Hi all, have had to take it off the road it is so bad. Basically its like it is running out of fuel and the harder you press the accellerator the more it struggles!

Its not like a usual misfire, it really really struggles like getting starved of fuel? Idles fine though.

Its been happening for 2 weeks and today was final straw as it couldnt get up a hill i.e unuseable.

I changed fuel filter about a month ago, leads about 2 months ago, new spark plug seals/rocker gasket etc (due to usual oil on plugs problem) about 2 weeks ago, new genuine coil about 3 years ago.

Just wondering what you experts would look at.

 

maf?

 

Buy a code reader,very cheap these days,check for error codes which might give you more of an idea.

 

What Oss said - code reader may give the answer.

How is the battery power ? Were you really careful of the coil pack when you took off the old HT leads ?

I had a similar problem on my old MY98 sport.

How "clean" is the air filter ?

Is it an aftermarket "oiled" filter ? I ran an ITG filter and it ruined the MAF do to being over oiled - my fault.

Andrew.

 

Thanks for the replies. no codes sadly! (I have code reader)


Hmm MAF is a good call. So where is it and how do I get to it to clean it?


In my other cars its easy, just a little thin bit of wire that I use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl but ive never done the impreza and shes on 156K too so I bet its filthy and really needs doing!


I didn't treat the coil any different to normal! I will have to put the old coil back on for a check though.


the air filter is standard and a couple years old - I will take a look tonight too.


Thanks I will reply.

 

If it's a sport (no turbo) it'll have a MAP sensor not a MAF

Item 14

 

My bad. Did not read properly.

 

well im quite ashamed to report that the air filter was quite dirty (oily) so probably starving engine of air.

Also one of the new spark plugs i fitted was a tiny bit loose (not sure how much of an affect that would have but I torqued it up anyway.

Well I have compared my engine to the diagram and its not quite the same. I dont have item 14 on my car.

What can I turn my attention to next. On my cars (fords) I clean the IATS, MAF, IACV etc routinley but on this car I dont know where they are.

Im guessing after 150 the inlet manifold will be filth too?Injectors?

Thanks

 

Compression test, also take it to a scooby specialist to have the codes read. I have a code reader and it's quite good, but you'd be suprised how many 'codes' the DIY readers dont pick up.

I would also remove the plugs again to see there condition, the colour of the electrodes will reveal a lot. The colour should be a dry light mustard colour.

 

Looks as if a number of them have a combined MAP/Inlet Temp sensor on top of the inlet manifold instead.

item 9

 

Thats it!

When I get filter will take it for a run, also remembered that a while back it threw a lambda code which i just erased to get the CEL off, anyway it didnt come back but Im going to try disconnecting lambdas to see if it runs ok without them.

Have had ths car for 10 years and worked out once that you can disconnect them and car runs better! Not sure if it will work this time but worth a shot.

Shame if it is a lambda(s) as they are only a few years old and paid good money for them.

I have a comp tester but wont be going that route just yet. I have faith!

 

ok right i need help to understand.

As per previous posts - 2 weeks ago or thereabouts I sorted the leaking spark plug seals on the drivers side and fitted new ngk bkr6e-11. These are pre gapped yes? to 11mm? Well im getting 0.85mm gap from my measurement. What the hell?

Also, the old bkr6e-11 that came out of the car are gapped at almost 1.4mm (they had a few ywars use though).

what gap should these plugs be at for my 2002 bugeye sport?

 

 

ok well thanks for that. I gapped the plugs to 1.1mm and so far so good! - also a new air filter *ahem

I have learned something here. Never trust that plugs are gapped correctly.

 

for the sake of updating threads with conclusions, the regapping of the spark plugs and the new air filter did not help in the end and it still struggled.

So as I did once a few years ago, I disconnectd the front lambda, and now the car is running faultlessly and its hd quite a bit of use. I will be buying another lambda then.

cant believe how critcal lambdas are.

 

Yeh the lambda controls closed loop driving so is constantly aiming for 14.7afr
Something to do with environmental bollox and 'global warming' lol