Parked it a year ago after limping home at 30 to 40 MPH. Now daughter has decided she wants a car at college. Feeling like it lost a couple cylinders, installed a new coil tonight and the same thing. which way do i go?

Any codes ?  Pull the spark plugs yet ?  Might need to do a compression test on it. The fact that it still starts and runs leads me to think the timing belt isn't broken.  Edit) I should mention pulling the plugs is not quite as easy as it sounds.  Drivers side remove the windshield washer tank , pass side remove part of air intake system.

Edited April 4, 20188 yr by montana tom

1 year prior to parking, the heads were done, all new belt, tensioners, w pump, plugs, injectors, exhaust, brakes, steering. prepping for daughter but she decided that she did not need a car then.

sits here idling no miss, throttle up with no load, no problem.

If it's not misfiring - possibly plugged cat. New exhaust makes that more likely IMO if it's aftermarket parts.

 

GD

knock sensor, plug wires, rodent damage, water in gas....

 

 

scanning for codes could help a lot.

+1 to getting the codes.  I have an 02 and the last time that I had a problem with it, I could hardly "limp" home just like the OP.  The code called for the knock sensor.  I replaced same and the car ran fine.

 

Just as a reminder to posters before they comment, the 02 subarus do NOT have a MAF.  

How else you could say its plugged cat or not ?

need to run codes otherwise we are all guessing.

bgirls - if the car can be driven safely, take it to a car parts retailer and have them scan the ECU for trouble codes. there could be more than one. List them here for us.

 

they will look like P0420 or similar ( P x x x x )

busy tonight with the fire dept, will scan for codes tomorrow when i get home. have scanner.