I just resealed the engine on a 96 outback 2.5 dohc. Now when I start the car it reve a 2 grand until it is finally warm and then drops to 1000 or less. When you put it in gear it goes in just fine, but when I put it in neutral or drive ( automatic tranny) it will surge to 2000 and then come right down. What could be causing this? Vacuum leak or a bad IAC? Coolant temp sensor?

 

Just looking for some advice so I can finish off the car. I'm fixing it for a friend's daughter and i want it to run flawlessly.

 

Thanks guys

 

Mike

I just resealed the engine on a 96 outback 2.5 dohc. Now when I start the car it reve a 2 grand until it is finally warm and then drops to 1000 or less. When you put it in gear it goes in just fine, but when I put it in neutral or drive ( automatic tranny) it will surge to 2000 and then come right down. What could be causing this? Vacuum leak or a bad IAC? Coolant temp sensor?

 

 

 

You nailed the first few things I would think of. Although, it could be that the ECU needs to *relearn* it's parameters.

 

When it surges, does it then drop down and settle? Or does it keep going up and down?

It surges then drops down and stays there. I was thinking about the ecu relearning too.

Drive it a while.

 

And really that behavior doesn't seem all that odd anyway. As long as it stabalizes realtively quickly and isn't trying to stall I think it is OK.

this is not relearning anything, this is something else.

 

Double check the electrical connection and the EGR, IAC and all vacume hoses.

 

nipper

It's funny, yesterday I tookthe car for a drive and the longer I drove it and the warmer it got the less the symptom showed itself. To the point that after 3 miles of driving I put it into neutral and it didn't surge at all. Now the starting rpm's are lower and it kicks down faster when cold.

 

I will check all the connections and especially the egr.