The end is near?

[BAC5.2]

Driving today, I had some problems.

The car started misfiring really bad, and hesitating horribly.

I was trying to go up a hill in 3rd, after the problem halted for the moment), and it spooled up slightly. At around 5psi, the boost didn't increase, the RPM's didn't increase, and the car started BUCKING hard. Every second, or half second, it would spike to 10psi, then back to 5psi.

Then there was a loud POP, and the car was fine. It drove and idled better than it did when it was stock.

I shut it off at home depot, and when I started it up again, same thing. Hesitation etc. It never repeated the boost spike problem.

No smoke or anything from the exhaust, and I can't see anything visually wrong.

When I started the car this morning, it would barely idle, and would bounce around 500RPM and -10in/hg vaccum. It was harsh. The car revved fine, nice and smooth. Didn't idle worth a damn.

No CEL, nothin.

On average, today, I saw around -15in/hg vaccum. Kinda low. But during the breif period where it drove better than new, I was holding a beautiful and strong -18in/hg. Idle was SOLID. Now it's not.

Now, I don't know if I should try to get a motorcycle for the summer months and use my income to fix the Legacy. Or do I just get a car (WRX Wagon or something. STi leaves me to little "play" money at the end of the month.)

The WRX isn't a car that would please me stock unless it was an STi. They are slow . The Legacy is much faster. I would be forced to mod, and the Legacy would likely never see the light again (let's be real here). I would never feel the need to mod a motorcycle, so money would go to the Legacy. But at the same time, I don't really like to die.

Opinions? Advice?

[Yukonart]

Looking at used 2004 STis, Phil? Believe me, with ANY STi you can easily resist the urge to mod. They're plenty fast and handle very well, right out of the box.

Strange that you can rev smoothly, but it idles badly.

[206er]

get a motorcycle, thats what I plan on doing. gotta love 50mpg and bad ass acceleration. If you take it easy and dont try to start out on a busa you should be ok. you used to ride mtbs right, so you should have pretty good reflexes.
what kind of bike were you planning on getting? Im probably going to get a mid-late 70s something or other. probably like a CB400-4, RD 350, or T500 if I can find one, maybe a XS650 or CB750 too. I will probably end up crashing it, so cheaper is better.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/mcy/64883577.html Im staring at this thing wishing I was back in the northwest

[LaureltheQueen]

That's really odd. I say get a legacy GT

[vrg3]

That kinda sounds like what would happen if you developed a leak in your intake or something, right? Like maybe an intercooler hose not sitting right anymore, or a malfunctioning blowoff valve?

[legacy92ej22t]

Unhook your O2 sensor immediately! That is almost exactly the way my problem started Phil, no joke. You are using the same wiring extension that I was when I developed the problem too. Just try it, you have nothing to lose, you might get lucky and that's the problem.

[legacycontinues]

That sounds like what my car did (minus the turbo action) and now she is resting quietly in the driveway waiting for a new owner.

[azn2nr]

ouch dude. do you have a bung in the stock location because if you do just get a new sensor and do a tune up. every time i do one the car keeps running better and better.

and if it does go and you do get a wrx call up deadbolt and get your housing swiched for a stright inlet and some other adjustments to your current mods and youll have a modded wrx

[skid542]

That's a strange that it revs fine but won't idle. I'd definately do some more looking before making any drastic decisions.
However with regards to a bike or car, I'd get a car. A used STi wouldn't be bad and wouldn't feel the need to mod. I just personally don't trust myself on a sport bike. Everyone I know that rides has layed their's over at least once, most at relatively low speeds. I know I'm the type that enjoys pushing the envelope, if I had a bike that could do 180mph, it'd see 180mph. Until I'm ready to die I'm going to hold off on the bike, perhaps maybe a nice crusing bike would fit me well.

[evolutionmovement]

Yeah, dying's a PITA. I hate kids - even when I am one. Don't like growing old either, but starting all over again is an annoying set back. I'd say EM for the Legacy.

Steve

[Kelly]

Hmmm.

