1990 Legacy 2.2 running problems
Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 11:13 pm
I have a 1990 legacy w/ 2.2 EFI motor.
Problem is the car will start fine run fine for a while then will die or stutter some (if I pump accelerator peddle) then die. It will start right back up again and maybe run or maybe just die again. This can go on constantly or it might run fine for awhile before doing it again. A sour smell (not a raw gas smell or typical exhaust smell but a foul unusual smell) typically occurs when this happens. I have had fault codes for O2 sensor, Canister purge valve, MAF sensor fault and knock sensor. I have also read that my problem could be from sticky valves.
I have cleaned the MAF sensor w/ CRC MAF cleaner but have not repalaced other items showing up on fault codes - don't want to start replacing (money tight right now) until I can pin point what is wrong. It seems to be related to the ECU or electronics because it seems to run fine after the ECU resets or something. However, what I read about sticky valves on late model legacys also makes some sense. Supposedly I did have some stuck valves on the left hand head after the car had been parked for 6-months but I don't know for sure since when I got back I checked valves (valve cover off and could depress valves by hand) and started the car up and drove it for a couple months before this problem started occurring.
Would like any input you all may have. Sorry for the long winded post but figured I should get all I know into it. Any suggestions?
Problem is the car will start fine run fine for a while then will die or stutter some (if I pump accelerator peddle) then die. It will start right back up again and maybe run or maybe just die again. This can go on constantly or it might run fine for awhile before doing it again. A sour smell (not a raw gas smell or typical exhaust smell but a foul unusual smell) typically occurs when this happens. I have had fault codes for O2 sensor, Canister purge valve, MAF sensor fault and knock sensor. I have also read that my problem could be from sticky valves.
I have cleaned the MAF sensor w/ CRC MAF cleaner but have not repalaced other items showing up on fault codes - don't want to start replacing (money tight right now) until I can pin point what is wrong. It seems to be related to the ECU or electronics because it seems to run fine after the ECU resets or something. However, what I read about sticky valves on late model legacys also makes some sense. Supposedly I did have some stuck valves on the left hand head after the car had been parked for 6-months but I don't know for sure since when I got back I checked valves (valve cover off and could depress valves by hand) and started the car up and drove it for a couple months before this problem started occurring.
Would like any input you all may have. Sorry for the long winded post but figured I should get all I know into it. Any suggestions?