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96 legacy L 2.2 runs poorly idles fine


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So the car idles fine.

had a tune up  new coil pack

and runs bad.... no power.....

feels retarded... or maybe  the (Cat is clogged kind of feeling)

It has less than 120K on it....

It spits back some codes... from what I was told

the codes refer to misfire.... but everything ingnition

wise is replaced....(meaning plugs,coil pak, wires, plugs)

   Some ideas would be nice...

What to check and perhaps how to check....

 

Thanks, Micky

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What did you use for a coil, wires and plugs?  Subaru's are very finicky, always use OEM coils and wires, I found that Beck Arnley makes a good coil and wires for Subies and only use NGK plugs....I've made the mistake before and put on a non OEM coil and wires before and it burned my cat up

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It has been a while Since I put it on...

they could... may have been beck or standard..... Coilpacks

NKG plugs.....

So luko if burned up your Cat?

   What happened after the cat burned up?

was the cat clogged?

Ill get some more details....

go and look at the car....

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It just burned the honeycomb out of it so the downstream oxygen sensor sensed that it wasn't doing it's job, so I just made a dummy o2 sensor to get the light to go out...it ran fine just the cat was burnt up and could not do it's job

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if idle is fine but if feels lacking power you should check the following:

- Air Filter

- Fuel Filter

- Fuel Pressure

- Check Brake Pads for uneven wear, this may be a sign of calipers sticking

- Loose or Cracked vacuum hoses

- If the Cat is burned up its definitely clogged and it will affect performance noticiable

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Thanks all very good points taken... I got to spend some time yesterday....

I towed it out of the library and back to the owner's home....

So I get ther...  I starts up just fine....

Then.... you step on gas pedallll...

and it is like this:    Boooooowah  Booooowah....

really that is pretty much the extent of it.......

cant even put it in gear......

       So with a toe rope.... get it back to the house....

and somehow I miraculously massage gas pedal

and it  runs like this.... wubah wubah wubah.....

into its parking spot......

No Joke.... on the expressions.....

   So   I left it momentarily....   came back

a little while later... and just checked out some things...

     The observation is this...  

Again.... idles fine....

once the throttle plate changes position.... the car is doomed....

like there is no more fuel being dumped into the car even though I am asking for it........

and if I put the accelarator to Wide open throttle......

It doesn't stall... it pretty much just runs like terd....

won't stall out.....  I feel at WOT.... it is getting tons

of AIR  but,  the same amount of fuel..... no more fuel

than at idle.....

    Someone mentions check fuel pressure.....

How would this be done?   a special tool/gauge?

If you could let me know.... seems like this

is a good thing to establish at this point......

   If there is anything else that may indicate

other areas to check let me know....

Micky

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Definitely check any codes for the CEL. 96 should have OBD2 so any auto parts store will usually scan it for free. My 93 2.2 is doing very similar to what you describe. Unfortunately being a 93 I have the good old blinking light. Not very helpful in my case. All its throwing is an O2 sensor code. However I believe that the code is probably more the face that its running rich as all hell more than a malfunction in the sensor. I have a heavy exhaust smell with mine. 

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The Throttle Position Sensor could be bad, it sends a signal to the ECU that the throttle is open/closed so it can send the proper amount of fuel to the injectors. Its inexpensive to replace; around $50. You should try that before anything else...

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Is there a way to test the throttle body positioning sensor..????

Yeah, could be that... make sense....   like  can I check it for resistance...

or   continuity...... through the connectors what usually craps out on them...

 

Here are the codes:

    p0106

    p0301

    p0302

   p0303

   p0304

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P0106

Pressure Sensor Circuit Range Problem

 

 

P0301

Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected

P0302

Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected

P0303

Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

P0304

Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected

            Looks like from the codes more like an ignition problem rather than a fuel problem....

            Pressure sensor circuit range problem?

           Any thoughts??????  

           Perhaps, like above..... someone said..   check timing belt......  I should probably do that.....

Open for suggestions.... Thanks....

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Ok, I will try another pressure sensor...

 

What is a pressure sensor "sensing" and

where might I find it.....

Thanks,.....

and a pressure sensor... could affect 

and create misfire codes????

I don't know ??? I am just asking......

I always like a sure thing... that is why I ask....

thanks, Micky....

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P0106 is for the MAP sensor, which measures manifold vacuum and barometric pressure.

Most of the time you get that code because of a loose or split vacuum hose. I had a P0106 code for 3 years and it never affected engine operation. The MAP sensor is a low priority sensor. The ECU only makes "fine tuning" adjustments based on MAP sensor inputs. And once it sets that code the ECU disregards MAP sensor readings anyway.

 

Check the vacuum hose to the sensor, make sure its attached. It's the small black cube on the passenger strut tower. It has a short hose to a solenoid right next to it, then a long hose that leads to the intake manifold.

 

Double check all of the other vacuum hoses, and check all of the breather and PCV hoses that attach to the intake tube. Make sure they're firmly attached and have no splits or cracks.

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  • 8 months later...

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