Hey, i have been having this problem since it got cold out. when my car is cold and at lower RPMS (under 3k) and i turn on the defrost it will sometimes bog down my car, to the point where i need to floor it for several seconds in order to keep the car alive. if i dont hit the gas HARD the car will stall on me. i am curious as to why this is happenign and if i can fix it. another note is that after it recovers from bogging, it will throw a MAF sensor code. so heres some car info: 95 Impreza 2.2l Automatic Unorthodox Racing Underdrive Crank Pulley Perfect Power SMT6 Cone Filter any ideas what may be causign the car to die on me?
I'm not sure about the code, but that sounds like either charging system or battery problem, both pretty easy to check. The defrost creates heat by sending alot of power through a very high resistance, the resistance is those black strips on your back window. Even with most newer cars you can see the lights dim as you turn it on because of the enormous draw it puts on your charging/battery system. If one of those systems had a problem, turning the defrost on could very easily cause the car to hesitate or even die from lack of power to other needed places aka, ignition, sensors, etc. Maybe one of the suby experts on here knows about a common problem with this or has past experience for ya, good luck, hope this helped! PS: One idea for throwing that code, some sensors read a voltage from an input and then changes based on condition/postition/temp, etc. If your power is dropping far enough, and your MAF communicates with the computer using voltage readings . . . well that would be a pretty easy way to get that code to come on for ya. But i don't know what type of signal subarus MAF sensor sends, just an idea. Good Luck!
interesting... by the way i am refering to the main defrost for the front windshield, not the rear defrost.
Haha well then, ignore everything I just said! Sorry for the mix-up. It could still be a power draw of some sort, not sure anymore though.
I still say new MAF sensor, priority #1. but, part of the problem is the front defrost actually engages the A/C to dry out the air, so your car doesn't have enough torque at idle to spin the A/C compressor too (HAHA, even mine had enough power for that!!! ), so whatever it is, it's a result of not enough torque, could even just be your underdrive pulley, or your MAF sensor, which might be related to your funny AFR readings.....etc. etc.
hmmm... while the underdrive pulley does take alot away from the electrical system (lights dim with ABS engaing ect...) it wieghs dramtically less then the stocker, so maybe it doesnt have the rotational momentum to keep the thing spining. i that our tunign issues with AFRs was only related to the MAF, since teh CEL was on when we did that i am wondering if the ECU went into some type of safe mode where we could not alter it, or something. yarg.
I has the same problem when I installed my pulleys, couldnt run the heater when idleing.I took them off
just like I was talking about getting a heavier flywheel on my EJ22 for more rotational momentum and better hillclimbing ability..... I actually meant it the other way around, the AFR 'problem' might be part of why you don't have enough torque to spin your condensor I say take off your A/C, it's just robbing power, and then you can turn on your defroster without it killing your car.....right after replaceing your MAF
your car would stall, when the defrost was on? maybe i will have to remove my pulley. although it is nice. i noticed the car reved slightly faster, and got 3-4mpg better mileage.
It wouldnt stall unless it idled for a long time. The idle would drop so low that it wouldnt charge the battery. The lights would go dim and then die out
i dont think the pulley is your problem, there is supposed to be a small idle controll thing that activates when the ac is on, to rev the engine up so it does NOT stall...perhaps this is malfunctioning, i have UD and lightweight pulley, and i dont have that problem, but i do have my ac pump disconnected in the winter to save gas
I actually had this problem today, my fan defrost and lights were on. Car died as I was waiting at a light. Pretty lame, I think my alternator is **** though. I've got a new one on the way.
thats similar to what happens to me, except sometime it happens while i am driving (like 1/2 way through an intersection) it really suck cause it takes some time to start it again.
