Ravenwoods

Sounds like I’ll get a Subaru thermostat!

I’m getting ready to replace timing belt and water pump etc so I’m planning on a new thermostat too. The local car parts stores have ones that are 170 or 172 F. We are in Fairbanks Alaska where the winters are long and cold. Can we get a thermostat with a higher temperature such as 180 or 185? When I look at the live data from our 98 Forester it seems the engine temperature is in the 180-185 range if I remember correctly.

The misbehavior returned. I got a used MAF for $50 and no more misbehavior.

Thanks! I’ll see about finding the instructions on adjusting the Idle Air Control Valve. My daughter reported last night the car hasn’t misbehaved since I replaced the Idle Air Control Valve. The car runs normally. What happens by not checking to see if the voltage is correct? Maybe just not get optimum performance from the engine?

I did clean the Throttle body a few months ago, but did not remove it.

Hesitation and jerking during acceleration, engine stalling.

Here is an update on the car. Since last Thursday there have been only intermittent problems with the car. I did spray MAF cleaner on the sensor but it already looked clean. Also since then the CEL has been off, but it was never on for the MAF sensor. It did come on from time to time for the Idle Air Control Valve. We bought a used Idle Air Control on eBay for $80 and I just installed it now. I took the car for a test drive and did not notice any problems. The old Idle Air Control Valve was part 22650 AA033 and the Subaru dealer told the updated part number is 22650 AA034 so I got that one. It looks like top part can be turned to make adjustments. Does anyone know anything about that? There are two little screws one can loosen like on the Throttle Position Sensor. I’ve attached a picture.

So are you saying the MAF for a 98 Forester with the EJ25 engine is the same as in the EJ22? If so, I can swap out the MAF from our 98 Forester and see what happens.

She is bringing the car over this afternoon and I'll plug in the code reader.

My daughter's 1996 Legacy with 116,000 miles on it is giving symptoms reminding me of our Forestor when the MAF was bad about 14 years ago. At that time I just dropped it off at the mechanic and they replaced the MAF. I have a Code reader that provides freeze frame data and live data. Any suggestions on what I should look for in this data to determine if it is the MAF? I'm thinking of getting some MAF sensor cleaner, but from the severity of the symptoms probably the MAF is already dead.

I drove it today for a bit after changing out a CV Axle and replacing the engine block heater. I personally felt it was operating normally, but I didn’t go over 35 mph.

Where is the ECU located?

My daughter has a 96 Legacy Brighton with the EJ22 engine and manual transmission. It has 116,000 miles on it. I took the Throttle Position Sensor off unaware it has to be adjusted when you put it back on. The car is still running fine but she says it is slower to accelerate. I looked in YouTube for some instructional videos but didn’t find one specific to the EJ22 engine.

Our local Subaru dealer has the block heater for $40 versus one of the car parts stores at about $55. We should get installed this week sometime.

Sounds great. We actually need to replace the one already there since it no longer works. It looks like is is near the water pump. Is that correct? What tools do we need?

We need to put in an engine block heater in a 2.2 liter in a 96 Legacy. Is that an easy job?

That is the part we replaced. It is AWD. I’d have to verify the ABS. I looked at your website. Our speedometer is functioning normally. So maybe there is a poor connection that breaks contact for an instant?

My daughter has a 96 Legacy 2.2 manual transmission and the code P500 comes on every couple miles. It has 115,000 miles on it. I’ve been erasing the code every time it occurs. We replaced the Vehicle speed sensor but it didn’t help. According to the freeze frame data it usually occurs at about 2500-2600 RPM. Do the ABS wheel sensors have any relationship to the VSS?

So you think the MAF could be bad? It starts easily, runs great. I googled bad MAF symptoms and they don’t match this car.

My daughter’s 1996 Legacy 2.2 (112,000 miles) with manual transmission has these 2 codes. The engine dies occasionally. Previously it died quite frequently so I cleaned the throttle body. That vastly reduced the problem. We are just wondering what you recommend?

This is an update on our overheated engine 500 miles later. It is still running terrific. No indication of the head gaskets leaking, no rod knock yet. My wife doesn’t believe me when I tell her the engine is going to be finished in a couple thousand miles. I can already see her planning her next long distance trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage and back.

It is an AWD. Not sure where you saw 2wd.

What about the NGK iridium or platinum plugs?

We are a few hundred miles south of the Arctic circle so on December 21 the sun rises about 11am and sets about 2:40pm. But the sun rises and sets slowly so it starts getting light at least 90 minutes before actual sunrise and stays light for the same amount after sunset. So it isn’t as dark as you imagine. Never gets dark in the summer. During equinoxes we can gain or loose 7 minutes of daylight daily. So it changes really fast.

A local aircraft mechanic once told me that here in Interior Alaska, a Subaru that can move on its own is already worth $1000.