I have been having a frustrating time with my car in the past week or so.
There is a very noticable shuddering, or maybe even to be noticed as a light jerking, when i am cruizing and the torque converter is locked. I am still ocassionaly seeing the rough idleing, which just seems like the engine is missing, though i am by no account an authority on the subject of auto mechanics. I was to told by a friend that it's probably time for a tune-up, but you guys are friggin genius's so i thought i'd check with you. What do you think?
Thanks, Teague
engine shuddering
Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 7:19 pm
- Location: USA, WA, Whidbey Island, Bellingham
engine shuddering
'99 Impreza L 2.2 powa!
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 7:19 pm
- Location: USA, WA, Whidbey Island, Bellingham
-
- Vikash
- Posts: 12517
- Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 2:13 am
- Location: USA, OH, Cleveland (sometimes visiting DC though)
- Contact:
It's really hard to make any kind of judgements from your description...
Does the juddering happen only at a specific engine or vehicle speed range, or all over the place?
You say you occasionally see a rough idle -- can you be more specific? Does it idle rough when warm or when cold? With the A/C on or off?
How long has it been since the last tuneup? It couldn't hurt to give that a shot. Get some good NGK copper plugs and decent wires, maybe reset the ECU too...
Do you have any intake or ignition modifications?
Does the juddering happen only at a specific engine or vehicle speed range, or all over the place?
You say you occasionally see a rough idle -- can you be more specific? Does it idle rough when warm or when cold? With the A/C on or off?
How long has it been since the last tuneup? It couldn't hurt to give that a shot. Get some good NGK copper plugs and decent wires, maybe reset the ECU too...
Do you have any intake or ignition modifications?
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 7:19 pm
- Location: USA, WA, Whidbey Island, Bellingham
the juddering happens mostly between about 2000-2500 rpm, when cruising.
I have not noticed any correlation with the rough idle and temperature, it has happened on 90 degree F days and 45 degree nights, and i almost never use my A/C. I have no idea when the last tune up was, though i bought the car from a lot in november last year, but i doubt they really did a full tune up on it. I have no idea what kind of plugs i'm using, the wires are ngk. I think i will try reseting the ecu today. oh, and no intake or ignition mods besides the wires which were on it when i bought it.
Thanks, Teague
I have not noticed any correlation with the rough idle and temperature, it has happened on 90 degree F days and 45 degree nights, and i almost never use my A/C. I have no idea when the last tune up was, though i bought the car from a lot in november last year, but i doubt they really did a full tune up on it. I have no idea what kind of plugs i'm using, the wires are ngk. I think i will try reseting the ecu today. oh, and no intake or ignition mods besides the wires which were on it when i bought it.
Thanks, Teague
'99 Impreza L 2.2 powa!
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."
-
- Vikash
- Posts: 12517
- Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 2:13 am
- Location: USA, OH, Cleveland (sometimes visiting DC though)
- Contact:
At least some OEM Subaru wires are NGK, so it's actually possible that your wires are the original ones, which is kind of scary.
You may as well get a new set of NGK copper plugs (shouldn't cost you more than $7 for the set). Then take out your plugs to inspect them; see if the tips tell you anything about what kind of combustion (or lack thereof) is going on. The put the new plugs in.
Sometimes you can tell if wires are bad by parking the car in a very dark garage and running the engine; if you see sparks going through the insulation, that's bad. If you try this, be sure not to run the engine in a closed room because you'll die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
You may as well get a new set of NGK copper plugs (shouldn't cost you more than $7 for the set). Then take out your plugs to inspect them; see if the tips tell you anything about what kind of combustion (or lack thereof) is going on. The put the new plugs in.
Sometimes you can tell if wires are bad by parking the car in a very dark garage and running the engine; if you see sparks going through the insulation, that's bad. If you try this, be sure not to run the engine in a closed room because you'll die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 7:19 pm
- Location: USA, WA, Whidbey Island, Bellingham
actually, my plugs have only about 5000 miles on them, and were selected by the mechanic i go to, who works on a lot of subarus so i'm not to worried about his decision of spark plugs. i'll see what i can do about the wires.
'99 Impreza L 2.2 powa!
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."
"If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style."