Motorcycle bad.
WRX good.

[scottzg]

<--- that guy would kill himself with a cool motorcycle.

It really just sounds like a bad reading somewhere; a vacuum hose that has blown off, a funky maf, something of that nature.

Why do you NEED gut bursting performance? Plenty of people drive ordinary 130hp cars, and i bet they run into less trouble than those with sphyncter-puckering power. A say, 4000$ used accord could provide functional transportation and not break the bank. The legacy would always be there.

[dzx]

I dunno...Try resetting the ecu, or maybe take off your intercooler and see if its clogged with oil.

[Brat4by4]

Replace your plugs, check out the electrical.

Cheap alternative transportation is the way to go. Motorcycles are nice, but are hard to carry car parts on to fix the Legacy.

I think you need to get your car done right this time. The stock ECU will forever hate you for the mods on the car. (P.S. - That is NOT a sales pitch.)

[BAC5.2]

Unhook your O2 sensor immediately! That is almost exactly the way my problem started Phil, no joke. You are using the same wiring extension that I was when I developed the problem too. Just try it, you have nothing to lose, you might get lucky and that's the problem.

Thats a good point Matt, now that you mention it. This is how the car acted driving to the Shootout, when we wen't through that bigass puddle.

I'll unplug it ASAP.

[BAC5.2]

Matt seems to have been right, yet again

What is REALLY weird, is that the CEL has yet to come on and the O2 has been unplugged all day.

Car idles fine, drives OK, sucks just as much gas. I wonder if my 02 was doing anything before?

Hmm....

I am gonna take some private motorcycle lessons (to get an objective view of my riding) and get my license, then pick up a used bike (I would love to get a 99 R6 or something, or a CBR600). I have been riding bicycles my whole life, so I think I have my balance pretty set. I just want a bike that I'm not worried about dropping so I can learn and practice. I will probably intentionally drop the bike a few times in the driveway practicing balance and such. I've never driven a 400lb, 100hp bicycle. I am also gonna practice riding in the rain, because you never know when you'll get caught out in bad weather.

Scott - To answer your question, I am not sure why I need a fast vehicle. I am a car guy. I like modification. I really think that I am incapable of leaving a car stock.

I am not going to kid myself anymore. If I got an STi, it'd be stage4 sooner than later.

[legacy92ej22t]

Matt seems to have been right, yet again

Ah-ha! Redemption is mine! Mooohahahahaha!

Ya, you all think I'm crazy with my "unhook your O2 sensor" preaching when people are having weird issues but maybe Phatty Matty knows is shit after all, huh, huh?

What is REALLY weird, is that the CEL has yet to come on and the O2 has been unplugged all day.

Mine was the same way. It would only throw a CEL after about 15 minutes of highway/freeway driving. City driving would never throw a CEL. Weird.


Well that's fuckin' outstanding that it was something easy! I'm stoked it was something small.

[THAWA]

So what is the actual problem?

[vrg3]

The actual problem seems to be when the oxygen sensor and/or its wiring fails in a certain way, and the ECU's response to it is maladaptive.

[206er]

An R6 might be a little too much bike for a beginner. an older 600 from the late 80's might be a better option, Ive ridden my friends 87 CBR 600, and that was pretty intense. opened it up and they are PLENTY fast for a beginner like me(or you). So why throw down $5k on an R6 when you can scare yourself on something for around $1500- 2k? plus, plastic is going to be a lot cheaper for a old CBR or something than an R6 when you drop it.
riding in the rain must suck. much easier to break loose from hard breaking or a corner, and once you do, youre going down.

[BAC5.2]

I don't want a new R6. I would kill myself. I want an older R6, like a 99. They go around here for as little as 2 grand in decent condition. I hear they are very good beginner bikes, the older R6, because they were really forgiving back then. They weren't the 600cc race bike that they are now.

Today, for some reason, I got some fuel cut. WTF? O2 sensor unattached, I get better gas mileage, and somehow got fuel cut (maybe knock sensor induced?).

Grrrr.