Howdy All!

 

I have been driving subabru's for years, and this is the first time I have cam across this problem.

 

This problem just happened one day .. and wont go away.

 

When I go to start my 1990 Loyale Wgn 4WD, it starts real hard. Wont idle unless I hold it at around 4K for a while. The check engine light is on, and the car runs rough for about 5 minutes, until the check engine light goes off.

 

Also if the car is warm, and I got to restart it, I acts like it is flooded. I have to turn it over for a while until it finally catches. After it catches, it tries to die again. Weird problem.

 

Is there any way to read check engine codes on these cars?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor.

$33 at 1st Subaru parts online.

I had the same question... check the link below:

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52641

The ECU is up under the dash, easy to find and read. - check this:

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49918&highlight=ecu+codes

 

Your engine codes will most likely be in the section titled "-- 1988 and Later Models With Single-Point Fuel Injection -- "

Thanks for all the help guys. It turns out it is a code:

 

21 Coolant Temperature Sensor or Circuit

 

That is the the sensor that is in the radiator right? Do these things fail often?

 

 

Also is this a "dealer only" part .. or does my local "parts in box" place have it?

a local parts store should have it, checker auto had my coolant temp sensor... but it may be cheaper to grab one from a Junkyard

That is the the sensor that is in the radiator right? Do these things fail often?

 

 

Nope, this one is on the thermostat housing. It has a two-wire pigtail coming off of it. There is another single lead sensor that is for the dash gauge.

 

I've seen a couple different types of plugs on it. So... you can either make sure you get the right one, or you can cut/solder/heat shrink the old plug on the new sensor, or just cut off both connectors and solder the wires directly. Polarity doesn't matter.

 

Oh yea, you should also check the plug for corrosion; it could be a simple fix.

Cool, ya I called the dealer and they told me where it was, and told me it wa $200. I have no problem soldering a new connector on, just need to find one of these .. all the local parts store are quoting me $100 .. seems a bit steep.

 

 

 

Another quick question. If my coolant temp sensor was not working properly, would my temp guage in the car be wrong? My temp guage is working like it always was.

 

thanks in adavance...

 

Y

Yes it would, there's two different sensors, one of them being for the gauge, IIRC.

I measured the resistace that the sensor is putting out when cold - 800K and when warm 75K

 

The book says 200 ohms when cold, 25-30 ohms when warm.

 

Looks like I found it. Go figure, the computer was right.

 

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

billy

 

ps - anyone got a spare coolant temp sensor for a 1990 loyale?

As I mentioned a few posts ago:

 

Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor.

$33 at 1st Subaru parts online.

Symptoms suggest bad coolant temp sensor.

$33 at 1st Subaru parts online.

 

Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link.

 

thanks

 

billy

Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link.

 

thanks

 

billy

 

it may be easiest if you called them and asked them to look it up.

Bill .. I cant find that part on there website. Can you send me a link.thanks billy

 

Billy-

The link is at the bottom of my post.

once you get to the 1st subaru site, go to parts lookup, plug in your make, model, year info, then when you get the parts page, instead of trying to guess "engine" or "electrical" or ?......just drop to the parts search, and type in "coolant", then wait:

 

With this method, I found a coolant temp sensor for $33.30 for my 90 Loyale.

 

 

 

https://www.1stsubaruparts.com/partscat.html