Engine loses power

Tiny
DIMITY JANE WEHR
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
I had just driven over 700km and the car seized and shut down ie, lost power. It was towed home but the next day it started and a mobile mechanic drove it for half an hour and couldn't find anything wrong. Two days later it wouldn't start so I replaced the battery. Since then it has had about three episodes where it loses power shortly after starting about 3-4 times then come good and I have continued on my journey. What could be the cause? The initial breakdown was one week ago.
Sunday, January 16th, 2011 AT 12:45 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
If the check engine light came on? If there is no light, doesn't come on, check fuel pump pressure. It sounds like the catalytic converter could be bad causing the issue but to be sure here is a guide to help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 AT 12:36 AM
Tiny
HOWARD HUNTER
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
I had to get a new PCM cost me $220.00 all set up, runs great
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:12 PM
Tiny
AKMARINER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
My 2001 Subaru loses power on inclines when between speeds of 25-35 mph. It doesn't stall, but seems not to get any fuel even when the pedal is down all the way. At points, I've come to a complete stop on the hill. Then, when on a level road, it jerks. It does not have this problem when on inclines at 55-65 mph. We've had it checked out and no one, including the Subaru dealer, can find anything wrong with it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
There was a recall of the thre fuel hoses on outbacks, look at thr three fuel hoses under the hood, and if they have 0804 or 0806 printed on them, you have recalled hoses on it, Subaru will replace them for free, regaurdless of age or mileage.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_su_1.jpg

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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JZONTELLI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Having a problem at take off, from a complete stop. I accelerate and the engine does not have the power it used to. Also, sometime (not always) when maintaining speed say of fifty five mph, the engine will do a stuttering or stumbling, like it is not firing correctly. I put a new fuel filter in but that was not the problem. Any recalls out there? Any ideas? Thanks.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACKSCARS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a similar problem with my 2001 2.5 lityer at 185,000 miles. Reasonable starting from cold but stumbles badly during warm up and sometimes beyond. It starts and runs well when fully warm. Stumble and bog are very bad and pose a safety problem. Code indicates a misfire on three of the cylinders so I replaced the plugs which were clean but the gaps had opened up. No improvement. Thinking that a build up on the back sides of the intake valve might be acting as a fuel sponge, I dosed the engine with SeaFoam, which I have done many times with all of my vehicles and there was no improvement. The other code that appeared indicated a failed knock sensor. I have not replaced it simply because I do not want to spend the $100.00 or more on a part that cannot be returned. This all feels like a fuel problem, rather than an electrical one as it feels like an overly lean mix during the periods of trouble. I am a bit familiar with soem of the Bosch injection systems and if I knew more about this one I would be looking for a failed warm up pressure regulator, but as I say I just do not know enough about these to make a call. I have been looking for a schematic for the injection system in general but have been unable to find anything useful. If anyone knows about same I would appreciate knowing where it is. Thanks, Jack
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light and when was last tune-up performed?

Lack of acceleration,chugging, hesitating, bogging, misfiring etc., could be caused by one of the following guide,

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-low-engine-power

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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNBOYREESE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Tonight I started up my car and started down the street. It started with the car not changing gears in drive. I stopped and placed it in park and turned off the car. (Computer problem?). Turned it back on and placed in it first. Lost power to the wheels after the first 10 ft or so. Pulled back over and placed in park, then placed in second. Once again moved about 10 ft and lost power. Pulled over and placed in park. This time placed in reverse and was able to move more than a block with no loss of power. Decided to head home. Was able to do that in first doing 5 miles/hour. I think that there is something wrong with transmission. Any help would be appreciated
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Check tranny fluids and check for leaks
scan system for codes( if any let me know )
suspect internal tranny failure
check with your locale tranny shop for solutions
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOPANGA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK
  • 230,000 MILES
My 98 Outback runs fine for the first 10 minutes as it warms up. After that, I have the following problem: intermittently, when I lift my foot off the accelerator peddle, the car seems to lose power. When I then press down on the accelerator, the car hesitates for half a second, then bucks 2 or three times before it begins to accelerate. This happens in particular when I am going down a hill and the wheels are turning more than the rpm. During all of this, the clutch is fully engaged. It feels as if the car misfires when I lift off the accelerator, and then****** hard to accelerate. I have had the ignition wires and coils replaced, and recently the engine rebuilt. It made no difference to the bucking. Can you give me a idea of what the likely cause is? Thanks.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Possibly EGR valve or throttle position sensor.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOPANGA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I replaced the TPS and the EGR checked out as working fine. The problem remains, it feels like it loses power when you lift off the gas peddle and when you press the accelerator, there is a half-second pause and then it bucks before it accelerates. I noticed for the first time yesterday that it is beginning to happen when I am in overdrive with the cruise control on at freeway speeds, it loses power and then bucks lightly as the cruise control eases off and then back on the gas. Any more suggestions?
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Test post
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Saturday, December 21st, 2019 AT 1:13 PM (Merged)

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