legacycentral bbs

I have a 1990 Legacy. It will run and rev (slight hesitations) in park, but when I put it in gear (auto-non turbo) it wants to die or just run super sluggish. Can't even climb the mound in my driveway. Changed the fuel filter, plugs, PCV, air filter, all to no avail (but they needed it anyways). checked the resistance at the coils and they're all pretty close. little over on the primary, but close. started to run sluggish about a week ago, now can't drive it at all. Haynes manual isn't helping, but I'm sure someone on here could.
Should I look at the MAF and if so, any way to check without spending the $250 to replace?

Find someone with a known good one for sale and test it. Don't go buy a new one.

does this sound like it could be the MAF sensor or am I reaching?

just a bit more info...when I put it in gear, as long as I dont touch the gas it seems fine, as soo as I touch the gas, it wants to die. I feather it and can get a few more RPM's, but still not enough to move.

have you ever just let it sit in for a while before you give it gas or move?
mine can do that on cold starts, if it put it in gear and just let it set for a little bit and then slow start backing out giving it a little more gas it wont do it anymore
does it also idle low?

it chugs a little on idle but I've let it get to normal temp and nothing changes. Still no go.

well ill see if it changes anything when i change my IAC valve tomorrow, but im not sure it will be exactly related to the problem your having
im defiantly not the most experienced person on the board so id listen to some of the others first

if you found a low mileage Leggy in a junkyard with a MAF for around $10 it couldnt hurt to change it and see if it helps
my TPS and IAC were $5.00 out of a junkyard ($300+ brand new)

thanks. hopin to get more ideas

Does your exhaust smell like gas?

How old are your plug wires and plugs?

How does the car run with the maf unplugged?

Im having a very similar problem with my modded car, and the car recently stopped catching on startup. I have a strong odor of gas from the exhaust and I have a feeling my plugs are all fouled....

Are you running catted?

exhaust don't smell like gas or coolant

new plugs, semi old wires

shuts down if maf unplugged

Could be plug wires. I went through a set a year until I got Magnecors.

When did it start doing this?

last week. noticed a loss in power on the way home from work. next morning, no power.

Any CELs? Was it raining? Has it been hot? Anything out of the ordinary at all?

nothing

Fill up your gas tank at a different station than normal?

no.

Sounds a lot like wires. I've had the car run on 2 cylinders, making me think that something catstrophic had gone wrong.

Does the engine shake around more than normal at idle?

yeah, a little more. it revs decent in park, put it in gear and hit the gas and it bogs down quick

+1 for wires

guy at the parts store was saying MAF sensor but maybe he just wanted me to spend the $

Buy a can of MAF cleaner, that stuff works wonders

I'll get some wires and cleaner in the morning... I appreciate the ideas from you both

I'd say wires or MAF. You can get a used one from a JY for about $20-$30 and just try it and see if it works.