ThosL

I checked with a mechanic today after my brother said the unburned gas smell was noticeable like the 60s cars. He said the plugs should be checked may have been fouled by the 10 or less mpg I was getting.

After replacing the coil, the car started running normally again. The fuel injector cleaner was to get a cleaner burn, hopefully do something to help the catalytic converter. There are dedicated products for the cat converter, doubt they do a lot of good. Looks like NGK is the OE on the coil, around $130 online. All the franchise auto stores sell a coil knock off for around $100, probably not much better than the China imports on ebay for $25 delivered.

I liked the way the mechanic loosened and pulled the plug wires while running for confirmation which I had not thought of. What damage does running a Subaru with a bad coil, do? I ordered some fuel injector cleaner.

I'll look for a used Bosch unit at the junkyard, not worth taking the chance of a breakdown on the road. With other cars other problems, as one friend said: Compression check? Dirty injectors, bad coil, spark plug, fuel pump/filter, pvc valve, egr valve...

Thanks for the recommendations; the last ignition coil was replaced on last October 15, so I went to the mechanic he emailed proof of the receipt/transaction and they reluctantly backed up their guarantee. Problem solved. FYI the diagnostic on it was to remove coil wires while vehicle is running, two had no spark.

I replaced the ignition coil nearly a year ago and I was thinking of that too. The previous owner said that he had replaced his a year before. But when mine failed power loss was greater and the unit broke down physically. I replaced the cat converter last winter. I'm assuming running the car with gas not burning even for 50 miles puts an undo load on the cat converter.

I had two jobs I contracted for today. They involved driving down from New Canaan, CT to New Rochelle, NY. On the way to NY the Subaru lost power. I noticed a gas smell out of the exhaust previously. It bogs down when you put your foot on the gas pedal. Gas is burning excessively, 10 mpg at best. I ran a computer check on it and it showed cylinder #3 and #4 misfire. Also codes for O2 and evaporative came up. I disconnected the O2 censor into the main engine thinking that might effect improvement which it didn't. My older brother warned about doing work with a car with problems such as towing a work unit if the car breaks down being very costly. I was able to get the work done without car breakdown. Is this likely electrical?

I've bought and sold a lot of precious metals and numismatic coins over the years; get weekly reports from numismatic crimes on thefts in the mail, houses, smash and grabs from cars and at coin shows. They almost never catch the thieves or retrieve the loot. One of the government officials' wife got cleaned out a few years ago and they pushed a very onerous law to document everything that comes in to pawn and coin shops, didn't do much good.

In CT, they are pushing a bill to make it illegal to sell a Cat that his not connected to a vehicle: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2022-05-02/connecticut-bill-attempts-to-stop-catalytic-convert-thefts#:~:text=In general%2C the bill prohibits,converters they sell or transfer. Not sure why they didn't just qualify that to aftermarket cats that are not worth that much.

Sounds very complicated. I have had cruise control on some of the Outbacks I have owned, it worked on the last one but not on my 2002 Forester. Not a priority for me as it is only useful when all the other cars are going at steady speeds on long trips which I don't do much.

I got $40 for an aftermarket. https://rrcats.com/?campaignid=16523044477&adgroupid=134844517352&keyword=rr cats com&device=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz4NgY9W-tCkpdtBY26Ih8TSLTvq1Fj9pFtFvrAncD5kVJgf-xbPsG4aAgfBEALw_wcB They paid for shipping to them. It's worth checking around. Local car metal buyer offered $10. .

I overfilled it because cold it was low on the dipstick. I assumed it was burning oil and put in way too much. I wonder if that had anything to do with the catalytic converter getting clogged.

Thanks for the advice. On my newly purchased 2002 Forester I have overfilled it; there seems to be a lot of variability and was not sure what caused that, I thought it could only be the asphalt it was on not being level which can be hard to ascertain.

I've noticed that there is considerable variations on reading the oil level with the dipstick depending on the asphalt surface I am on. Is there any way to know whether you are on a level surface?

If you can find a mechanic or exhaust shop that allows you to get the parts and then charge you based on their time that may be the way to go. Get the parts at Rock Auto or Amazon. I have not found a work around when the joints are damaged or corroded, but as others said it may well be possible. Someone with welding skills can be hard to find on the side.

No leaking; the oil residue is splatter from when I overfilled the engine oil and or tranny fluid. Thanks for the advice.

No performance issue on this rack, but according to a friend it could become one. Video on replacing them:

Glad to hear you solved the problem. Lucas has a good reputation, the idea I think is that it causes gaskets to swell up to limit leaks somewhat; I've used their tranny product in the past with some good results. Restore is also a good product. Many of the other additives may be just a waste of money or worse. Slick 50 comes to mind. I tried Tuffoil once; a friend recommended "ER", energy release, expensive stuff. Also tried the Platinum gas saver, it seemed to defy physics that having platinum and rhenium vapors bubbling into the combustion would lead to better combustion. Amazon reviews is always an interesting educational experience, I usually check the most critical.

This was the quote I was asking about.

The buyer of this is paying $40 for the two pod unit free shipping. I could have kept it and tried to get it unclogged as it was only a couple years old as backup. You said there is a way to get more for these right?

Any idea what the producer of this one was? Walker? 5kkneOw.jpg (4608×3440) (imgur.com)

i checked local buyers of cats for the old aftermarket and they offered me $10; another online option was paying $20 and covers shipping.

Quick question, does changing out O2 sensors make much of a difference? Also what are the negative consequences if they are not working right or disconnected? The guy I bought the 2002 Forester from said that he had had a mechanic replace the front O2 sensor but I found it was not connected when the Cat converter clogged, could that have caused it? Most of what the seller said was untrue. So far have replace most all the exhaust system but had the muffler pipe welded instead. New radiator, some radiator hoses. Plugs, wires and coil. The major mechanical seems ok.

Are all Subarus equipped with block heaters? I've seen the female end of power cords on many of those I have owned, don't think I've ever used one. Was up in VT near the Canadian border once with 20-30 below, I think it started up ok.

One good thing about products with the LL Bean label is they are like Craftsman tools, guaranteed for life! So if it ever fails to give customer satisfaction, you can call their toll free 800 number and will find out how to get a full refund!