Feel like blowing it up............
 

Hi, I have 1995 impreza turbo, this is my first subaru, i have owned it for 2 months, the first month the car was fine, now it feels the car is lacking power. i have cleaned the boost solenoid, is still the same no power.
I took the car to turbo centre and they told me the cat had gone, so i replaced it with a de cat downpipe but its still the same.
I have noticed when i accelarate i can hear what sounds like air leaking from somewhere.
I am at my wits end and feel like getting rid of the car.
Anyone have any idea what could be the problem?
would be gratefull for any help.

sorry to point out the obvious, but as you say you can hear an air leak, have you checked all hoses? intake and boost? dump valve stuck open?wastegate stuck open? easy things to check and not usually costly to fix/replace. hope this may help.

check the intercooler pipework to turbo. I am assuming you will have the plastic type pipe, and this does tend to get brittle with age and can split. Also check around the dump valve area as well (same pipe)

I have a spare plastic pipe for sale from my 1995! I had a similar problem, (still have but i know what it is now). My wastgate need to be tightened up a touch as im now reaching target boost and its driving fine, but its leaking slightly on normal throttle.

Check your wastgate, and pipework as suggested! PM me if your interested in the pipework!

How many cat's has that age/type of car?, dont they have downpipe and middle pipe with cat's.

Mate, take it to a Subaru specialist: it will take them about 2 mins to figure out what's wrong. Taking these cars to Greasy McMonkey and sons mechanics is often a recipe for getting guesswork diagnosis and sold stuff you don't need and that won't resolve the problem.

Tell us whereabouts you are and we'll recommend someone.

Ns04

I was only suggesting he buy my pipe off me once he has checked his :)

LOL Not a dig at you mate! ;) :D More a comment on people not going to the right folks for a diagnosis in the first place and saving themselves a lot of time and expense :)
Ns04

only one cat in the downpipe bud

If you can do some diagnosis yourself then thats great.. but I agree if your taking it to someone, make sure that they at least deal with jap cars or preferably a scooby specialist :)

Cheers

have you tried an ecu diagnostic?

might justbe you can hear the turbo spooling up more, mine made a huge difference when i had some mods done, sounds like a jet engine lol

Hi,

It may have the same problem as my 1995 wagon (see 'Phantom Knock' thread) If you reset the ECU and the power comes back (albeit for a short time) then it could be the knock sensor retarding the ignition)

The air leaking sound, is it constant while accelerating or staggered. Could be wategate opening and closing which is normal.

I would reset ECU for starters and see what it's like.