Hi,

 

I'm Brian, a new guy with an old car..

 

My high mileage '90 Loyale Wagon runs fine, but if I park it for a few minutes and hot start it, the check engine light comes on, usually stays on for abut 3-5 min, goes away.

 

Any ideas? Was thinking maybe weak O2 sensor, dirty EGR valve, some such, but I'm brand new to Soobs, and about clueless.

 

TIA

 

Brian

hello brian, and welcome to the USMB.

 

it is now time for you to get real familiar with your Subaru and become one with it.

 

to get an idea of what the check engine light is trying to tell you, start here:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49918

 

not 100% sure on your 90 Loyale, but i think the test connectors are located under the hood behind the drivers side strut tower (close to the firewall) cluster of wires with single connector ends in black green and white pairs - they should not be connected for normal use.

If they are not there, then they will be under the drivers side dash, between steering column and door frame - you will need the lower cover removed to access them....

 

the flashing light will be below the drivers side dash - you will need to remove the lower cover to see it - several screws and a snap clip to the lower steering column and it is off.

 

get the codes that are stored in the ECU and report back.

O.K. Thanks for the help. I've downloaded an printed out the reference material.

 

Located the test connectors. There is one set of male-female single pin connectors that are green, another that is white. I do not know which is the "Read Memory" and which is the "Test Mode" connector. Manual (Chilton) doesn't say. There is also a black 6 pin female connector, and a white 4 pin connector, which I guess are for scan tools...

 

Spent most of the day at machine shops getting bearings pressed into various bits of my motorcycle, came home and cleaned the Soob engine, and installed a 195 degree thermostat where none had been before. This caused a change in the sound the engine made, and resurrected the temp indicator that I'd thought dead. The check engine light came on, stayed on for about half hour, finally went out, hasn't come on since.

 

I know that the temp indicator is separate from the engine temp sensor, guessing that the ECU is distressed by engine running too cold.

 

Tomorrow, will start pulling codes, if you can tell me which test connector is which...

 

TIA

 

bk

it has been a few years, but i believe the ones you want for reading stored codes are the green ones altho i could be wrong - like i said, been a few years

 

best thing I can tell you is to pull that lower dash cover and leave it off for a few days.

when you are out and about and it throws a CEL at you, turn the engine off and see if you can get any codes with no connectors plugged together (for current issues)

 

then do again with the "read memory" connectors plugged in to get stored codes.

 

 

 

the large plugs are not used or needed for this.

Since the new thermostat seems to have cured the "check engine" light, I'll leave pulling codes for now, dealing with more pressing issues.

 

Thanks for the help Heartless..

 

bk