Rik

Ah, the fuel debate. I love this one almost as much as the oil debate. Here, read this. http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuels/gas_qanda/api_octane.shtml

I’ve reseated the TPS connector as well as lubed and adjusted the slop out of the throttle cables (just because) and I’ve come to the conclusion that the condition the car has is inherent to the car. It’s just a sloppy driveline.

It sure sounds like you and I have had the same issue. And as far as I know (it’s really my wife’s car) the CEL has never come into play. I haven’t had the chance to try the TPS connector thing yet, but I’ll get to it this weekend and see it that works. Stay tuned.

The car is a manual transmission 2.5 and you bring up a couple of good points. I’ll reseat the plug for the TPS and check the throttle mechanism. I’d like to make it clear that I am not experiencing any surging due to the fuel delivery system when on steady throttle. And as with any manual transmission when going slow enough, sometimes there will be some bucking when idling down the driveway while in first gear, but that’s hardly unique to this car. I guess what bugs me the most is the lifting off the throttle thing. If I’m traveling down the road at, say, 30 mph and I completely lift off the throttle to apply the brakes, the car decelerates more than I’ve experienced in countless other manual transmission cars I’ve had. In fact, it’s very motorcycle-like in that it feels like heavy engine-braking. Maybe I’ll get some injector cleaner and run that through the system and see if that does anything. Does anyone know what the injector spray pattern is? Shower type with multiple holes or single pintle?

The condition I’m speaking of isn’t an engine hesitation. It can occur at any speed in any gear and only happens right at the point of transition from the injectors spraying or not. Changing the mounts isn’t an option at this time. However, with all due respect, I really don’t think that’s the cause. And if it is, Subaru has a bad part supplier or they engineered a defective part. Does anyone else have this condition and what have you done about it?

My wife and I purchased our second Subaru last year – a 2003 Outback LTD wagon. I was a little hesitant because the last one we owned was back in the infamous Eighties when we had a GL-10 AWD Turbo sedan rust bucket. It was a nice car for the first couple of years, but after that things got bad. Anyway, the new one seems very nice except for the on/off throttle transition. It’s very abrupt and I’m not sure if it’s due to the fuel injection system or a result of the flywheel. Either way, I hate it, especially when lifting off the throttle. It feels like your whole body is being thrown forward and it’s worse when you’re a passenger because you’re not expecting it. Is there a fix?