Sorry to make another thread about this old green turd, but I'm pretty sure it's a separate issue from the clutch and hopefully can get some more specific answers. So 97 Legacy, 2.2, 227k, yada yada. Recently developed a sporadic knock/tick. When it does it it'll last a while, but doesnt seem to have any rhyme or reason as to when and why. Quite positive it's not piston slap since it hasn't been really cold lately, and it also doesn't seem to do it when the engine is cool anyways. To the best of my knowledge I'm guessing it's valve train related? Changes depending on RPM. Doesn't get louder under load so I don't think it's rod bearing, correct? Recent clutch change so had motor out. Replaced oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, and oil separator plate behind flywheel. Also cleaned all the crap/crud off the motor. I don't think it's the pilot bearing cuz it sounds like it's coming from the left head area. Doesn't seem to affect performance at all, or at least I don't notice it while driving. I did try to record it a little with the camera the other day and noticed that it had a slight vibration/stumble feeling just above idle. If I can get the video uploaded you can actually see it shaking the camera when I'd mess with the throttle. Thanks yet again for anybody willing to help with this old sled.
Why do you not think its piston slap? Piston slap can happen regardless of temp. My old Impreza 2.2 had piston slap nearly all the time, as well as a bunch of valvetrain noise. She still ran strong though.
Only reason I didn't think piston slap was because I've "heard" that it generally happens when it's cold and goes away once the pistons have warmed and expanded, or something to that effect. Maybe it does it all the time cuz she's so tired?
I'm more than happy to just turn the radio up a little more if it means she's still running "fine". Just the kinda guy that would rather fix something small now rather than deal with catastrophic failure later, if possible. I feel like a moron always having to ask for diagnosis help/advice. If I know what's wrong it's usually not a problem for me to follow a procedure and fix it myself. Just not that great at pinpointing the issue(s) yet.
Just for ****s, you could try the full Seafoam treatment (intake and in crankcase for a bit before doing an oil-change, should have directions on the big can). I believe your car has hydraulic lifters, and you could have a sticky one. Would only cost $10 to try and can't hurt. Or do the old cheap trick of putting ATF in the oil for a bit before changing it out.
I did the seafoam in the intake at some point last summer. Probably wouldn't hurt to do it again. It was frickin hilarious driving around town cleaning it out. I've heard like a 1/3 can in each the intake, crank case, and then the fuel tank. Sound about right? Thanks!
I probably wouldn't bother with it in the intake and fuel, if it is indeed lifters then you need to attack the oil. The Seafoam is pretty agressive cleaner and can dissolve out a lot of crap in the engine and plug up the oil filter if you leave it in the CC for too many miles. I think the recommendation is 1.5oz per quart of oil, added 100 miles before your next planned oil change (don't leave it much longer than that). Give the engine a good hoon during that 100 miles so that it gets good and hot and revved, drain the oil and change filter, and then add the recommended amount of Marvel Mystery Oil with the new engine oil fill. It's an effective but much gentler detergent oil, and since the seafoam took the worst of the crap and deposited it in the filter which you changed out, now the MMO can take care of the rest of the deposits over the next 5k miles. Then you're back to your normal oil change schedule. If you want to throw the rest of the ~1/2 can of seafoam in the intake or fuel tank that's up to you, or you can save it for another car. Hope that helps!
Umm, yeah. Thanks, man. Certainly appreciate it. You had me at "give it a hoon." Haha. Looks like I got a project for the weekend.
Genuinely starting to think it'll never end... So put some ATF and seafoam in the oil last week in the way home. Drove it to work and back the next day. Got about 40 miles total on it. Knock went away almost instantly and car started running noticeably better. Was planning on an oil change last weekend and now the car is having a different opinion. On my way home last week on the second trip home from work, it started just chugging like mad like it wanted to choke and die. Only did it a few times but it was definitely noticeable. Was low on gas so I stopped quick to fill up thinking maybe that was it. Ended up making it home fine with only one more chug/hesitation. Never got time to investigate. Moved it out of the garage last night and it chugged/choked itself off a half dozen times. Would start and idle fine and then randomly just start to sputter and when I'd try to give it gas during that time it was like it choked even more. Scan tool came back with p0100 and p0101, both generic MAF related codes. Didn't get a chance to clean it yet but assuming it's a little more to it than that. Do these MAF's really just completely die at random?
Long story short, I found a pretty nice Taurus wagon for sale if this bitch doesn't get her act together real quick.
Almost a 20 year old maf..... Buy some electronic cleaner and spray it. If it fixes the issue then great, but if not then i'd look at some junk yards for a used one. If it doesn't work, you can normally just return them. Did you happen to change your spark plug's after seafoaming? Atleast check them to make sure they don't have deposit on the tip's.
I've got some MAF cleaner at home. Just haven't had a chance to fart with it yet. Also, there's u-pull yard about a 1/4 mile from the house and I'm pretty sure they had a Legacy or two in there last time we were there. Hopefully can get somewhere with it tonight.
So finally got around to messing with this thing tonight. Changed oil, put in some Marvel with the new stuff, and even added a Fumoto valve. So all is going good on the south end of the motor. Thing sounds smooth as ever again. I left the battery disconnected while changing oil to clear the codes and reset the computer. Took it for a quick spin, maybe a mile total, and the CEL came back in that time span with the same code. Although the car seemed to be running smoother during the drive. After pulling back into the garage I got it to start choking and sputtering again a little. So I resorted to the google and proceeded to try and figure out how to troubleshoot/test a MAF, unfortunately to not much avail. All I can say for sure is that running it with the MAF plugged in this 2nd to last test run it seemed to completely fall on its face under acceleration. Hardly any power whatsoever and even felt the same way as when the clutch was slipping. Just didn't want to go anywhere as the gas pedal demanded it. Pulled it back in the garage and went back out for one more lap with the MAF NOT plugged in. Other than the slightest hesitation at the touch of the gas, it seemed to have all power back. As long as i was either completely off the pedal or hard(er) on the gas, it seemed to pull pretty smooth. When slowing down or just barely on the gas, it's like it didn't really know what to do (I'm assuming that's where the MAF comes in). Anywho, at this point, I'm not 100% if the MAF is the complete issue or not. Was too late to hit the u-pull yard here so maybe I'll try to sneak in there some evening this week and give it a whirl with a used one. Otherwise, looking at around $100 for a new one.
Yessir. Blasted the heck out of it several times and let it air out while I was doing the oil change. Put everything back together and took it for a spin. First couple minutes out it was running phenomenal. I was actually kinda excited. Then it went back downhill.
So I'm gonna be needing everybody on here to do me a huge favor and hold your breath indefinitely. Sourced a MAF from U-pull yesterday and put 'er in quick. Thing seemed to run like a dream pretty much immediately. No rough start or idle, no chugging to death randomly, and even drive down the road quite nicely. Now to just not touch anything...
