So my suby has been acting cranky when cold lately, missfires hesitation no check engine light, warms up and is fine...I wasn't sure if it was no gas or no spark. I changed the fuel filter, no luck, then I changed the plugs, and boom...it will start, but not idle. You can get the motor to rev nicely, but still noo idle...dies. I pulled the maf sensor cable and it idles fine, but then got a check lite, and won't run other than idle.

 

I put the original plugs in just in and same thing! When I changed the plugs I took off the air cleaner shroud and I'm thinking maybe I killed the maf sensor somehow doing that...ANY FREAKING IDEAS? It's dead in the yard..

Smells like MAF failure to me. Man, there've been a lot of these lately.

Is the Air hose from the air intake to the idle air control valve disconnected? They are hard hoses and tend to come undone easily.

I'm not sure...I eyeballed the hoses...can you describe where it is?

Let's say if I traveled from the maf sensor to the intake manifold..?

Just had a similar problem (hesitation, bad idle) with my '96. Wasn't until I replaced the wire set that all was fixed. You might give it a try. A lot cheaper than MAF, so I'd start there.

the hose i have trouble with in my 97obw come loose from the intake about half way between the air filter box and the throtle body, but it's on the bottom of the intake. it's hard to see if it's connected. look under there and see if there are any lose hoses or open holes. tends to come loose when you disconnect the intake from the filter box.

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure...I eyeballed the hoses...can you describe where it is?

Let's say if I traveled from the maf sensor to the intake manifold..?

What Shawn says needs to be checked, the hose is around 1/2 in. in size and is in the middle of the vent tubing that runs from air filter to the black box that sits on back of engine. The hose is on the bottom of this and it runs down to the idle air control valve. If it is connected then take it off at the idle air control valve and spray cleaner in it. I think you need to use carb. cleaner but check the search feature and make sure that is the right thing to use.

Is the Air hose from the air intake to the idle air control valve disconnected? They are hard hoses and tend to come undone easily.

Thanks, I'll look, I hope it's that easy.

 

Yeah, I can't believe how much MAFs cost new...3 to 400 clams(!)

 

There is a guy on ebay that sells them used for 75 bucks and lets you return it if it's not the problem.

 

So i've been commuting into boston for 10 years without incident, this AM I borrowed my in-law's Lexus...and got rear ended! Not too bad but JEEEEZ. Not feeling too lucky.

Sorry John, I didnt mean to repeat what you said, I was typing at the same time, just much slower.

the hose i have trouble with in my 97obw come loose from the intake about half way between the air filter box and the throtle body, but it's on the bottom of the intake. it's hard to see if it's connected. look under there and see if there are any lose hoses or open holes. tends to come loose when you disconnect the intake from the filter box.

no problem.

 

 

Sorry John, I didnt mean to repeat what you said, I was typing at the same time, just much slower.

THAT WAS IT! The hose was off! It was out of view under the air tube that leads from the air filter housing... ( what a moron... ) :-\

 

It's still doing the "crappy until warmed up thing" so I'll try the new plugs ( again )and wires. I also get the cyl 4 missfire check engine light along with vibration on the highway about once a month. I'm thinking the coil pack, but I can't seem to find one anywhere.

don't feel bad, i got my car back after an oil change it wouln't idle. never could figure out how the guy backed it out of the shop with it running so bad, but he did, and then said you're good to go. i found the loose hose.

 

now, do your self a favor and redescribe the problem you are having so someone with real mechical knowledge can help you. i only know the problems i've fixed on mine.

 

john

 

THAT WAS IT! The hose was off! It was out of view under the air tube that leads from the air filter housing... ( what a moron... ) :-\

 

It's still doing the "crappy until warmed up thing" so I'll try new the plugs ( again )and wires. I also get the cyl 4 missfire check engine light along with vibration on the highway about once a month. I'm thinking the coil pack, but I can't seem to find one anywhere.

Silly vacuum tubes....I don't think they're easy to knock off, but it happens.

By the way, replacing my pugs/wires cured the "runs like crap until warmed up" issue

 

Thanks guys.

Hey, just wanted to bump this thread.

Changed my plugs, wires, and fuel filter today on my 96 Outback. She started right up, revved and then died. Didn't know if it was the fuel pump, or plugs/ignition or what. I Could hear a sucking or vacuum sound though.

 

Did a search and found this thread. Looked for a loose hose and, whaddya know ... there was one that got disconnected when I moved the airbox to get to the plugs. Reconnected that sucker and she started up and ran great. USMB to the rescue!! Thanks all.

THAT WAS IT! The hose was off! It was out of view under the air tube that leads from the air filter housing... ( what a moron... ) :-\

 

It's still doing the "crappy until warmed up thing" so I'll try the new plugs ( again )and wires. I also get the cyl 4 missfire check engine light along with vibration on the highway about once a month. I'm thinking the coil pack, but I can't seem to find one anywhere.

 

Get NGK spark plugs. Or Denso if you have to.

 

DO NOT use champion, autolite, splitfire, or bosch.

 

Get either OEM or NGK wires. Others say magnacore, but I don't see a need.