I bought a 2004 5 speed obw recently. Nice car, not counting some repairable deer damage , it had two definite things going on. A mysterious yet to be diagnosed symptom of continuing to run with the key removed ( addressed in another post)  . And trouble filling the fuel tank , showing a 1443 code, "evap control solenoid" . I expected to replace the valve above the charcoal canister... i expected it so much (having repaired this before on others)  that I ordered a new one  without confirming things...   Turns out , I learned something new...(Again) ... on 2004  outbacks that are built to be a California car , they run an impreza evap system  !  Completely different than all the other "non calf" 00-04 outbacks . I had to replace the entire charcoal canister/ with the valve built in, way more $$$ than just the valve.  Available from doorman  thru rock auto. No more can you dry the charcoal and replace just the valve, when it's much better to replace the whole thing!..." NOT" !! In fact ,what this car is, is an early  2005 ! Made in January of 2004....and It's even a drive by wire !  Having the impreza system on an outback was something I hadn't run into before and i wanted to share this for the next guy.   Installation of the new canister was a snap, fuel filling  problem solved , after clearing the comp , no 1443 code or any other has come back.  Now the CE light is off and the cruise control light is Not flashing and works as it should. 

Good to know about the CA cars (makes me not really want to live in CA or buy a CA emissions car  )

was the canister flooded or was it the valve?

Was the valve, I cut open the canister and the charcoal was fine.

Had some more evap issues with this car...  gota "love" calf. emissions !   No codes and  no trouble pumping fuel in , but after filling , it was hard starting and running poorly for a few minutes. A check of the canister purge  solenoid showed it was stuck open , a direct vacuum leak from the throttle body to the fuel tank ... No wonder it acted flooded with a full tank of fuel ... it was ! Again a 2004 part won't work properly, it takes a 2005. Luckily the one I need is $60 the other is $95.  

Have seen stuck purge solenoids several times on Subarus over a wide range of years. A few I've taken apart and found carbon chunks in them sticking to the seal at the bottom of the valve.

 

Depends how big the chunk is what code gets set. Sometimes get an evap system small leak code with no other symptoms. Sometimes get hard starting and other codes similar to your issue.

Had some more evap issues with this car...  gota "love" calf. emissions !   No codes and  no trouble pumping fuel in , but after filling , it was hard starting and running poorly for a few minutes. A check of the canister purge  solenoid showed it was stuck open , a direct vacuum leak from the throttle body to the fuel tank ... No wonder it acted flooded with a full tank of fuel ... it was ! Again a 2004 part won't work properly, it takes a 2005. Luckily the one I need is $60 the other is $95.  

 

Is that the valve in the engine compartment?

 

Yes , that is the one.   Spendy little thing to buy even from rock auto.  I would have gone used but the wrecking yards are 2 hrs away.