Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Normally Aspirated Powertrain

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-24-2009, 08:17 PM   #1
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default Check engine light ....blinking...

According to the owners manual this indicates some sort of misfire. im a bit of a subie noob so bear with me.... what would cause the engine to misfire? and how do i fix it?..... btw its a '98 2.5 RS with 116,000 headers, cold air intake,
light weight pullys thats all i know about the history of the car. i bought it about a month ago.

thanks guys
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 03-24-2009, 08:47 PM   #2
Matt Monson
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 832
Join Date: Jan 2000
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Teh Ghetto Garage, CO
Vehicle:
99 2.5RS, '85 911
'73 914 and 2012 BRZ

Default

It could be a coil that is starting to fail or has failed.

It could also be the intake. If it lets in too much air and the MAF doesn't properly compensate with more fuel then at higher rpms it can go lean and detonate, throwing a misfire code. When we first got it, my wife's car had a JC Sports intake and anything above 5500rpm would crackle with detonation.
Matt Monson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2009, 08:53 PM   #3
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

the thing that is weird is it seemed to be at lower rpms and the intake has been on there for at least six months. could it be a simple spark plug gone bad? or loose wire? how often do the coil packs go bad?
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2009, 09:00 PM   #4
GrundleJuice
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 165749
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Detroit, MF'er!
Default

have the code pulled to get a more specific idea of what it could be or where to start the diagnosing process. misfires can be caused by many things.
GrundleJuice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 12:29 AM   #5
sa4baru
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 195354
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: State College, PA
Default

check the plugs 1st.
sa4baru is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 10:57 AM   #6
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sa4baru View Post
check the plugs 1st.
yeah that seems like a good place to start. Thanks man.... im just bummed out cause i have to drive my jeep to work today
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 10:07 PM   #7
sa4baru
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 195354
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: State College, PA
Default

post up if it fixes it.
sa4baru is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2009, 11:04 PM   #8
jasonspeed
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 187971
Join Date: Aug 2008
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: NEWisconsin
Vehicle:
03 Grocery Getter
subyshop.com

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RaceFaceXC View Post
have the code pulled to get a more specific idea of what it could be or where to start the diagnosing process. misfires can be caused by many things.
THIS! flashing CEL means CAT damage from misfire. If you get a scan tool (rent one from autozone so you don't have to drive a misfiring car) and find out what cylinder it is and go from there.
jasonspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 12:25 AM   #9
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonspeed View Post
THIS! flashing CEL means CAT damage from misfire. If you get a scan tool (rent one from autozone so you don't have to drive a misfiring car) and find out what cylinder it is and go from there.
I thought a flashing cel only ment misfire detected that could damage a cat... not the other way around....
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 12:25 AM   #10
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sa4baru View Post
post up if it fixes it.
Will do!
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2009, 09:29 PM   #11
my4isflat
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 120002
Join Date: Jul 2006
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Colorado
Vehicle:
2000 2.5 RS, '95
Legacy w/325k mi (RIP)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baja820 View Post
I thought a flashing cel only ment misfire detected that could damage a cat... not the other way around....
You are correct.
my4isflat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 01:17 PM   #12
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

ok ... sat. morning. time to change the spark plugs..... what a pain in the ass! I thought changing the plugs in my jeep was a pain! plus its like 40°F!

Last edited by Baja820; 03-28-2009 at 01:23 PM.
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 01:25 PM   #13
chazly413
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 151079
Join Date: Jun 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: College Park, MD
Vehicle:
2005 2.5RS RBP
too many friction losses

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baja820 View Post
ok ... sat. morning. time to change the spark plugs..... what a pain in the ass! I thought changing the plugs in my jeep was a pain! plus its like 40°F!
Oh, it is such a pain. I learned that the hard way
chazly413 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 01:59 PM   #14
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

got any tips? this is my first time on a subaru...
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 08:00 PM   #15
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

anyone know what the gap should be? pulled the old ones out they .050 Im thinking they should be more like .040....
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 08:25 PM   #16
yarrgh
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 80465
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Denver
Vehicle:
2001 2.5RS
Black Diamond Pearl

