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Old Jan 15, 2008 | 04:36 PM
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Default Cold start problem

Hi chaps

Ive got a standard 98 uk turbo and the problem i have is when i start the car from cold the engine fires straight away chuggs for a couple of seconds then stalls, the only way i can start it after this happens is to get the engine turning over again and stamp on the accelerator. Once the car is warm it drives well all day and no problems starting though the engine hunts a little and the revs drop a little low when i pull up at lights etc..i also have slight piston slap.
I mentioned the problem to my nearest subaru dealer in cirencester while they replaced my rocker cover gaskets and they said it was my MAF and put in a new one, this has not sorted the problem. Ive removed and cleaned my idle control valve which was very dirty and checked the sensor on the side of the throttle body which i noticed had a grove worn in the square tag that sticks for the pin on the butterfly shaft to locate on so i adjusted it slightly to compensate for the wear, the car started first time and drove the best it ever has even though it was still getting the idle problem. I went to start it the next day and gave me the original couple of chuggs then stall.

I would appreciate any advice thanks
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Old Jan 15, 2008 | 05:35 PM
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just check the pipe going into your air box! pipe coming from the bottom of your boost solinoid
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Old Jan 16, 2008 | 05:51 PM
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I checked the pipes today and they all seem fine and after much reading on here last night i tried reading the fault codes by connecting the two black connectors together under the dash, this gave me two faults

21 temp sensor
31 throttle position sensor

Could the temp sensor still be faulty even though the fans are not coming on straight away as ive noticed people mention they will come on all the time when the sensor is broken?
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Old Jan 16, 2008 | 06:43 PM
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Temp sensor is fairly easy to change i've had to replace it as it was causing a fluctuating idle.
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Old Jan 16, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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Hey thats good to know, is it the brown sensor behind the alternator?
Are there any pointers i should know before changing it and what is a good price to pay

thanks for taking the time
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Old Jan 16, 2008 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoothybaby
Hey thats good to know, is it the brown sensor behind the alternator?
Are there any pointers i should know before changing it and what is a good price to pay

thanks for taking the time

not too sure where it is on your year car (i would expect the same place as mine 93wrx)



Where the bend is in my strutbrace,underneath the black pipe located in the block should be a brown/orange sensor and that's the coolant temp sensor.

think i paid about £25 for the sensor.

Then reset the ecu.
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Old Jan 16, 2008 | 09:46 PM
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yeah its the two pin? one behind the alternater
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Old Jan 17, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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Lovely job thanks lads ive got a temp sensor on its way and weather permitting ill try and fit it at the weekend, i will post back when i have further results
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Smoothybaby
I checked the pipes today and they all seem fine and after much reading on here last night i tried reading the fault codes by connecting the two black connectors together under the dash, this gave me two faults

21 temp sensor
31 throttle position sensor

Could the temp sensor still be faulty even though the fans are not coming on straight away as ive noticed people mention they will come on all the time when the sensor is broken?
And to think I paid ProSport £165 to replace a coolant temp sensor!

How did you check these error codes yourself?
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by sjwdavies
And to think I paid ProSport £165 to replace a coolant temp sensor!

How did you check these error codes yourself?
www.JollyGreenMonster.com - Engine management specialist have alook under 'Help' only for classic shape imprezas.
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 09:31 AM
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Cheers.

I've just been out and had a quick look, could someone please please please post a picture of the two black connectors?

I've had an alarm fitted and there's that many connectors behind the dash it's quite confusing.

Could you post a picture of the two black connectors and the two green connectors so I know what i'm looking for?

I'd really appreciate it.
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 10:09 AM
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Have a look on Scoobypedia | Trusted knowledge for everything Subaru | Scoobypedia / Scoobypedia as there is a picture (under the 'ECU' section).

I've had a look under mine an i'll be damned if i could find them (they may be taped up if they've never been used before.
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 10:36 AM
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This is the only image I found:




Doesn't really show clearly the wires going into the black connectors.
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 11:10 AM
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thats the one! the two black ones next to the two green ones
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by gaz-cole
thats the one! the two black ones next to the two green ones

Could you get us a better picture of the black one's?
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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not today mate sorry but if you have a look at them there the only ones there but sometimes they can still be taped up in the loom from the factory
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 12:53 PM
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They'll be right near the green ones.
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 07:01 PM
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Hiya i found the two black connectors under the bottom of the dash above the break peddle exactly as in the pic above. It felt like i had to practically bend myself in half to see under there though
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Old Jan 20, 2008 | 07:41 PM
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I think ive cracked it.......!!

Lucky for me the rain didnt come on saturday and i managed to get to work on the car. Fiting the water temp sensor was easy, apart from a few scratches i only had to move a breather pipe out of the way, a couple of turns with a 19mm spanner and i could undo it with my fingers.
At the same time i treated the car to a new fuel filter, air filter and spark plugs. The car started first time after putting back together and drove like brand new and the most important thing was it started this morning first time and idled lovely so fingers crossed.........
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