Two weeks ago I bought a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5 with 193,000 miles. I put around 30 miles on the car and the head gasket blew. (car overheated and there was oil in the coolant). Yeah i got screwed. Since then I have put a 2.2 single overhead motor in the car. The swap was simple and the motor runs great. However the motor seems to be shifting at weird RPMs (AT) and whenever I lett off the throttle or brake to slow down it does not shift down and RPMS drop to 800. I dont know if it did this before the swap since I only had the car for a day. Also when im driving and the motor is under a load it cuts out at around 4200 RPM ( like its hitting a rev limiter) Sometimes it just does it a little and then will keep revving to 6000 rpm. any ideas on what could be the issue. The CEL light is on due to the knock sensor which I was told was due to the swap to the 2.2 from the 2.5.

Any input would be great

Thanks

No CEL due to swap. Unless you left same vacuum and/or EVAP lines off.

 

Either way an auto parts store will read the code for free (But I think everyone should have the little 50.00 ODB2 code reader). Because you need it cleared to make sure you[re not reading a code from the old engine.

 

Knock sensors do go bad and I always get OEM but some folks here haven't and been fine. But in my experience a bad knock sensor won't cause your symptoms. It'll be "gutless" but not cut out, idle correctly, etc.

the knock sensor code, if that's what it is, is not because of the swap. it is probably because the knock sensor on your new engine is bad. swap in the one from the 2.5L engine if the connector is the same. they went to a 2 wire set up at some point, but most in the 90s are one wire, i think.

 

i priced them online and on ebay the other day, some one had them for <$30. sounded too good to be true.

Is the knock sensor related to any of the other problems im having?

I told you no. This time in a shorter sentence.

 

I also suggested you get the code read. That's what a code does - it tells you what's wrong/where to look. Kinda handy that way...

Thanks Dave

read code.

 

does the car have a knock sensor? it should and it should be plug and play, and work fine with no codes, issues, etc.