January 25, 200620 yr 1990 manual legacy runs fine for about 2 minutes and then won't go above idle without sputtering. If I give little su any gas she threatens to stop on me and rpms go to a few hundred. She quits if i don't get off the gas. I had to drive a few blocks the other day in first at idle speed until I got home. SLOW! Just got this car 6 months ago from my father in law. She's been well taken care of as he bought her new. We have had no problems yet except for a three random times she has hesitated starting and needed a few extra turns of the starter. Other than that we've just kept her on scheduled maintenance so far. So is this going to be easy? Where do I start? Let me know if more info would help. Thanks all.
January 25, 200620 yr So the engine runs fine at idle speed, but won't go above a certain RPM without running badly. Does the two minutes correspond to the engine temp gauge moving at all? I suspect the coolant temp sensor right now, but would like any more information you can provide.
January 25, 200620 yr What about an excessive backpressure problem due to a clogged converter. Would cause low/no power. Just a thought, Steve H.
January 25, 200620 yr Yeah the cat is a good thought. If the original poster can provide more details on the problem, that would help.
January 25, 200620 yr Author Idle is fine...over about 1100rpm's sputters and dies if I don't get off the pedal. I don't know if the engine temp gauge does move, because I've not let her run for long enough to see since this started. I'll start the engine and let her run a while in idle and see. A buddy said maybe bad gas or some sort of contaminant. Possible? Thanks for the quick and intelligent (that means "way over my head") replies.
January 25, 200620 yr There are two temperiture sensors. One is for the gauge, one is for the computer. Let the car idle long enough to warm up and see if the problem goes away. nipper
January 26, 200620 yr If the check engine light on the dash isn't flashing at you then it's probably a mechanical component rather than an electrical one that is failing. It would be a good idea to change the fuel filter and check the air filter isn't filthy.
January 26, 200620 yr Author Okay, last night I started her up and let her run. Here's the play-by-play: When I started her the first time she was a bit hesitant on turning over, like the battery didn't have enough juice. After five or so minutes of running fine (at all rpm's) the electrical started to dim and the sputtering started at any rpm above 1100 (any thing more than the slightest gas). This is about when I noticed the temp gauge beginning to creep up. Five more minutes and she died all together. No juice in the battery to start again. It was not night time when she first did this the other day and so I didn't notice the electrical. Also, I was so close to home that I didn't run her until she was all out of juice and died completely. Anyhow, with my limited auto knowledge I'm suspecting alternator. Thoughts?
January 26, 200620 yr Sounds it to me, but chack all your connections too. I would pop off the alt and take it in to be tested while charging the battery.
January 27, 200620 yr Yeah, definitely check the battery and alternator. Even with a clogged cat (unless it's REALLY bad), the engine should run at idle.
February 2, 200620 yr Yes keep it simple. Of course check out alternater, but as this lister says, change the fuel filter and check fuel pressure and volume after that. If the check engine light on the dash isn't flashing at you then it's probably a mechanical component rather than an electrical one that is failing. It would be a good idea to change the fuel filter and check the air filter isn't filthy.
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