twybrow

I have an early '98 UK2000. Standard car, with 100k on the clock. I recently (29th Dec.) had the rocker gaskets changed due to a leak. On may way home today i filled up with fuel (Tesco 99RON) and set off. Everything was fine. When i went to overtake in 5th, i floored it at 65ish. The car hesitated at just over 3k revs. I lifted off and had another go at part throttle - no problem.

I tried it again a bit further up the road, and this time i kept it floored. The scoob hesititated for a half second about 3 times between 3-4k. It did the same in 4th and again was fine on part throttle.

I came home in a panic, thinking i was facing a big bill! Had a quick glance through the sidc info, and came across the waste gate solenoid issue. Now i am aware that the previous owner had this replaced by Subaru late '04. My thoughts:
1. Gaskets changed and oil presumably topped up
2. Oil somehow gets into solenoid
3. Sticking or bloced solenoid freaks out, and ruins my drive home and my evening...!

Please help, i am doing loads of miles over the next 2 weeks and i dont wanna kill my scoob!

DeanF

iTrader: (1)

The garage will of had to remove the spark plugs & coil packs (if that year had them) or the Ht leads (again dependant which year)

Did they replace the Plugs ?? or refit the old ones ?? were they gapped correctly ?? If it has coil packs they have a tendancy to get damaged if the mechanic is a little brutal !!!
Seems spark related being ok at light throttle. If you increase the boost slowly (don't floor it) is it Ok then ?? If so, boost is blowing out a weak spark !!

If you have the single coil, it will be on top of the engine with Ht leads coming out of it towards the rocker covers ... If not you have coilPacks 1 on each spark plug

Dean

twybrow

I had them change the sparks at the same time to save me a job in 2 months. Do you suspect something? Thanks.

DeanF

iTrader: (1)

I bet they have put the sparkies in without gapping them, The scoob is quite fussy. Does it have coil Packs ???

Im afraid it's plugs out & Gap time & check the coil Packs Etc (if it has them )

I think the Stated gap is .7 , but if running higher boost people say .6 or just go for the best of both .65.
if reducing the gap cures or makes the hesitation less, you have your culprit !!!!

Dean

twybrow

The garage concerned is a Subaru specialist in Bournemouth. They do a lot of work on Scoobs, EVO's etc. The car is standard. No exhaust, no bigger turbo etc.

I took it back to them this evening for a quick look. Initally the chap (Andy i believe!) thought the actuator was on its way out. Tested that and it was fine. Next i asked to check the solenoid. This was replaced in August by Subaru. He checked one of the pipes coming into the solenoid and said there was no sign of oil.

The car is still doing it only in 4th and 5th at full load, just over 3k rpm, but will repeat as the revs rise. It sucks. I am paying to drive a fantastic car, and i cant enjoy her! I am scared everytime i drive it that something is about to go wrong!

I am taking the car back tomorrow for them to have a longer look. Any ideas, suggestions etc.?

_benny_

If it's a sharp hesitation like a fuel cut type situation you could be over boosting. This is the cars way of protecting itself from being damaged. Have a search for overboost.

I have a MY98 and it does this every so often too, but I have a manual boost controller with the solonoid still in place, so when I have it turned up too high, it cuts the fuel for a split second. You could have a small split in a vacuum pipe around the solonoid somewhere.

Ben

twybrow

It was overboosting. They put a boost gauge in, and it was hitting 1.2bar. They put in a small drilled piece of metal into one of the boost pipes (approx 5mm o/d). This lowered the boost to around 0.9-1.0 bar. Does this sound about right for a standard car? Or am i losing power!?

RON

Fear not, Triton will sort it mate.....