Ticking time bomb

**racefactory** · 11th January 2011, 21:13

2004 EJ20 turbo suddenly hesitating/ missing badly under load or low rpms, black smoke, rough idle, plugs filthy. When it settles back down from revving to idle it will bog down and then pick back up.

Done plugs, changed to stock air filter, changed oxygen sensor, maf sensor, air flow sensor, knock sensor... probably every bloody sensor. Changed blow off valve back to stock.

Shit out of ideas.

These engines are bloody time bombs, just a matter of time before they explode bills over you.

any ideas?

**Laava** · 11th January 2011, 21:15

Yep. Don't post on a motorbike forum. Try www.boxerboofheads.com

**racefactory** · 11th January 2011, 21:18

Oh come on mate a lot of us have cars/vans too. No need for that now.

**98tls** · 11th January 2011, 21:21

Originally Posted by Laava

Yep. Don't post on a motorbike forum. Try www.boxerboofheads.com

Bit harsh considering plenty posted on Kiwi biker has sfa to do with motorcycles,Can be of no help re your Subaru fella but no doubt theres people on here that can and will post up shortly.

**Laava** · 11th January 2011, 21:27

Sorry. Sand in mangina.

**98tls** · 11th January 2011, 21:38

Originally Posted by Laava

Sorry. Sand in mangina.

.......................

**stig** · 11th January 2011, 21:47

the engine management systems on those are a pain in arse.
They react the same way and cut the power when any parameter is slightly out of spec, making them hard to diagnose.
I had the same symptoms on mine and even had Winger spend 16hrs on it with no clue on what was wrong they handed it back with no charge.

In the end, the two things I did which helped and then fixed mine,

- Unbolted the knock sensor from block, bolted a lug+wire and earthed it back to the block, then cable tied it out of the way. This means it still gives an OK signal to the ecu but cant pick up any vibes it sends as false alarms.

- TPS sensor had fallen out of calibration, can be checked and adjusted with a multimeter and the appropriate resistance specs for your year engine.

Good luck

**racefactory** · 11th January 2011, 22:35

Thanks a lot mate, the mechanics don't have a clue eh... I'm going around in circles so need new ideas.

**SMOKEU** · 12th January 2011, 00:32

Take it to a Subaru dealer. They are likely to charge and arm and a leg as their hourly rate, but you'd be better off paying an hour or 2 labour to diagnose the fault than to keep on replacing bits that are fine.

My Nissan was running like shit, and several mechanics were left scratching their heads for a while and still couldn't diagnose the fault. I went into a Nissan dealer and paid them an hours labour (around $100), and they diagnosed and fixed the fault easily enough.

**racefactory** · 12th January 2011, 09:27

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Take it to a Subaru dealer. They are likely to charge and arm and a leg as their hourly rate, but you'd be better off paying an hour or 2 labour to diagnose the fault than to keep on replacing bits that are fine.

My Nissan was running like shit, and several mechanics were left scratching their heads for a while and still couldn't diagnose the fault. I went into a Nissan dealer and paid them an hours labour (around $100), and they diagnosed and fixed the fault easily enough.

It's a good idea mate but I've been before and the guys are sharks