powderhound

Setright I've been waiting for you to chime in in more substantial mode than that. So here's the latest: I cleaned the TB and sprayed cleaner into the hose going into the iac (couldn't figure out how to get it off). There was oil in the hose going into the pcv valve. I put a new oem pcv valve on. Now the car idles and SLOWLY creeps its way up to 1000 and then drops back down to 600 and starts climbing again. I'm lost.

Let me know what you figure out. I have not cleaned mine yet and it has switched to high idle. Have you looked for a vacuum leak? Maybe you should try disconnecting the battery to reset the ecu.

So now the idle is high--1000 rpm and it thew code P0507 Idle Control System RPM higher than expected. No kidding I was watching it idle at 1000 when the light came on. So I bought some Valvoline synthetic TB cleaner. I'm still wondering where the IAC is located. And being the fan of Seafoam that I am I've seen some threads describing a procedure to use vacuum to run seafoam through the TB. What would be the prefered method of cleaning these parts? And any theories why it has shifted from low idle to high? Is the ECU over compenstating for something it learned when idling low?

Blitz thank you. I have no CEL but that doesn't mean it's not throwing codes. It may be a couple weeks till I'll be able to clean it...do I risk any damage? I believe 500 rpm is within spec but it feels slow to me...and it has started dropping below 500.

Thanks Blitz. I have never cleaned the throttle body or IAC not sure where either is. I guess at 130K they might need it. Recommended cleaner? Replaced the PCV at 103K when I had the front end resealed. I used a fram PCV valve and looking at it yesterday looked to be in worse shape than the one I replaced. Maybe I should splurge for OEM? And there are lots of vacuum hoses to check I was hoping there was some magic trick to nailing it down.

Greeting yall. Recently my 98 legacy has started idling weird. It will idle normally at 700 rpm and will drop at random to 500 or below. I can feel it and I think the car is going to die...it doesn't but I give it gas out of instinct. The crankcase is currently overfilled slightly but its not loping at idle like it does if its really overfilled. I'm thinking it could be a vaccum leak or the IAC but not sure where the IAC is or how to nail down a vaccum leak. Any ideas? TIA.

I would and do/will avoid anything with a 2.5l engine...phase1 or not. If you want to spend 15K just get yourself 4 or 5 90-94 legacys.

Yeah they tend to stick when you let a soda eat through its cup and lay its sugary mess down. What a POS car. I'm selling mine cause the cup holder is sticky.

Yes there is a new "SUV" 5W-40. You can get it at walmart. I mix it 50/50 with 5W-30 for my summer oil.

Funny I can never get around that rev limiter at 112. Scares you into thinking something blew though.

2500 isn't too much for a 2.2 w/ 180K. It easily has another 75-100K in it. Especially if it's been maintained as well as it sounds. Rust? And transmission?

It's very difficult to make anything out of a one time mpg check. Perhaps you didn't fill it up last time...or overfilled it this time. You really need to take a running average over the course of several fill ups...one thing road trips are good for. Then there's driving style...we're you spinning in the snow, evaporation, idle times, etc. Granted sub 17 is pathetic but as a one time thing I would suspect another anomoaly rather than the car.

It's a subaru...it ticks...that's how you know it's alive. Show me a flat4 that doesn't tick and I'll think something is wrong with it.

Audi has AWD with manual trans. and the cr-v does if you call that awd. and I'm sure you can get a 911 turbo, which is awd, with a manual. Just sayin Suby's not the only one. The debate between Quattro and Subaru AWD could go long into the night...both have their pluses and quirks. BUT nobody makes a flat four engine...oh except now they're in Saabs...yeah Subaru is going down hill. It's called GMitis.

I feel you. I have a 98 and my dad has a 92 Legacy wagon. He wants to sell his and I won't let him. I told him I want it before anybody else...even if the rust along the top of the windshield leaks water in the summer. It runs and drives nicer than mine. I'm always checking the paper for first gen legacy wagons with five speeds. There is just nothing better.

The capacity is 15.9 USG. These sending units are apparently notorious. I recently thought my low fuel light was broken because I was way down where it usually comes on and it wasn't on yet...NO...alas I can now run way below the last line on the gauge. What I do is reset the trip mileage everytime I fill up and I can count on 300-350 miles before I need to worry. This will be a fun project for summer (cleaning the units).

Seafoam is the ultimate.

Good to see its finally dumpin in AK again. yeehaw. I remember living in bozeman and watching a mustang get stuck hopelessy spinning its tires on a dead FLAT road. Right on Snowman--4 wheel driftin'!

Rweddy- You make me laugh. 1200 may not be a big deal to you as for the rest of us...? My point is why even bother with that POS when you can buy a 2.2 and get 200k with only changing the oil? Huh? Didn't think so. Hell for 1200 I can buy a first gen legacy and prolly get ANOTHER 200k out of it. Your reasoning is baseless.

The HG issue may be fixed but... look at all the new threads popping up about 04 and even 05s...ouch. Just like a volvo isn't a volvo any more a subaru isn't a subaru anymore--it's a POS GM product. Sure didn't take them long to piss in the gene pool. EJ22 FOREVER. Rweddy- I always love it when you tell people..."there good engines just figure in the $1200 for HG replacement" Get a hold of yourself...that's just an absurd rationale...especially when answering this question.

Exactly on commuter...Nothing beats the low end torque of a flat four...well save a cummings turbo diesel.

Legacy777- tha's what I thought he meant too. But I think he was just asking about depressurizing the fuel system.

When I changed mine I just opened the gas cap (probablly not even needed) Then held a rag near the hoses when I took the filter out...no pressure and hardly any fuel seepage. At least now you're more familiar with rear seat removal.

I too was experiencing slippage in fourth gear when the weather was much colder...about -20F. Now it is warmer and has subsided. Setright said it was the extreme cold effecting the friction coefficient of the clutch lining. A sign, he said, of age but not imminent failure. Why would a transmission additive affect the clutch? Is that your original clutch?

Unfortunately I don't think Subarus are so anti-mainstream anymore. The half hour I spent on a dealership showfloor recently almost made me puke with all the freeking people with no clue..."So is this a four?" "Oh...can you get it in a six?" And the sales person can't even explain why a flat four will outperform most standard V6s.