Xonk61

DaveT, after reassembling the engine, there was a thin ticking noise, and it made that noise for a few miles. The next morning though, when I cranked it, it started making the knocking noise.

I'm reading this thread because of a noise my 88 GL started making yesterday, just did a 3 mile test run after replacing head gaskets. I cranked it this afternoon while friend was listening, and he says it's a rod, rebuild/replace engine. I may be misunderstanding what I read here, rods are usually pretty substantial, and may not be the problem? background, the car was driven for a few miles with blown head gaskets, water in the oil. Probably been up to temperature for a couple of miles in that condition. I guess I'm hoping for a suggestion that isn't as extensive (expensive) as replacing or rebuilding the engine before I tear back into it again.

I've gathered more clues, and I'll be getting into the engine on this. It is really starting to look like a blown head gasket. I wonder if there are things I should be doing as long as I'm that far into it. Like timing belts, or valve job... any pointers will be much appreciated!

I'm in luck then. Mine's not a turbo. I was able to get it to run for a duration after removing the air flow sensor, disassembling the sensor, and spraying carb cleaner through it, and across the filaments. It ran for less than 10 minutes, after which the sensor again had motor oil in it. I suspected a PCV valve was malfunctioning, so I've removed it, checked it, seems OK, not stuck... So I've reassembled it, and I'll wait til it's light out again in the morning to get back to it.

Thanks! Now if I can get it to run for a few minutes, maybe the computer will generate new codes to let me know what's going on. It sure isn't going to go anywhere the way it sputters and stalls right now...

Got a new (to me) Subaru wagon to the house yesterday, after a good cleaning of the AirFlow Sensor, which is what the error code indicated. Reading the forum and the manual, I see the listings for the MIL error codes, but now I see an error code that's not listed. No long flashes, followed by 7 short flashes. Does anyone know what this might indicate? Currently the car will run for a second and by tapping on the accelerator, I can keep it going for a few seconds. A visible symptom so far consists of oil in the breather tube leading from the AirFlow Sensor to the throttle body, I'm thinking it's coming from the crankcase vent tubes. This oily substance is what I cleaned from the AirFlow Sensor to get it to run at all.