I need engine advice. I've run out of ideas.

XenoWolf · 07-11-2010, 04:27 PM

Here's the story:

Tuesday - Drove the car to and from work (~70 mi) with no issues.
Wednesday - Got up in the morning, started the car and let go of the ignition too quickly. It started, but was chugging like crazy and had NO power.

I've reset the ECU. Didn't help
I've checked the cats -- they're fine.
I've replaced the timing belt -- it's fine and the car is timed correctly.
I've replaced plugs and plug wires. The two front plugs had gas/oil all over them. Didn't help.

Here's the thing. Twice the car has started up and worked PERFECTLY. Once immediately after I removed the cats, and once immediately after I replaced the timing belt. It doesn't last though. It went right back to chugging the next time I started it up.

My next step is taking it to a garage to do a compression test. I suspect that it's something electrical since it has worked fine twice, but I want to be sure.

Any ideas? Could this possibly be a bad alternator or bad CPS? Bad ECU? I'm getting really pissed off at this car teasing me.

Oh, and I had one CEL that popped up, but after replacing the timing belt it went away. No more CELs are active.

1999 Impreza L 2.2L w/ 5-speed

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Jard · 07-11-2010, 04:46 PM

Spark distribution block thing that the wires plug into? Swap yours with a friend's and check.

If the plugs really have oil on them you have some other issues but that shouldn't cause this.

anders8 · 07-11-2010, 04:46 PM

Is there an air idle control valve on that engine? They get sticky and stop working...

XenoWolf · 07-11-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anders8

Is there an air idle control valve on that engine? They get sticky and stop working...

Yeah, my IAC valve has had a personality for years now. It messes with my idle from time to time but I don't think that it would affect the engine this badly. The engine feels like it's misfiring.

Jard: Maybe. I could probably grab one off of Andrew to test. I'm just baffled by the lack of a CEL though if it is electrical/ignition related.

XenoWolf · 07-11-2010, 07:31 PM

Update: I believe that it may be the coilpack.

Cylinders 1 and 3 are both dumping fuel. They're also connected to the exact same coil.

Can anyone verify if each coil uses a separate CPS? If so, I imagine that the CPS may also be a culprit.

Jard · 07-11-2010, 11:04 PM

My '95 SOHC 2.2 would not spark at all with a bad cam sensor...

Patrick Olsen · 07-12-2010, 07:46 AM

CPS? Not familiar with that term.

Jard · 07-12-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Olsen

CPS? Not familiar with that term.

I think he means either crank or cam position sensor, but I'm just guessing.

Patrick Olsen · 07-12-2010, 02:08 PM

Didn't really catch this before...

Quote:

Originally Posted by XenoWolf

Cylinders 1 and 3 are both dumping fuel. They're also connected to the exact same coil.

Are they? I always thought 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 were paired. I know on all of the various coil packs I've seen you could actually see (just based on the construction of the coil pack) the two coils - one for the front 2 cylinders, one for the rear 2 cylinders. Like so:

I've had coils with both male and female terminals and they were all the same.

Pat

XenoWolf · 07-12-2010, 03:26 PM

Pat: You're right. I'm retarded and can't read apparently. I read it as 1 & 3 last night when I was looking at it for some reason.

Sorry about the vagueness of the CPS term. I was referring to the crank position sensor, not thinking about having a cam sensor. I've since found that I have one of each and where they're located.

07-11-2010, 04:27 PM	#1
XenoWolf Scooby Specialist Member#: 64029 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Potsdam, NY (Tremont, PA) Vehicle: 1999 Impreza L Wagon Sun Bleach Red	I need engine advice. I've run out of ideas. Here's the story: Tuesday - Drove the car to and from work (~70 mi) with no issues. Wednesday - Got up in the morning, started the car and let go of the ignition too quickly. It started, but was chugging like crazy and had NO power. I've reset the ECU. Didn't help I've checked the cats -- they're fine. I've replaced the timing belt -- it's fine and the car is timed correctly. I've replaced plugs and plug wires. The two front plugs had gas/oil all over them. Didn't help. Here's the thing. Twice the car has started up and worked PERFECTLY. Once immediately after I removed the cats, and once immediately after I replaced the timing belt. It doesn't last though. It went right back to chugging the next time I started it up. My next step is taking it to a garage to do a compression test. I suspect that it's something electrical since it has worked fine twice, but I want to be sure. Any ideas? Could this possibly be a bad alternator or bad CPS? Bad ECU? I'm getting really pissed off at this car teasing me. Oh, and I had one CEL that popped up, but after replacing the timing belt it went away. No more CELs are active. 1999 Impreza L 2.2L w/ 5-speed * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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07-11-2010, 04:46 PM	#2
Jard In the silly seat Moderator Member#: 34935 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Silver Spring, MD Vehicle: SPB- 2013 Smugmobile	Spark distribution block thing that the wires plug into? Swap yours with a friend's and check. If the plugs really have oil on them you have some other issues but that shouldn't cause this.

07-11-2010, 04:46 PM	#3
anders8 Scooby Specialist Member#: 26658 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Raleigh, NC Vehicle: 1 Love Grassroots NASA Rally Sport FTW!	Is there an air idle control valve on that engine? They get sticky and stop working...

07-11-2010, 07:31 PM	#5
XenoWolf Scooby Specialist Member#: 64029 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Potsdam, NY (Tremont, PA) Vehicle: 1999 Impreza L Wagon Sun Bleach Red	Update: I believe that it may be the coilpack. Cylinders 1 and 3 are both dumping fuel. They're also connected to the exact same coil. Can anyone verify if each coil uses a separate CPS? If so, I imagine that the CPS may also be a culprit.

07-11-2010, 11:04 PM	#6
Jard In the silly seat Moderator Member#: 34935 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Silver Spring, MD Vehicle: SPB- 2013 Smugmobile	My '95 SOHC 2.2 would not spark at all with a bad cam sensor...

07-12-2010, 07:46 AM	#7
Patrick Olsen NASIOC Supporter Member#: 120 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Where the Navy sends me... Vehicle: 1997 Legacy 2.5GT QuickSilver Metallic	CPS? Not familiar with that term.

07-12-2010, 03:26 PM	#10
XenoWolf Scooby Specialist Member#: 64029 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Potsdam, NY (Tremont, PA) Vehicle: 1999 Impreza L Wagon Sun Bleach Red	Pat: You're right. I'm retarded and can't read apparently. I read it as 1 & 3 last night when I was looking at it for some reason. Sorry about the vagueness of the CPS term. I was referring to the crank position sensor, not thinking about having a cam sensor. I've since found that I have one of each and where they're located.