My 99 L Wagon does the same thing at 3k. It's very minor though, only a slight 'bobble' that you can hardly notice unless you're actually trying to feel for it. I'm thinking it's my clutch. Still haven't found a solution though.. regular maintenence didn't solve it.

 

I'm not an expert on this, but it sounds like your ecu could be in safe mode. Have you tried disconnecting the negative battery cable for about 10 minutes to reset the ecu?

 

I know what the problem might be...The fuel filter!

My car has 43k miles on it and a week ago it did the same thing, but on a much more extreme scale. When I tried to drive up my driveway, it would bog, then stall. But no check engine light. Made it to the dealers (thank God) and found out my fuel filter was totally clogged. They replaced the filter. They said my lines had so much junk in them, in fact, that I would have to replace the filter again in a few weeks, and suggested I used high-test gas and fuel system cleaning additives until then. I asked if this is the result of someone vandalizing my car and they said that this is normal. I've had cars that have made it 100k+ miles and not done this! Anyone else had this problem?

-Nate

p.s. Since the service, the car has ran almost 100%, but still bogs down every once in awhile. I'm gonna see if these additives help ;-)

 

I have a little bogging with my 2000 RS from about 4100-4400. Not a big deal though. I had a problem like that on this Audi I had a couple of years ago though. It turned out that the engine was in safe mode and safe mode was triggered by a problem with the ignition system. A new coil pack took care of it. I hope it is just the fuel filter though because if Subaru coil packs are anything like the Audi's, its going to cost a fortune.

 

I had a problem with the car bogging severely and had much difficulity accelerating. It would only go foward if I WOT. no CE light. It was the front 02 sensor, again... 67K miles

 

in my old nissan it would be a do no matter where i was in teh power band. id some chekign and my rear o2 senor was f'ed. so it could be teh senor.

 

I have a 99 RS and it is doing the same thing. I found it was the AEM intake I put on it. The computer wasnt compensating for the added air going through the engine. I replaced it with the stock air box and a K&N drop in filter, and the problem went away.

 

Well, this has been incredibly useful for diagnosing so far. Hopefully this isn't a dead thread.

Same issue, '99 Impreza 2.5 RS. Have to get at my fuel filter (which a local dealership said was near my firewall/strut on the left side of the engine - didn't find it) to check it. Already have a K&N drop in on air, so not particularly worried about that.

Giving minor gas to the car, I can get around, sometimes worse than others. Over 4K rpm is not happening, and if I floor it, she'll drop down to about 1K and bog out. Sometimes bucks. Only 50K miles on her, too.

Now atop this, something nobody else has said...have a lovely rotten egg smell sometimes when I shut it off. Reportedly from a mechanic buddy, this has to do with my catalytic converter. Would the cat have the same effect? That's a little more of a job than a fuel filter. Might just be a combination thing.

Anyhoo, any input would be appreciated :) Gonna go back out and try to find that fuel filter, heh. Help.

-john

 

^^^^you most definatly have a clogged cat! thats your problem

 

Well. The story unfolds. Fuel filter, changed. Was clogged. This fixed it totally bogging out, but not the 4K limit.

Called Subaru, ends up they have an 8 year 80,000 (if I remember correctly) drivetrain warranty. So, they said they'd replace the $610 + man hours cat for free! Groovy. They order the part.

Get down there, they do a, "Wait. There's no check engine light." "Right." "We can't change out the cat in warranty without a check engine light." "Oh crap." "We'll see what we can do."

So I head out front, smoke a couple cigarettes, read a book.

Hour later, he comes out. Main 02 sensor. Replaced, still warranty. Says I have to get rid of my funky sparkplugs, that the stock ones'll work better. The new-fandangled quad split plugs misfire with Imprezas a lot.

Huh. So, I get in my car (which they washed and vaccumed...should I have tipped the guy?), and pull up to the road. Crank the wheel right, gun it - almost hit the curb, I swung around so fast, heh. My car hasn't performed like this in over a year, and because of the lack of check engine light, couldn't figure it out. She's ripping now.

Course, this doesn't mean the cat doesn't still need replacing, but the 4K RPM dealiebop's toast. Had a first "date" with a nice lady that night, she couldn't get her seatbelt on fast enough :)

Okay, so. From what I've learned it can additionally be:

ALL 02 SENSORS. CHECK THE LITTLE SQUIRRELY BASTARDS.

Main (where your air filter is). Front (before cat). Rear (after cat). Think those are it, but. Never know.

Yes.

-john

(p.s. Camelback Subaru, Phoenix. They rule.)

 

mine was doing that. After 10 other parts..ended up being oil pressure sensor.

 

I've seen on youtube that they get out of the quagmire by putting chains on the wheels, has anyone tried this.