Injector Issues - I think

[Joe0920]

I have a 92 N/A. I recently bought it, and after doing some regular maintenance stuff, I'm experiencing issues.

Sometimes, when the car starts, it has a horrible idle. Fluctuates from 600 to 200, and shimmies like a white kid at prom. It will eventually give one high rev up to 1500, then die. Also, if I give it any gas, it will severely bog down and usually die. This is more frequent when cold.

However, sometimes it starts up perfectly. It purrs.

Recently it's started stalling. It doesn't matter what load it's under, going up a hill or down, high or low rpms, the engine just CUTS OFF. Moving or parked. No rough idle, no funny noises, just OFF. In the rough idle I mentioned above and the stalling, I can smell gas after it gets shut off.

So my guess is that there's a problem with my injectors. They could be clogged, or somehow flooding the engine. I tested the resistance and they all read 11-12 ohms. Unless a purge valve solenoid could cause this? My only code is 35.

I just replaced the fuel filter, on the off chance it was simply clogged, and I put a bottle of injector cleaner into the tank to run that through.

Any ideas?

[Legacy777]

Welcome to the BBS.

Your symptoms actually sound more like a bad MAF sensor. Myself and others have experience bad MAF sensors and can cause the stalling and poor running you described. I'd suggest trying to either clean yours with some MAF cleaner and more so, try and find a used one either at a junkyard or in the parts shed to replace yours.

[Joe0920]

Ah - Thank you. I will try that ASAP.

[Joe0920]

I ran the MAF cleaner through it. I still experienced the terrible idle and eventual stall on the cold start. Once I got it to start smoothly, I idled well until it dipped into the 500-ish range and I could feel an occasional stumble and kind of bassy pop from the exhaust from time to time. That could be the engine running lean or rich, and the MAF being bad and not adjusting?

Thinking next step is get a new MAF, 45 bucks on Ebay.

[Legacy777]

Yeah, all those things could be due to a bad MAF. I'd replace your MAF and see if that helps.

[Joe0920]

Update:

I got my cheap radiator from eBay and installed it over the weekend. Got it filled up and working properly, and all of the above issues stopped. No stalling, no weird starts, nothing.

Which is concerning to me. Should I be worried about any permanent damage? I'm assuming the car shut itself off because it was overheating due to the coolant not flowing or something.

[Legacy777]

Hmm, that is a little suspicious that installing a new radiator fixed those symptoms. I have had intermittent issues with MAF sensors, so if the symptoms come back again I'd suggest cleaning or trying to swap out the MAF with a replacement.

[wtdash]

Hi,
Yeah...replacing the radiator doesn't relate to the other issues....but did you by chance do anything w/the battery terminals, too - like clean them up? And how bad did it overheat? How far did you drive it while hot?

AFAIK, the car will not 'turn off' when overheated...until it's WaY too late.

I'd just grab a "pull-n-save" MAF...same for '92-98 Subarus (except the SVX and turbos)-green label AUTECS or JECS brand.

GL,
TD

[Joe0920]

Sorry for neglecting this thread guys.

The above symptoms went away for two days, however as soon as the air got wet and cold, she returned to her fits. And finally threw a code 23. That confirmed my suspicion and I had the car towed home.

I just started two new jobs so I've been settling with a borrowed vehicle. Anyways. I have since gotten a new battery, it needed replacing anyways. Cleaned the connectors and got them seated properly. New spark plugs and plug wires. My new MAF is on a truck for delivery TODAY (My pick and pull wanted 45 dollars for a used one.. Boo.)

Once I put it in I'm hoping my woes will be over and I can look at getting this girl some body work and new paint.

[Joe0920]

New MAF is in. All problems have stopped - thank you guys.

[Legacy777]

Thanks for the follow up, and glad to hear it fixed the problem.