I have a problem with my 97 Impreza turbo 2000.


It seems to be running really sluggish at low revs and sometimes when sat in traffic,it idles poor.It seems to drop to around 200rpm and back up to over 1000rpm.It also seems to be chewing a lot more petrol and sometimes backfires.

I have it booked in for a week on monday but would like to know if i should be driving it as i dont wanna cause more damage.

 

Hi snotboy I had exact same problem with my MY95 WRX Import and it turned out to be my Lambda Sensor was gubbed. not saying thats what it is but its a possibility as mine was exact same.
Hope this helps

 

maybe worth checking out the Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF), maybe a clean could be the answer,,,just a thought as I aint that clued up but its worth a try...

good luck..

 

Try cleaning the idle air control valve, common thing on these.
Do a search as there was a thread about this and how to fix it a while back.

 

Had exactly same problem on my sti4. Lamda sensor!

 

Cheers guys!

What does the Lambda sensor do? And if that is the problem,will i be ok driving the car?

 

Hi snotboy go here: http://www.picotech.com/auto/lambda_sensor.html

I Know when my Lambda Sensor was gubbed I got told by AWD in Perth Scotland to take it easy because it wasnt correcting the fuel mixture properly.
I also noticed that if I did give it some stick I would get upto the top orange light on my Knocklink, as opposed to the first green with a new Lambda sensor fitted.
So I would suggest in the meantime to be on the safe side take it easy buddy.

Hope this helps

 

It won't be the ISCV if its also running sluggish. That will be lambda related. Its quite safe to drive with a failed one, although not ideal. These sensors govern the fuelling of the car off boost, by monitoring the exhaust gas and fail "rich" so your fuel economy will also be crap.

It lives in the top of the downpipe and is threaded in place. If you look at your turbo, trace the downpipe back towards the car and you will see it sticking out the top of the pipe.

You can either buy a genuine one from Subaru (£100 ish from memory) or get a non OE one from www.cats-direct.com

Might not last as long as an original one but many on here use them. You want a 3 wire one.

MB

 

Uk mo, a failed lambda will not give any det on the KL. That will be your MAF that is likely to have failed, or some other mod causing lean running. The lambda is passive when on boost, as the fuelling is then governed by the MAF.

MB

 

How's this in drivetrain? Its a techy Q.

MB

 

Just read the link from Uk Mo and i think this may be the problem as all the symptoms are the same.
How much am i looking at if i take it to Subaru?

 

Also,if i bought one myself,how easy are they to fit?

 

Hi snotboy I just bought 1 from subaru yesterday and it was £121 inc VAT. as for fitting it is very easy to fit. it's located on the drivers side downpipe you will see. I had to cut and join the wires on the original though as my plug is on top of the engine at the drivers side and the lead that came with my 1 was only 3" long but to join the wires is very easy they are exact same colours I just crimped mine together. Also try and not buy a universal one as my car failed the MOT with the universal 1 fitted as it doesnt switch quick enough. After fitting the subaru 1 this morning passed MOT no problem.

 

What do you mean by switches too slow, the response time from it? Its a heated sensor so once warmed up its on. I agree an OE one is the way to go, but many use the universal on here with no probs.

I would take heed of the point above on lambda not causing det, thats another problem.

MB

 

So if i fitted a universal sensor,will it make any difference to my fuel economy and performance?

 

WIll improve both if your existing one is shot.

MB

 

Sorry,i meant if i fitted a universal sensor instead of a subaru one?

Will there be any difference between the two in performance and fuel economy?

 

up

 

If it was mine, I only buy OE sensors but from what ive seen from others using them im sure it would be fine. My only question is to the life of them compared to a Bosch one.

MB

 

Thanks for the advice.Much appreciated!