Paul-M

Hi everyone. Tonight I was out driving my MY00 classic turbo. I noticed that sometimes, especially when accelerating through third gear, at around 4000RPM the car seemed to loose much power and would only continue to accelerate slowly compared to normal. It happened in other gears too, but third being the most noticable. This does not happen all the time, at other times there does not seem to be such a marked power loss. My dad's friend who is a mechanic suggested it could be an air flow meter problem...

Is there anyone who could help me figure out what is causing this? Any help would be much appreciated!

Bubba po

Yes, it sounds similar to how my MY99 was behaving shortly after I got it. It turned out to be a Mass Air Flow sensor problem. They're about 80 quid for that model year.

But a garage would be your best bet.

Paul-M

Well, dropped the car out at the garage on Saturday. They have just called me saying it is ready for collection. I asked if they found out what was wrong with it and they told me that "we have turned the boost up on the turbo". To be honest this seems a strange reply to me, but not being a mechanic who am i to argue!!!
I was under the impression that to change the boost you needed to replace the ECU? And if all they have done is turn the boost up without changing anything else will the car not be underfuelling etc..?
I am not going to be able to find out if it is running better now until the weekend when I can pick the car up. Does what the garage told me sound strange to anyone else?!?

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Is that a Subaru garage???

There is no need to turn the boost up- assuming you did not lower it by some means previously. Ask them exactly how they have acheived this? That should be interesting. If the ECU retards boost it's usually an indication that something is wrong!!

If this is a MAF problem and you gun it with the car set to run a higher boost without appropriate fueling and ignition alterations, you stand a good chance of killing your engine.

Get it to a specialist asap!!! A diagnositc check for faulty sensors is a few minutes job with a laptop!

Ns04

AC-scoobie

Er?? Where did you take it mate? Doesn't sound like a good answer

Paul-M

No, not a subaru garage. The reason I went to this garage is I just bought the car from them and have a 6 month waranty. I did think what they told me on the phone sounded like BS to be honest. Will go out with my dad (he knows lots more about turbo cars than me) at the weekend and find out exactly what they have done!
Think a trip to a specialist may well be needed!!!

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Keep it off boost mate. If your MAF is dodgy AND they've tunred the boost up (I have my doubts about that, but they might have put a Dawes on it) then you could be one enthusiastic prod of the throttle away from a shagged engine!! Seriously, get it to a specialist now. Most won't even probably charge you for plugging a laptop in and looking for fault codes and seeing if the voltage reading on the Maf are ok!! With all due respect to your dad, he probably hasn't got the rght gear to check it properly.

Whereabouts are you?

Ns04

DaveMiddleton

Folks, This is Paul-M 's dad here. I have now spoken to him ( I am in the Far East on business till Friday). I have called the garage and explained to one of the partners the folly of doing what has been suggested was done!! The partner will investigate tomorrow.
I am now obviously concerned as well that they do not know what they are talking about and I will ensure that we have Paul's car checked by someone with the appropriate diagnostic device.
As we are in Aberdeen, does anyone have any ideas of a knowledgeable independent on Subaru's or will we just take it to OIM dealer?