1995 Subaru Legacy Wagon idles slowly PLUS.

B LING

MEMBER
1995 SUBARU

I have 41,000 miles on my 1995 Legacy LS Wagon.
No trouble until now.
When I make a very short trip - 3 miles or so - the car doesn't want to re start. I panic and put my foot way down on the gas and it reluctantly starts with white smoke and bad smell coming out the exhaust.
I noticed yesterday when I loaded my garbage cans in the back to drive them to the street the idled very slowly. I could barely hear it running.

My check engine light has been on for 4 years and my non Subaru mechanic says it is from not turning the gas cap far enough closed.

Should I go to a subaru dealer and actually have them hook up the computer? I know they are an expensive shop - at least the one near me is.
I'm an older senior citizen female and it scares me.

6 Replies

MOPAR MAN

MEMBER
8 POSTS

How many miles ago was the last tune-up, spark plugs etc?
Have you checked your air filter? Some times they get dirty and starve the car of air. How about the fuel filter has it been changed
Let me know when and what was done and we can go from there

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Monday, July 30th, 2007 AT 6:49 PM

B LING

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5 POSTS

Tune up and fuel filter at least 12,000 miles ago but this would be 4 years ago. I don't drive much!
Air filter and PCV valve installed by neighbor when this started to happen.
No change.

What I wrote in the subject line is kind of what I find people call my problem.

Neighbor said to try dry gas and new fuel filter next, but I think I'll take it to a mechanic.
I just wanted to know what the problem possibly was so I could communicate intelligently.

Thanks.

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Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 AT 6:31 AM

MOPAR MAN

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8 POSTS

It could be the gas going bad? How long has that tank been in the car? You may want to put some STP super concentrated Fuel injector cleaner (it is in a Grey bottle) or other type of Fuel injector cleaner in the tank and top the tank off with fresh gas? I find it had to believe it is flooding unless a fuel injector or two are seeping fuel into the cylinder while the car is turned off. That is VERY rare and not likely !
If you do go to a parts store to buy some cleaner ask them to run diagnostic trouble code for you it is free. It may of may not tell us any thing. Some of the older Subaru's have a little red blinking light on the steering column to read the codes but the guy at the parts store should know.
Let me know what it says

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Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 AT 8:45 AM

B LING

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Mopar man - I have a grey bottle of cleaner I bought on sale once.
I'm going to follow your instructions.

Actually, I had a leak of a tube going into the gas tank about a year ago. They replaced the tube, but not the tank.

How quickly after I put the cleaner in and the tank of gas would I have a result.
I'm getting scared to drive the car as I am up there in years and don't want to get stuck somewhere.
I have stopped taking my Golden Retriever with me.
It's 90 degrees here. We could both get stuck!

:)

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Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 AT 9:20 AM

MOPAR MAN

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8 POSTS

Sorry to take so long getting back to you. I have been out of town. So how old is that tank of gas in it now? The bottel you have is STP?
Please understand NOTHING in a bottle is a total fix most of the time. I just have had luck with this prouduct and hope it may help your problem too.
Did you get the codes read at the parts store? What if anyting did they say? Also you know you do not have to take it back to the Subaru dealer. Ask friends, people at church if they know of a good shop that works on Subau's

Let me know