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Subaru Legacy Repair Questions and Answers

Question:  2001 Subaru Legacy 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic 53,000 miles. By mistake my daughter put high octane fuel in the car. I've always used the lowest octane. Maybe it's a coincidence, but right after that (the same day) the "check engine" light came on. Could the change in fuel have something to do with the light coming on? The car seems to be running perfectly. I don't have an appointment at the dealer until next week. Is it safe to drive the car until then?

Answer:   The check engine light goes on for a number of things. could have picked up a different reading from changing the octane. If you hear anything unusual or see anything unusual then I wouldn't drive it until the appointment.

Question:  1993 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 120,000 miles. My Subaru won't pass smog test. All emission systems have passed but HC 232 at idle 701 rpm and co 2.04 at 701 rpm. The co 1.67 at 2500 rpm. hc ok. This car runs excellent and has always been maintained and uses no oil but will not pass

Answer:  At cruise, the engine is lightly loaded and running at high rpm. Under these conditions, HC and CO should be low if the oxygen sensor and feed back control system are working properly, and the catalytic converter is in good condition. High CO readings during cruise indicate a rich fuel condition. Causes here may include: Defective O2 sensor; Exhaust leaks upstream of the O2 sensor (check manifold gaskets and air plumbing connections
Defective air pump or diverter valve (also loose or damaged air pump plumbing); Defective MAP, MAF or VAF sensor

Answer:    Subaru will have a little more knowledge than the average tech, but a good trans shop should be able to help you out.

Question:  My 1997 Subaru Legacy L with standard transmission won't start with clutch depressed?? Moved my car to clear my driveway in a blinding snowstorm. Interior instrument lights also started flickering randomly just before I turned it off. When I tried to start it again and turn the key to the start position, dash warning lights (check engine, oil etc.) just go off whether clutch is depressed or not. Is it clutch bypass switch or safety switch that prevents car from starting when clutch isn't depressed but concerned it is something bigger electrically? Also key chime is now working intermittently and when it is working it sounds sick? any connection between the two?
Is there a way to bypass the clutch switch? When I try to start the car with the clutch either depressed or not, nothing happens and there is no difference between when the clutch is depressed or not. It is just a dead click like it sounds when the clutch pedal wasn't fully depressed when it used to start. Can I cut and splice the two yellow wires together that go into the light blue connector that clips into the black connector where the clutch pedal stops on it's high point when the clutch pedal isn't depressed. I have tried to disconnect the light blue coupling with the 2 yellow wires coming out of them but it still didn't start.
Is there a clutch depress safety switch or anywhere else I could look if the problem is related to the other electrical oddities? I'm concerned that the other electrical oddities are a sign of some weird electrical issue that should be addressed. Sorry I'm so wordy but I've been laying down in a blizzard here in the Sierras with the door open, my feet outside and head under the dash trying to get it started for 3 hours and I have to use it early tomorrow am. and right now I just want to move my car out of the road. Thanks for your help.

Answer:   Have you tried to jump start the car with another car. does the headlights work? You might have a dead or low battery, with the key chime sounding sick and the dash lights going out that is where I would start with.

Question:  1996 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 145,000 miles. Help! 2 codes come up p0115 & p0766. Where do I start? Just shelled out 260 bucks for installation of speed sensor last week. where is shift solenoid "D"?? located and approximate cost also the other code suggests hot engine but its running half of the temp gauge about the middle car is new to me and don't know much of its history HELP!!!! has 2.2 eng. if that makes diff.

Answer:    p0115 sounds like the coolant temp sensor is malfunctioning. as for the trans code chances there is an internal trans problem.

Question:  1996 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 115,000 miles. Is it possible to reset the CEL light by disconnecting the battery and shorting the +/- cable of the car for a few seconds, then reconnect the battery. Or would this ruin the battery or possibly be dangerous to me?
Thanks
Pete

Answer:    You can do it just by disconnecting the battery for a while. if there is a problem it will come back on. the computer will not completely reset itself until the car had been drive for about 50 miles.

Question:  1997 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 170,000 miles. What cause the light to got on? Is there away to reset it?

Answer:    The light is hooked up to your sensor in the brake fluid and the emergency brake. Check the fluid in the brake reservoir and fill if needed. on the emergency brake there is a switch that sometimes sticks. Make sure the emergency handle is down all the way.

Question:  1991 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Manual 20,0035 miles. My sun roof opened now won't close. Just makes clicking sound. Is there a relay for this.

Answer:    The clicking sound means it is stuck. there is a manual way to close it, with a crank.

Question:  1995 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 160,000 miles. check engine light on, brand new battery, still have lights, radio, and power windows. its having issues shifting into high gear, wanting to stay at 3 to 4 rpm at 55mph, driving a couple miles then going into gear shifting down to 2rpm at 55mph. car wont start wont even turn over tied to jump it and it still won't turn over. please help

Answer:    Check the starter if when you turn key and just hear a click. check connections to starter if you hear nothing when turning key on to start. There could also be a problem with the neutral safety switch. Explain to me what you mean by3 to 4 rpm at 55 mph

Question:  1999 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 125,000 miles. My antenna was broken off. This is an automatic antenna that goes up when radio is turned on. Do I have to replace the complete antenna, including motor, or can I just replace the antenna and cable? If so, what is the procedure? Thanks!

Answer:    The old antenna simply unscrews from the bolt that holds it on, you are looking around 10 bucks for a new decent antenna.

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