I am currently looking after a 2000 Impreza Turbo for a friend that has not been driven for a couple of months. I obviously took the normal precautions checked, tyres, all fluid levels etc before any hard driving, but the car has a stutter at approx 3000rpm and 5000rpm. It seems as if the turbo just cuts out momentarily then splutters abit and goes again at both 3000 and 5000rpm. Any ideas from anyone technical would be most helpful.

Cheers

Sounds like the MAF sensor is a gonner.
Get a replacement one for around £80 from dealers only.
Don't buy the whole air box for £300 - the sensor is available separatly.
Chris

Is the car modified? Is it hitting fuel cut by overboosting?

Does it do this in all gears, all the time? If so, might want to try cleaning the boost solenoid. Click here for a picture. It's the blue cylindrical device on the off-side suspension turret, with a couple of pipes going into it. You need to put car into "check mode" (click here for help) and spray some sort of solvent into the boost solenoid, whilst it's clicking away. That's a good starting point, anyway! If it doesn't fix it, post back and we'll try something else.

Thanks for your replies so far, should have said from the beginning, the car engine wise is standard apart from a full de-cat Scoobysport system.

Right little bit more info for you.

After more "scientific" tests last night it seems to be between 3500 and 4000rpm that the stutter occurs and again around 5000rpm.

As for gears it's barely noticeable in 1st or 2nd but is much more prominent in 3rd and 4th gear.

I checked all the service records and it was last serviced 9.03 but has only covered 300 miles since then to date so shows the lack of use that it's had.

Amended to add that it does it all the time on every acceleration.

[Edited by Les - 1/20/2004 8:35:07 AM]

As it was serviced fairly recently, it's quite possible that they over-filled the oil, which has been drawn into your air system, and clogged up your boost solenoid. Have you tried cleaning it yet...?

As you say that does sound possible, I haven't tried cleaning it yet as it's not my car and not having worked under the bonnet before and I'm not sure if this is something a novice can do?

I have read the articles you kindly put on the post for me any more detailed advice at all?

Oh and what Solvent would you recomend for cleaning?

[Edited by Les - 1/20/2004 12:57:21 PM]

Coil pack?

A normal brake cleaner solvent should suffice. I believe WD40 can also be used...

Right finally got some time to investigate properly and after a bit of fannying around got the car into ECU check mode. The engine check light continuously flashed, indicating that all was well, but the boost solenoid did not click as described by "The Judge". I assume I did everything right.

Engine off - connect the black connectors under the steering wheel
Switch ignition on - but engine off
Check engine light - displays all ok

I was expecting the boost solenoid to be clicking away so I could spray wd40 in but I must have missed something or done something wrong.

Can anyone help me, I really don't want to take it to a dealer if I don't have too.

Cheers

Les

I thought the connectors to get the electrics in test cycle were the green pair....

Well that might explain why it didn't work!! :rolleyes:

Can anyone confirm if this is correct? Also do you need to connect both the black connectors and the greens, or is it just the greens?

Just the greens

JGM :)

Thanks JGM ;) same procedure?

Ignition off, connect green connectors, ignition on but engine off?

[Edited by Les - 1/26/2004 2:25:21 PM]

yes.. then lots of clicking from engine bay and the fans come on and off as the ecu exercises all the relays etc..

JGM :)

:confused: Much confusion over this problem. :confused:

Got home last night and plugged in the greens and ignition on. As described all goes off under the engine bay, clicks, fans going through their speed cycles etc, but diddly squat going on around the boost solenoid. If I literally stuck my ear on it, it may have been making the faintest clicking sound but (remember this is my first foray into under bonnet work so don't laugh!) I was expecting the solenoid to pulse open and shut or something to enable me to spay WD40 into it?

Can anyone tell me what it should do to the boost solenoid in the test cycle?

Cheers

Les

It will just open and shut you may or may not be able to hear it..

just remove the pipework to it and spray brake cleaner into it..
WD40 might work but brake cleaner in a spray can from Halfords for example would be better.

JGM :)