Have just taken delivery of new scooby and find that it turns over a few times before it starts, is this the norm. Also does everyone manage to keep it under 4000rpm while running it in.
Is it advisable as it states int he manual to let it idle for a minute after a long drive.
Any advice welcome.

 

Remember the engine is still quite new and stiff. It will probably go away. Don't place your foot on the Gas pedal when you start the car...

Stay below 4000 RPM if you want your car to last... If its not had its first service the engine will be on thin running in oil !!!

<B>The minute wait...</B>

I tend to wait one minute or more. If you've been driving the car hard then the turbo will be very hot (and maybe still spinning).... If you turn off the engine the cooling on the turbo will stop which may stress out/cook the bearings on the turbine. (unlikely but a new unit will cost you)

The impreza I got two weeks ago is my first turbo charged motor. My brother drives a heavily modified Renault 11 Turbo (very quick for a 1.4 engine - about 1.4 bar of boost) and he waits a similar amount of time.

General tips...

I've done this in the past on all my other quick cars and never once wrecked an engine (even though I drive them hard when they are warm) When the engine is cold the oil does not circulate which means some areas of the engine are less well lubed... wait before enjoying all that power!!!

[This message has been edited by Igratton (edited 10 December 1998).]

 

Grant,
I have also noticed that the starting turnover seems slow and almost laboured, having said that, I just assumed it was a charactaristic of the car. Upon delivery the salesman told me when starting not to put my foot on the accelerator as the car has its own warming up program (Turbo preservation I presume?) which I have followed religiously. Same with after drive cool down, it has taken me longer to get used to this than the start-up, I do it for about 1 - 2 minutes.
As for keeping the revs below 4000, its no problem, just be gentle and have self control with it. Getting used to when the turbo starts working took me a morning of pottering around "with-out" the radio on just listening to the engine and feeling the response it gave.
No need to go mad in it yet as the manfacturers state if you run it in properly you get better and longer lasting performance, sounds like a battery ad!
Enjoy it.

 

Each of the 5 flat-four Subarus that I have driven/owned have had this characteristic, a few revolutions before it fires up, don't know why, but definitely nothing to worry about

[This message has been edited by rupertu (edited 11 December 1998).]

 

My 98 occasionally does this as well. I remember hearing that sometimes the fuel pump/engine electronics get themselves all confused and the delay (when you tend to be cranking the engine) is for the fuel being pumped to the engine.

I might be wrong - but that is my recollection.

Miles

 

I have owned a Aug 97 Turbo for 10mnths now and have had only 1 or 2 occurances of 'slow' starting and once where it wouldn't start at all until I had fully depressed and released the accelerator on ignition setting one (read the owners manual). She then started immeadiatley. I guess the boxer engine floods easily.
For sometime now I have made a habit of turning the ignition on and waiting a few seconds for the fuel pump to prime and then started the car. Never had any trouble since.