paulc555 Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 HI folks Just came back from holiday late last night. The scoob has been parked up for the last 2 weeks and was fine before I left. When swithching on the car the Check Engine Light has came on and stays on when the car is running. It seems very jerky in 1st 2nd gear but seems to clear when speed picks up. The car is mega low on fuel and I'm wondering if this is the problem......any help would be appreciated. just cant understand what has happened if the car hasnt moved in 2 weeks..... I take it I shouldnt drive until sorted....but how to I get the car to someone to look at...??? Paul
G.Mac Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 Prob not the same, but after 4 and a half weeks I started mine, and it was Idleing at 1800rpm, when free wheeling up to lights etc it would hunt. Eventually the check engine light came on, when the revs dropped back to normal but was running lumpy after about an hour it went off. I was down at S and S today to get the prodrive bump stops fitted as they forgot to order them when they changed both my front struts under warranty where they told me it was just the idle control valve and not to worrybut if it happened again to "bring it in" Funy thing was that they tried to charge me 90 odd quid for the work that they did today so they were told where to go as it was them who forgot to order the new bump stops. Paul I would take it down to the dealer to get it checked, even though it could be nothing (at least it would give you peace of mind) Graeme
paulc555 Posted July 18, 2006 Author Posted July 18, 2006 Hi Graeme thanks for that.....I will get it filled up with petrol tonight and see if it makes any difference....I just struggle to understand a fault developing when the car has been sitting doing nothing and was fine before I left....??
STi_Bandit Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 Did you take the battery out like you were talking about, maybe the ECU re learning, possibly ?? Martin
dougster Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 Plugs might be a wee bit dirty. Try the fuel to see if that cleans it's insides out!! No harm in cleaning the ICV as well.
paulc555 Posted July 18, 2006 Author Posted July 18, 2006 MArtin Got the battery changed but the car ran for over a week on the new battery and all was fine...just had another look at the idle....it seems to be very erratic between 9-1800rpm......do I really need to go to a dealer or could Hypertech or somebody like that look at it...??
paulc555 Posted July 18, 2006 Author Posted July 18, 2006 Is it safe to drive for a few days with limited mileage?????????
bigdavie Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 paul try cleaning the idle control valve mate its a ten minute job !
david_taylor Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 Paul I would take it a run to Grieves or Hypertech. Sounds like a fuel problem, but for peace of mind, speak to one of them. Might be worth putting a engine flush through it. Dave
paulc555 Posted July 18, 2006 Author Posted July 18, 2006 Quote paul try cleaning the idle control valve mate its a ten minute job ! If I even knew where or what the idle control valve was I would clean it.... sorry bit of a technical numptie..... will take it to Hypertech over the next few days....
bigdavie Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 paul here is a wee piccy for you the engine should be similar to yours mate ! i have badly drawn a wee blue box on the pic !! that box shows you the location of the idle control valve ! what you do is disconnect the black electrical plug and undo the 2 screws at the side of the unit and clean it in brake cleaner / carb cleaner /wd-40 once clean refit and bobs yer auntie !! hth mate !
euan_r Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 if you want to check code on cel connect the two black wires under steering colum then turn ignition to on. This falshes the code in a kinda morse. Either that or the green ones, but this pulsed my radiator fan?. Any way the long pulses indicate first digit. ie if theres two long flashes thats number 2. Then short pulses are second number. ie if theres five short flashes thats number 5. Then you end up with code 25. you can have more than one code aswell. Did this with my legacy when she never started from hot sometimes. sandpapered relevant sensors and started all the time. Found this off the web sometime ago.
euan_r Posted July 18, 2006 Posted July 18, 2006 ok could be arsed doing search http://www.troublecodes.net/Subaru/ not the same, but same info
paulc555 Posted July 19, 2006 Author Posted July 19, 2006 cheers davie.......hopefully even a numptie like me can follow that one...pictures I like....... took it out for a run tonight as it was Jo who had the car earlier today....it sounds like it could be the fault...as Graeme said earlier...when approaching a roundabout... slowing down the car then revs itself anywhere between 1100-1900 rpm.....making taking of in low gear afterwards very juddery......the car has been sitting for two weeks in the dry weather got very very dusty...and seeing your picture it could be dust blowing through the scoop that has dirtied the sensor..... failing that I will try and get the fault code...thanks for your help... will give it a blast and let you know tom.... cheers one and all Paul
bigdavie Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 mind and put some fresh optimax in aswell paul as when i left my car for 3 weeks before it ran like a bag of spanners till i filled up with fresh juice !
wilky Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 Paul if your concerned enough, bring it round while its still light and ill have a look at it. Ill PM you my number. Callum
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