Hello,

Right went out in the legacy last night after oil change running nice, came home. Went out later on, everything seemed to be O.K. when the motor had warmed up went to boost it (foot to the floor) in 2nd and from 2000rpm-4000 it sort of held back then let go. This problem is becoming more and more common, more and more stuttery, also now the engine check light has joined in.
In the past 2 weeks ive put on a air cone, dump valve, fitted boost gauge, plugs, oil and filter.
The car also boosts at about 7 psi.

HELP or am gonna sell it :(

sound like fuelling to me???????starvation perhaps

O.K. might add one other thing, terms like fueling, starvation, ECU reset are no good i just dont understand it like that. You have to tell me like i'm an idiot. Dont know might just be an idiot?:)

if you not to sure mate take it somewhere mate and have it checked out properly no good guessing something will end up wrecked and then you will be stuffed where are you ???somebody will be able to recommend someone near to you i am sure????????guessing usually works out dearer in the long run,who has done all the recent work on the car??

ME! Im very capable of mechanics but don't have the knowledge of all the technical names/terms and locations of the components.
So if you hum it I'll play it ;)

Few things spring to mind..

If it was fine before the oil change then check you haven't put to much in as it contaminates the boost solienod I believe..

As to the Check engine light you can check what the fault code is..

there is lots of info HERE

Including how to reset ECU and sensors locations and decoding of the fault code..

7psi sounds like it has gone into safe mod but not sure what the Legacy boost is standard.

If you need more info regarding the reset and fault code I have some other stuff I can email you, post if you want it.

I have only picked all this up from this site so try using search and read some more stuff?

Hope you sort it

JGM

Sounds like the MAF sensor to me.
Try this while in neutral press the accelerator and see if the car will rev past 4500rpm don't build it slowly but see if the revs rise fast.
If the revs stop around 4500rpm and you start getting the misfire i would definantly say it was the MAF but then again i haven't got a clue about legacys.

This happened to mine a while back after i fitted an induction kit and blow my MAF twice.
Oh yeah it wouldn't boost past 8psi eitheir.

Mel.

Forgot to add that since changing the MAF i have gone back to the original airbox and it has been fine since.

Mel.

Could be a couple of problems, as already stated above oil contamination and possible maf sensor.
Check your oil level and clean your boost solenoid, then do an ECU reset. I guess cleaning the boost solenoid might be similar to the Impreza, again have a search though the forum on this.
Cheers.
Ian.

get some of that fooking oil taken out.

5.2litres pah.

David

I nearly spat my guinness out when david said you had 5.2 litres in there:rolleye:

I nearly gipped when David said 4.5ltr

Who did the oil change?

or who told you that much?

David

It's not fair to diss a trained mechanic in public. I will say, either he can't read or his wallchart was made by a.c.m.e :)

So anyway ive drained it so the level reads perfect halfway between the 2 holes(about 1/2ltr) and we still have the same problem, so ive gone out and got some brake cleaner spray. The instructions i found under search said to connect the green and black diagnostic plugs under dash near to the steering column,turn ignition key on and then spray lots of it into the pipe that goes from the turbo to the solenoid.
Cant find the plugs and connect them to what? each other?
There is 3 pipes coming off the boost solenoid 2 at the bottom and a thinner one at the top, who gets sprayed?
How much brake cleaner do spray?

connect to each other... they are quite high up and may be taped to steering column..

Spray enough to clean the oil out....

It maybe compression tester time.

David

The plugs may be green and white.
Either way they are under the steering colmun, and can be tricky to find.
You say the problem has becoming more and more common. By this you mean, the problem did not occur directly after the oil change, more that it is an ongoing problem??
When did it first start, and when was the car last given a proper service? You also say you are a competent mechanic, so why didnt you change the oil yourself?? and subsequently check the dipstick and see that it was seriously over filled anyway???
Has the car been getting 7psi for a long time, or just recently?

I did change the oil myself but took from a pro that it was 5.2 ltrs.
The boost has been at 7 since installed the gauge.