TROGDOR! Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 A couple days ago my 94 Leg developed a pretty annoying problem... after it's been sitting for a long time (overnight, or all day at work) it has absolutely no power on startup. I can put my foot to the floor and it doesn't rev above idle, and barely moves the car. In fact, my driveway is sloped, and in the morning it doesn't even have enough power to back out of the driveway- just rolls forward (it's an automatic). Above 2500rpm or so all the power returns, and if I drive it with enough throttle for about half a mile, everything returns to normal. Sitting in the driveway revving the engine does nothing- it only frees up when driven or allowed to idle for 15 minutes or so. It still runs smooth as silk when bogging down. No smoke, rough running, or noises. Just NO power whatsoever. Gas mileage has dropped majorly, and I've also noticed a slight power loss on the interstate- I now have to downshift to climb hills I could usually handle in top gear. Only recent thing out of the ordinary was I lost an alternator belt the other day. This problem started the morning after. I don't see how the two could be connected other than a voltage spike/undervolt condition. I'm leaving the battery unhooked tonight to reset the ECU just in case. No check engine light or other trouble signs. I don't even know where to begin here. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 When was the last time you had your o2 semsor replaced. That would explain the drop in fuel mileage. No power when cold, if this was a carb i would say its a choke issue. So what acts like a choke when cold? Well the car needs to know its own temp. Another thing to look at is the tps sensor. See if the sensor has any response when the car is stone cold. you will have to take resistance readings off them before you start the car to see if they are dead or un responsive when cold. Check all your wires and make sure the belt didnt break anything when it snapped. How long does it take to be responsive? nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 hey steve, long time no see slick! where did you end up? how old are the ignition wires and plugs? do these things have an idle air controller of any sort? i'd check with those as well. on the XT6 you just have to clean the idle air control valve out. no check engine lights (think - coolant temp sensor?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virrdog Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I would think coolant temp sensor or possibly fuel filter. Temp sensor is more likely, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 coolant temp sensor....replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 Where is the coolant temp sensor located on this car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manarius Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Where is the coolant temp sensor located on this car? Under the intake. It's the brown plug seen in this picture: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 Installed a new coolant temp sensor this morning, and it made absolutely no difference. Any other ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 yes answer our questions above, then we can help you. Also i said to TEST the parts first, otherwise your just throwing money at it. Just throwing parts at things is NOT the easy way to fix somethng. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 When was the last time you had your o2 semsor replaced. That would explain the drop in fuel mileage. No power when cold, if this was a carb i would say its a choke issue. So what acts like a choke when cold? Well the car needs to know its own temp. Another thing to look at is the tps sensor. See if the sensor has any response when the car is stone cold. you will have to take resistance readings off them before you start the car to see if they are dead or un responsive when cold. Check all your wires and make sure the belt didnt break anything when it snapped. How long does it take to be responsive? nipper No clue on the o2 sensor. Nothing seems to have been damaged when the belt broke. Plugs and wires are 20k old. It takes about half a mile of in-town driving before the problem goes away, but even when warmed up I still have power loss on the interstate and crappy gas mileage. How do you test the TPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 No clue on the o2 sensor. Nothing seems to have been damaged when the belt broke. Plugs and wires are 20k old. It takes about half a mile of in-town driving before the problem goes away, but even when warmed up I still have power loss on the interstate and crappy gas mileage. How do you test the TPS? Get yourself a haynes manual to start off with, it will make life easier for everyone as we try to explain things. This will also tell you how to pull the codes off this car. Since the o2 sensor is at the heart of the emissions system, i would put that on the list of things to replace, as that has a huge effect on your gas mileage. There are a few things that this can be, it can be the Idle Air control motor is sticking (what happnes when you turn on the a/c), it can be a bad knock sensor, it can be the tps. Which temp sensor did you replace, hopefully the one for the computer. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 No clue on the o2 sensor. Nothing seems to have been damaged when the belt broke. Plugs and wires are 20k old. It takes about half a mile of in-town driving before the problem goes away, but even when warmed up I still have power loss on the interstate and crappy gas mileage. How do you test the TPS? http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing1.jpg http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing2.jpg http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing3.jpg The last scan is really all you need to worry about to adjust it. Did you replace the sensor with the brown plastic connector? http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/injectors/DCP_2477.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 Yes, I replaced the one with the brown connector. Hopefully will be able to try out these suggestions when I get back home. Coolant temp sensor was all I was able to replace today- I'm now posting from the bar at Pittsburgh Airport, waiting for a flight. I'll be reunited with the car Monday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Yes, I replaced the one with the brown connector. Hopefully will be able to try out these suggestions when I get back home. Coolant temp sensor was all I was able to replace today- I'm now posting from the bar at Pittsburgh Airport, waiting for a flight. I'll be reunited with the car Monday morning. NONONONO No turkey for you untill its fixed. Now turn around go home and fix your car hehehehehehehe happy thanksgiving nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted December 3, 2006 Author Share Posted December 3, 2006 Well, thanks to work and travel, I FINALLY got to check on the car again. Legacy777, your links aren't working. Can you host them again? Or can anyone just explain to me where the TPS is and how to test it? Bad o2 sensor would throw a check engine light, correct? I remember reading that the CEL will flash upon any problem that could potentially damage the cat converter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Well, thanks to work and travel, I FINALLY got to check on the car again. Legacy777, your links aren't working. Can you host them again? Or can anyone just explain to me where the TPS is and how to test it? Bad o2 sensor would throw a check engine light, correct? I remember reading that the CEL will flash upon any problem that could potentially damage the cat converter. If tis lazy it may or may not. The flashing CEL happens if there is a miss or backfire condition(or the cam can crank semsors are out of synch), not a bad o2 sensor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted December 3, 2006 Author Share Posted December 3, 2006 Per instructions in the Haynes manual, I tested the TPS and knock sensor. They both tested good. Going to try to test the o2 sensor at work tomorrow if my boss will let me use the lift. I have no desire to get under my car on my current driveway, which is shaped more like a ski slope than a driveway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 The links are good, try these https://www.mail.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing1.jpg https://www.mail.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing2.jpg https://www.mail.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/FSM_Scans/TPS_testing3.jpg https://www.mail.experiencetherave.com/subaru/images/injectors/DCP_2477.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringe Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 For what it's worth Trogdor, I am experiencing the same thing on wicked cold days. I mean 0F, usually in the morning. I am guessing this is normal...wouldn't wicked cold air have a huge impact on driveability? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 For what it's worth Trogdor, I am experiencing the same thing on wicked cold days. I mean 0F, usually in the morning. I am guessing this is normal...wouldn't wicked cold air have a huge impact on driveability? It shouldnt. The only thing it will affect is when the tranny upshifts. nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringe Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Oh. Then maybe we should take a look at the transmixer, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Oh. Then maybe we should take a look at the transmixer, eh? nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringe Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Sorry, I mean to say that only part of getting the car down the road belongs to the engine. The transmission has to get it there, so what if we consider that the transmission is the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted December 4, 2006 Author Share Posted December 4, 2006 Considering the car acts exactly the same in neutral, it's most definitely an engine issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Considering the car acts exactly the same in neutral, it's most definitely an engine issue. have we checked the engine temp sensor? nipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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