ThosL

Fuel pressure was 36 or more, I assume that is normal from what I've seen online. I ordered three MAP sensors on Amazon, two were wrong and the third I get tomorrow. It was a mystery to me where the sensor was, so I disconnected other ones to see if any of them looked like the right one and settled on the one to the right of the coil pack. I may have messed up the connector as I couldn't get it to snap into place. Oil pressure gauge was flashing when driving but power came back. Will hopefully get it fixed tomorrow.

Apparently the "MAP" not MAF sensor. Mass air pressure sensor. Also was getting a code for O2 sensor #1 but have been ignoring it as it has been on a while without performance issues.

Changing the fuel filter made no difference. I spoke with a mechanic at the local Gulf station who kindly gave me his best guesses. Very likely the MAF sensor is at fault as the vehicle is bogging down as I said and bucking from time to time. I picked up the Auto Zone free fuel gauge tester and will try to find a couple lines to connect it to tomorrow.

The car is running ok generally. Just a lack of acceleration and bogging when going uphill or trying to accelerate. I'll figure this out and let others know. Auto Zone has a lot of free tools as rentals. The Hispanic guys who've worked on my Forester in the past said they had a Legacy Outback with similar mileage they were willing to make a good deal on. Look, it hasn't been that many miles since they last worked on the Forester. They are bad with diagnosis. Video on diagnosing fuel pressure failure:

I'm running it on premium, put in some Lucas and STP fuel treatment and ordered a heavier duty gas treatment. I'll see if I can get proper help to run those tests.

I did not see any vacuum leak; I had it checked out by the mechanic and their computer code device which came up with the same code as mine. It's pretty continual acts as though the clogging builds up, why we thought it was a the cat. converter. Diagnostics look pretty complicated as recommended on Amazon's site. Any good mechanic could nail this down in person, but not the Hispanic immigrant mechanics except their "instinctual" judgments. This is their usual diagnostics on the Amazon site, apparently the warranty is through Amazon: Use an OBD-II scannerNote: Refer to the user manual for the exact location of the OBD-II port.Note: Refer to the user manual for instructions on how to do this for different models.Note: Error codes related to the catalytic converter usually start with P0420 to P0439. Locate the OBD-II port under the dashboard. Plug in the OBD-II scanner and turn the Ignition to ON Scan for error codes Interpret the codes Perform a visual inspectionNote: Refer to the user manual for the exact lift points on your vehicle.Note: Typically located between the engine and the muffler.Note: Physical damages may require immediate replacement. Safely elevate the vehicle using a car lift or jack stands. Locate the catalytic converter. Inspect for physical damages like cracks or dents. Test exhaust backpressureNote: Refer to the user manual for instructions on how to do this for different modelsNote: High backpressure typically indicates a clogged catalytic converter. Remove the oxygen sensor before the catalytic converter. Connect a backpressure tester in place of the oxygen sensor. Start the engine and check the backpressure reading. Conduct a temperature testNote: A properly functioning catalytic converter will have a higher outlet temperature compared to the inlet. Use an infrared thermometer to measure the inlet and outlet temperature of the catalytic converter. Compare the temperature difference

This was the Walker unit I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AGPD96/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Bought in early 2022.

I ran my 2002 Forester by the mechanics who usually check out my car, pretty intuitive guys. The diagnostics were showing lean fuel, P0171 I think. Put your foot on the gas and it lugs, not the usual alertness and power. I was thinking letting the car run low on gas, maybe sucking scum from the tank into the fuel filter could be the cause. I started filling up with premium and used some STP fuel treatment and today some Lucas fuel treatment, says to use 3 oz per 10 gallons. I ordered a fuel filter and some catalytic converter cleaner. The mechanics were thinking something may be broken inside the Cat. converter. I replaced it with an after market unit in the winters of 2021-22. Any recommendations on this?

I don't drive on dirt roads where the fuel vent pipe would get crimped, etc.. Only in last six months have I had this problem. I tried to eyeball the critical area, hard to get access.

The gas just spills out when I jigger the gas fill handle to pump out more, so not the shutoff.

So I'll probably have to go to the junkyard. The pollution device in that area is also not working but since it does not affect performance have not devoted attention to it.

I think it's something about the evap. canister, the code comes up. Cannot fill reasonably any way.

Hi--I cannot fill the gas intake except very slowly, when forced the gas overflows but most stations have pumps that do not permit that.

I originally asked on this issue, car was done in a couple months anyway. A friend thinks the Legacy Subarus are more attractive as he finds the Foresters unattractive. I asked him why? He said they look like old folks vehicles.

Could a remedy just be keeping the gas cap loose? Edited to add: I'm using a non-Subaru gas cap which may be the issue. I tried loosening the cap, no difference.

There are no performance issues at this point, the engine and car is running better than ever, there would be no point for tests.

The Subaru is running fine as is. I'll have the mechanic check compression again, wouldn't that be enough to determine problem valves?

To tell you the truth, I don't know what the issue is and I'm going to have the mechanic try to figure it out this week. He went over the pulleys, etc. and only replaced what was needed.

I don't have the tools or space to work on it. We'll get to the bottom of it; probably timing issues as the compression is tops.

However it's clear to me that bent or malfunctioning valves are the reason for the hesitation and sputtering on the other head. A friend said valve timing could also account for this.

We got the job done; the machine shop had to do two valves and whatever else they do to the head. Compression/power is better now. But timing is off, so will have to have the mechanic adjust that which apparently is not easy.

We finally got into this today. Put in a new timing belt; one of the pulleys had failed and buggered up the the timing belt. The passenger side is intact with compression at 150 pounds, but one cylinder has no compression. So will have to pull the driver's side head and have the machine shop get it in normal condition.

I bicycled down to the quality mechanic I've used who said he could probably look at it next Tuesday, and he was thinking the replacement engine would be $600 for a good used 2.5 and around $650 or more for the mechanical work and materials. Someone else who was recommended said that I could have it towed to him tomorrow and he'd get to the bottom of the issue, but having had no experience with him, I'm reluctant without seeing him in person. I'll have to do a hard nosed analysis of my options on it; body is good, suspension, tranny, etc..

I spoke to a mechanic who'd be willing to put a timing belt on but said 99% of the time the valves are damaged as I've heard with Honda.

I looked at the most pertinent Youtube videos on comparable Subarus with Timing Belts breaking and I did not see much hope there; an interference engine often will be damaged when these go, I may not help that I was going only around 25mph uphill when it broke. I called a couple mechanics, Hispanics who are pretty intuitive, the one busy guy thought likely damage. The other guy was going to come up to check it out but may figure that he could be opening up a can of worms. 240K plus miles, generally a good car.