Default

.039"-.043" tighten to 15 ft-lbs
yarrgh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 08:29 PM   #17
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

nice.... could the large gaping on the old plugs have caused the misfire?
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2009, 10:41 PM   #18
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Ok I changed all four spark plugs...... It did not fix the problem. the weird thing is it didnt start stuttering till the engine warmed up.... im thinking bad coil packs?.... also since i removed the battery to change the plugs the cel went away and has not returned even though the engine was misfiring pretty bad.
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2009, 01:37 AM   #19
22BeaSTI
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 122686
Join Date: Aug 2006
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Springfield VA
Vehicle:
1997 leggacy GT
sexy silver

Default

first does the car feel gutless or shake alot when you push down the gas pedal? or does it feel like it's running on 3 cylanders? or anything but normal. also check you mas air flow sensor and your pcv valve chances are the car hasnt had it's major tune up yet with timing belts and stuff so i'd look into that first.
22BeaSTI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2009, 11:39 AM   #20
yarrgh
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 80465
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Denver
Vehicle:
2001 2.5RS
Black Diamond Pearl

Default

your first post says it's a 98, yet your profile says 99...?

have you checked your valve lash? hmmm...I'm not sure if you can on a 98, but 99 was sohc, so you could on that. and since the correctly gapped plugs may not have solved it, Matt may be right that it could be a coil pack on its way out.

If it didn't do anything bad until temp was up, it may be time to change temp sensor.
yarrgh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2009, 11:54 AM   #21
LetItSnow
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 38222
Join Date: Jun 2003
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Cicero, NY
Vehicle:
'10 &'12 Foresters
another Miata convert

Default

PULL THE CODE for crying out loud.

If you're only misfiring on one cylinder, it'll solve a lot of your time in diagnosis. Example: If you're misfiring on a given cylinder, and you switch plug wires across the engine (center-mounted coilpack = equal length wires), if the problem follows with the swap then you very likely have a bad plug wire.
LetItSnow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2009, 11:26 PM   #22
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 22BeaSTI View Post
first does the car feel gutless or shake alot when you push down the gas pedal? or does it feel like it's running on 3 cylanders? or anything but normal. also check you mas air flow sensor and your pcv valve chances are the car hasnt had it's major tune up yet with timing belts and stuff so i'd look into that first.
really gutless at about 3500 rpms.. then it screams at about 4700rpms...

sorry its a 98 for sure i need to change that
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2009, 11:29 PM   #23
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LetItSnow View Post
PULL THE CODE for crying out loud.

If you're only misfiring on one cylinder, it'll solve a lot of your time in diagnosis. Example: If you're misfiring on a given cylinder, and you switch plug wires across the engine (center-mounted coilpack = equal length wires), if the problem follows with the swap then you very likely have a bad plug wire.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baja820 View Post
.... also since i removed the battery to change the plugs the cel went away and has not returned even though the engine was misfiring pretty bad.
will it still pull the code if its cleared?
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2009, 09:47 AM   #24
bcware
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 190724
Join Date: Oct 2008
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: NH
Vehicle:
2008 2.5i Sedan
Lightning Red

Default

I think so! That is, unless you've driven it a lot since you cleared it. Last I remember some mechanic told me clearing a CEL for an inspection wasn't enough; you have to drive the car through its "drive-cycle" before it totally resets.

Can anyone else confirm this? Or totally shut me down? Haha
bcware is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2009, 12:42 AM   #25
Baja820
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 196860
Join Date: Dec 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Runnin bootleg booze.
Vehicle:
2014 TAKE OFF
YOU HOSER!!!

Default

Ok so it only happens when the engine is warmed up.... gotta be the coil pack right?
btw I dont have access to a obd tool......
Baja820 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Check engine light blinking!?! Chonojake Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 30 03-11-2006 09:06 PM
check engine light blinking jimball21 Tri-State Area Forum 20 01-25-2005 12:31 AM
Check engine light blinking!!! rageatm007 Electrical & Lighting 5 07-26-2004 07:54 AM
check engine light blinking after installins safcII for 99 2.5rs q0Y0p Electrical & Lighting 5 08-26-2003 09:08 PM
check engine light blinking after installins safcII for 99 2.5rs q0Y0p Electrical & Lighting 2 08-26-2003 08:59 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.