My '99 Forester is doing great, 2.5 and all! My question is for my Friend's green, 2000 Outback (2.5) Recently it has begun to shudder while decelerating and sometimes at a stop; it occasionally feels like it might die but it hasn't so far. She drives it ever day and it has 160 K; two years ago it had both head gaskets replaced and timing belt, but, otherwise it has been near perfect in terms of reliability. Over the last few months she had it's routine maintenance done including spark plugs, and PCV. I have some ideas but hate to "Throw parts at the problem." It is also worth mentioning this is intermittent problem and does not appear while accelerating or at highway speed.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

 

Also, there are no warning lights on gauge cluster and everything else- gas mileage, etc., is normal.

Edited January 1, 201016 yr by john40iowa
Add Detail

Original O2 sensor?

How old are the spark plug wires?

 

 

nipper

Original O2 sensor?

How old are the spark plug wires?

 

 

nipper

Wires are likely original as is O2 sensor.

Replace the wires with OE, they are long over due.

After 100K you can call replacing the O2 sensor a aint item like spark plugs. In soobies they last well over 100K (which is what you are at) so it won't be a waste of money. ANother posability is the KNock sensor, but lets do the wires first.

 

 

None of these may throw a CEL.

 

 

nipper

I'm with Nip:

 

Ignition wires (Subaru only on these)

Knock sensor

 

I wouldn't expect an O2 sensor to cause this but who knows.

Welcome another Iowa member.

Welcome another Iowa member.

 

Thanks; we will give new wires a try!