stucksube

The ECTS is replaced and IACV cleaning is on deck. Because my Sube won't run for any duration, my plan is to spray a little TB cleaner directly into the IAC (via a removed hose) while the engine is off and then turning it over. I'll probably repeat that a couple/few times. In my '97 Impreza, I've been told (I'll go look right now) that the IAC is located not on the TB, but beneath the PCV, which I've already replaced. I've also read that it's worth spraying sea foam into the PCV to clean out the system 'downwind' from that point. I think I'll do the sea foam first, followed by the IAC cleaning. Any comments/suggestions/advice/warnings out there that I should know about?

4/26 Update: The plugs and wires are replaced (NGK w/o anti-seize) as are the air and fuel filters and the PCV. One of the plugs was kind of gummy. The PCV was also a little gummy, but not stuck open/shut. I'm going to assume that nothing was done to the car between 89,000 and 128,000 miles, I have nothing to suggest otherwise. Which means that the front end has not been done, unfortunately. That sounds daunting. The car might run a little better, maybe. Or maybe not. It runs for closer to 45 seconds before it stalls, where it used to only run about 15 seconds before stalling. I could probably keep it running if I kept the RPM's up where I couldn't do that before. The engine would just bog down and die without reving up. The check engine light did turn on today, which only happened once before. I think next up is replacing the ECTS and cleaning the IACV while I figure this timing belt business out. It sounds like the fuel pump could be an issue.

I meant to say that I could re-install the plugs when I replaced the wires.

Thanks all. So far, it was rainy over the weekend here in Seattle, I've replaced the air filter and plugs. I didn't use anti-sieze on the plugs because I forgot. I still could when I swap out the plugs. The battery and windshield washer bottle are still out but I'd rather not mess with the plugs now that they're in. One of the old plugs was not screwed entirely into the head and did have some gray gunk on it when I pulled it. I have the wires, a new fuel filter and a new PCV that I'll get too probably by Tuesday (still raining today). I don't think that this car has been tuned up for about 26,000 miles. I'm thinking that the PCV might be ancient and gunked up to the point that it's screwing things up. I'll know so enough. The car does start and run OK for about 15 - 20 seconds and then stalls.

There are 128,000 miles on it. I just located the original maintenance book that says the last time it was serviced by the dealer was at 90,000. Unfortunately, that's likely correct. So it's waaay overdue. The check engine light only came on once. But it may just be that the car will not run long enough (before it stalls) to trigger the check engine light to switch on. Can codes be read/scanned if the check engine light is not switched on? I'll get to work on that list of things to check/replace; the filters, plugs and wires this weekend. Hopefully I can get it back up and running and then get it serviced. Thanks folks, I'll let you know how it goes.

Thank you. I moved it to the New Generation Forum. Please weigh in any and all.

About 2 months ago my ’97 Impreza started to nearly stall at low RPM after the car had been running for around 45 minutes or so, after it was warmed up. It gradually got worse and did stall several times over the course of about a month. I could keep the engine running at relatively high (not screaming) RPM, but it was dicey. And then it got a lot worse all at once, only ran at high RPM, almost no power and the check engine light came on. I got the car home but it hasn’t moved since. Right now the car starts right up and runs normally for about 20 seconds, boggs down and then stalls out. Depressing the gas pedal has no effect and the check engine light is off, it only came that one time. It feels/sounds/seems like the engine is gasping, like it wants to run but can’t. To my old self that suggests a restricted fuel or air supply; as in clogged filters. The air filter isn’t brand new but it’s not filthy clogged. Fuel filter maybe? Dirty fuel supply system perhaps? I’m the cars third owner (my brother was No. 2), so I can’t verify that it’s always been maintained on schedule but I had it checked out by a reputable Subaru guy last fall who told me that the car was in good condition. There are about 120,000 miles on it. Besides this problem my Impreza has been a very durable car for almost 20 years and it should have a bunch more in it, I hope. Any suggestions anyone? Thanks, Bob

Hey all, I have a '97 Impreza that I bought from my brother, who was the second owner, about a year ago. He's a computer, not a car, guy, so the routine maintenance might have been done. But maybe not, or maybe only partially. It started bogging down at low idle about two months ago and about a month ago it would only idle at relatively high RPM and the check engine light came on. It hasn't moved since I got it home. Today, it starts and runs normally for about 15 or 20 seconds and then boggs down and dies. It feels like it's gasping, like it wants to run but is starved for fuel or air. I don't know if/when the fuel filter has been changed and the air filter is not brand new (I only glimpsed it through a crack), but it doesn't look dirty enough to entirely restrict air. I tried slightly cracking open the air box to let air in around the filter but that had no effect. Any suggestions folks? I'm reasonable mechanically inclined, have or can get the tools I might need and have room to work on the car. Thanks, Stuck Sube