1999 Forrester trouble ...

[kali]

Hi there,

This is probably on the site somewhere, but I haven't found it yet, so
sorry if this is a repeat.

I have a WONDERFUL 1999 Subaru Forrester that I adore, but it's
apparently not feeling so well. When I put my foot on the gas it takes a
minute to catch up and actually accelerate, and sometimes it shudders as
it does. It idles very rough. It's worse in the rain, especially, and
when first driving, but doesn't do it all the time. The check engine
light is coming on and off, (not blinking,) but sometimes it's on and
sometimes not. : / My mechanic said he thought it was the transmission,
(@ about $3400,) and to take it to the Subaru dealership. I'm planning on
doing that, just haven't had time with my work schedule. A friend who's
had several Forresters says that it should go away if I have the Fuel
Filter serviced? It's only at about 75,000 miles, so it shouldn't be the
transmission anytime soon, should it? Also interesting is that my mother
has the exact same car, and she has the same issue, mine's just worse
right now.

Anyone experienced this? I'm planning on taking it in, but I'd love
to have some idea what I'm dealing with.
Thanks for reading!
: ) Kali

 

[alex3324]

First off: Please, please, please don't take your Soobie to the dealership
for transmission repairs! Don't be fooled that they know your car best.
Although not an automatic transmission technician, I've worked for several
car dealers. Every one of them that I have worked for have sent all of
their transmission jobs out to the local AAMCO or other transmission shop.
At the Ford dealer that I worked for, we paid the local AAMCO shop about
$900 for a complete removal, tear-down, rebuild and installation of a
Taurus' automatic transmission. We would bill the customer more than
$3500 for this. And, the transmission was built with aftermarket parts --
not genuine Ford.

It seems to me that the rough idle and problems with the transmission
are seperate. For the idle, you may have a fouled spark plug -- they're
cheap and at 75,000 miles, they probably need to be replaced anyway. You
may also have a leak in the air intake system -- air that the MAF sensor
doesn't get a chance to meter and makes the air/fuel mixture too rich.
This is probably wreaking havoc on your emissions and could be burning out
your catalytic converter. Try these ideas first before you take your car
to the transmission mechanic.

Alex

'03 Baja (5-Spd)

 

[Edward Hayes]

In addition to what Alex said: After a complete tune-up the transmission
problems my very well go away as the two systems are intertwined via
computers. Sorry to hear that some dealers don't do their own trans work and
even do not have genuine parts installed. That to me borders on fraud. eddie

 

[CompUser]

@localhost.talkaboutautos.com>,
(e-mail address removed) says...

when first driving, but doesn't do it all the time. The check engine
light is coming on and off, (not blinking,) but sometimes it's on and
sometimes not. : / My mechanic said he thought it was the transmission,
(@ about $3400,) and to take it to the Subaru dealership.

hey fairygodmommy,

Start simple & cheap---first find out what your
CEL means. Find an Autozone parts store near
you, have them do a free reading on your check
engine light, and come back here with the codes &
descriptions. Always a good idea to take what
info the car is willing to provide ;-)

Steve

 

[John Varela]

When I put my foot on the gas it takes a
minute to catch up and actually accelerate, and sometimes it shudders as
it does. It idles very rough. It's worse in the rain, especially, and
when first driving, but doesn't do it all the time. The check engine
light is coming on and off, (not blinking,) but sometimes it's on and
sometimes not.

That sounds like an ignition system problem, especially the part about being
worse in the rain. It could be ignition wires or spark coil (f they have
them; I don't understand ignition systems anymore). The first thing I'd do
is, as Steve suggests, find out what the computer error code has to stay.