Acouple of '94 Loyale Questions

[EYE_WHY]

Alright, I'm new and I have a few questions about my 1994 Loyale 5spd with 39,000 miles on it. I got it as a hand-me-down from my great aunt who rarely drove it (as you can tell) and mostly kept it in her garage. It does have some mild rust problems (only one little hole to the left of the driver side door and some other minor surface rust) that I will have to attack this summer. I guess she rode the clutch pretty bad because the first thing I had to do was drop $600 into a new clutch, but anyways, on with the questions.

1.I am getting very poor mileage (17-19mpg) driving around town, I am not a speed freak but I'm also not an old grandma driver. Mild traffic and very limited stop and go driving. I replaced my fuel filter, but haven't calculated MPG yet. Will the new filter help and aren't they supposed to be replaced every 30k anyways? Are there any other things I can do to help boost up the MPG???

2. I have a phantom power leak in the car somewhere. The car used to be totally dead in about a day. I replaced the alternator and battery, no help. I have since installed a battery turn off switch which works great but it's really annoying to turn it on and off and to lose all of my radio presets and my time. I gutted the Loyale about a week ago, all seats and carpet out (trying to find some wire insulation damage or anything out of the ordinary that might constitute a power leak). I did find that what appears to be my ground wire on the passanger side power window relay is wicked corroded. I wasn't sure that that would be the source of the leak, so I left it be. I didn't find any other unusual things. Does anyone else have this phantom leak problem? Is it useless to search for the leak knowing they are lots of possible culprits? Are there any areas that like to steal power or things that are prone to bleeding power?

3.The CEL came on a couple nights ago when I was driving on the highway (about 65-70mph). I got home, turned the car off and then started it 5 minutes later and the light didn't come on. I didn't have a chance to check the code on it when I got home, but I did check the code today. I checked the "historic" codes and all I got was a code 05 (5 short blinks). Not sure what that is but someone said to ignor all single digit codes? Any ideas on what this might be? The light has not come on since.

4.I am looking to put acouple things on the car, Pug wheels and some nicer tires, driving lights, cone air filter etc. Are there any mods that are REALLY worthwhile? I know I will have a hard time finding pugs where I live (Eastern Maine), driving lights would be cool, but not really neccessary. It seems to me that the best thing to do is just the cone air filter (I already bought a MAF adapter and filter off ebay). With the cone filter, sould I keep it in pretty much the same place as the airbox or re-pipe somewhere else? Also, is a heat shield needed if I keep it in the "stock" position (I plan on just unbolting my airbox, putting on the cone filter and leaving the filter wherever it is). Any other ideas on cool mods to do?

 

I think those are all the questions I have for now, but I will post more as they come to me. Thanks in advance to all those to answer.

[Skip]

use the white connectors not the green for

 

checking codes

 

this might help

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/article.php?a=44

 

from the repair manual on the page header

[Cougar]

You've got questions, we've got answers.

 

1. I would first replace the plugs. Use the proper NGK versions for your car.

 

2. To help track down the battery discharge disconnect the negative battery lead and place a test light or ammeter in series between the two connections while there is nothing on in the car. Just like it was parked. The current drain will light up the light or make the meter show some current drain. If there is more than 80 milliamps of drain then start pulling fuses one at a time and look for a change in the light or the meter. When it goes out or down then you have found the path the current is flowing on and need to check the devices on that leg.

 

The corrodid ground lead won't cause this problem but you should repair it as other type of problems can occur because of that.

 

3. I think the 5 pulses means things are normal with the ECU.

[EYE_WHY]

Skip - I tested with both white connectors connected and no connectors connected. Both instances gave a code 5. Thats a great link BTW, very helpful, thanks.

Cougar - Thanks for the post. Any idea what the proper NGK plugs would be for a '94 Loyale? Ill get right on that corroded ground lead tomorrow.

 

Thanks again for your help guys.

[MilesFox]

the single digit codes are model designation, such as 48 states or what tranny it has

[Cougar]

I'm not sure of the model plugs you need but they can tell you at the parts store or it may be listed in the owners maunal.

[royboy159]

Hey Eye W----Welcome a"board".

 

30,000 is the recommended mileage for filter replacement and if it was original, it definitely needed replaced due to likely small trips.

A failing O2 sensor can decrease gas mileage. If the O2 monitor LED is flashing fairly steadily after the engine is well warmed up and running then the sensor is functioning adequately.:cool:

Parts stores should always get it right but just to be sure: NGK--BPR6ES-11, NIPPONDENSO--W20EPR-U11, CHAMPION--RN9YC-4.