem remains,,,,,

Thanks John for the pics and diagrams.

Not really.......... I was 350 miles away. The parts store guy gave it to her, and a mechanic put it in. Like $70 labor.... I'll check. Are they both located in the same area? Is one easier to install??

I normally agree on the spark plug issue. But I am confident this is not ignition related. Fuel is something I will check into. But I still get puzzled why it starts like a champ all other times after a cold start (by cold I me sub freezing).

New plugs and wires........ but I doubt they are the reason. The intermittent nature is a baffler. Ran injector cleaner through more than once. We have not had the fuel pressure tested. But why would it run fine at most other times??

The chugging only lasts a couple seconds. Then smooth as silk. She had it at the mechanic and of course when he went out at -15F it started perfectly!!!! No codes. We changed out the coolant temp sensor anyway.

Her owners manual says Dextron I. We're running with the Dextron I guess. Crazy that something so fundamental to maintenance should be so confusing!! Subaru wanted $7.50 a quart for their exlixer.

And here I felt good about Dextron before this...... And now.......... My head hurts!! Yikes.

Yes we replaced the fuel filter a week or two before we did the Coolant Temp Sensor. She has to always give it a little gas to get it going, then it chugs. At 0 or below it can be a hard start. Only been doing it for a month or two. Getting really frustrating. We've run injector cleaner in the gas as well. New plugs and wires too.

I realize the A/C is not working, but throw the A/C switches to ON and see if one of the fans runs. I agree it's probably a sensor.

Thanks guys............. Yeah the '90 was a fix type campaign to catch metal. Dextron III it is with no additives. We're going to do the flush but I have heard not to let them use detergents during the flush, just new fluid.

Also are there transmission filters on the '95?? I know my old '90 did not have one, but I added a kit per my mechanics recommendation.

My wifes '95 Leg 2.2 w/ auto trany needs a trany flush. I am getting a few confusing suggestions though. What fluid is recommended. I've heard Dextron II or III. Another source said you have to add a friction modifier?? What say ye?? Thanks as always....... you guys rock.