magnoman

Hi, I have a 98 outback that recently started to hesitate and surge on accel and will just start pinging up hills on the highway. I have changed , wires, fuel filter, ing coil, spark plugs, used cylinder cleaner, injector cleaner. Both o2 senors & back cat. checked PCV & EGR valve and all Vac lines! Could this be the knock sensor and where would that be?

Hi, I have a 98 outback that recently started to hesitate and surge on accel and will just start pinging up hills on the highway. I have changed , wires, fuel filter, ing coil, spark plugs, used cylinder cleaner, injector cleaner. checked PCV & EGR valve and all Vac lines! Could this be the knock sensor and where would that be?

I have a 98 outback idles like #$%..to what the hell is seafoam?

I have a simlar problem. 98 outback. about a year ago it started to shake in drive at lights mostly when warming up. . I have had it to 3 dealers some just had no idea. one said do a tune up. duuu.... then it started to get worse. the check engine light would come on and blink. then stay on. I went to a dealer once more and the last one said I need valve work. that cylinder #3 had reported a missfire. they did not do a compression test ? so i did one myself and found all cylinders to at 180lbs all fine. How could it be valves if the compression is good? I am stumped. I just changed 02 sensors. and the back Cat. Ignition coil. its very intermitant worse when cold. sometimes it runs great?. maybe just get a junk yard motor?

I had the code read. # 3 cylinder missfire? I did compressinn test 180lbs. Changed plugs, and wires. still the same. Its just very inconsistent. much worse when cold. dealer said I need valve work?

I have a 98 outback. I have been having this problem for over a year., rough idle when cold in gear the whole car shakes. Put in neutral goes away. Its been to three dealers. One say to do tune up (daaaaaah) one says we loosend the motor mounts and retightened them? . Now the check engine light came on a few time and it started to miss very bad then cleared up. I bought it in once more to the dealer. now they say cylinder #3 reported a missfire and I need a valve job!!!.And the o2 sensor #2 reported something with the cat flow. I asked if they did a compression test they said NO. How could they poss know if the valves where bad. I took the car home and tested it my self .Compress was 180 psi all cylinders. Replaced Cat #2 and both 02 sensors. Car still runs like crap at idle & very bad when cold. Check Engine light still going on and off! I am about @ the end of my rope with this car do not know what else to change or do. HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the info. I checked out that thread. I just had both my front axels replaced not to long ago. so I do not think its that. When the idle goes down and runs rough it will start to make a low rumble sound & and you can hear it start to miss from the exhast pipe. I think it must be some kind of emission sensor. would a o2 sensor give me any think like this.

I have checked all hoses and PCV. would the IAC give me a check engine lite? Some one said may be 02 sensor. & that would not send a error code .

I have a 98 outback. about year ago it started to idle rough intermittent. the the rpm will drift slightly from 700 rpm and the whole car will start to shake so bad at lights I have to put it into N or park to get it to stop shaking! other wise the car runs great. its worse with Ac or defroster on. No engine lights are on. I have had it to three differenent dealers and they just stratch there heads! . the last one checked the motor mounts. I have had a full tune up. Injection service still shaking. agian its not all the time? Please some help !!!!!!!!!!! It getting to the point of getting ride of the dog