Everything old is new again...

[Fred Boer]

And... only a week or so later.... the *&^&*&! check engine light has come
on again tonight.

I could scream in frustration!

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($142.35 and counting....)

 

[Roger Buttsnort]

And... only a week or so later.... the *&^&*&! check engine light has come
on again tonight.

I could scream in frustration!

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($142.35 and counting....)


--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/

It's a Subaru Fred
It's only a matter of time before either you torch it, or it does it on its
own.
The old school Subaru's are bulletproof, the newer ones are just shit....

 

[Tony Hwang]

And... only a week or so later.... the *&^&*&! check engine light has come
on again tonight.

I could scream in frustration!

Legacy 2002, 150,000 kilometers (96,933 miles)
Repair/maintenance costs 2007 ($4700.00)
Repair/maintenance costs 2008 ($142.35 and counting....)

Hmmm,
Sounds like you got a lemon there. I'd dump it.
I have two 2000 Subies. One set of tires for each, one knock sensor went
bad which I replaced at a cost of 25.00 from eBay. Brake jobs and
struts. One ignition wire. No other trouble.

 

[Fred Boer]

Just fyi for those interested:

Brought it to dealership. CEL code P0447; Evap Circuit fault. Reset, test
drove it, and basically said that they couldn't fault the car.

I drove it away... 10 minutes later, CEL comes on. Sigh. Called back and was
told to just drive it for a week or so and see if it goes out. So there we
are.. At least they didn't charge me for pulling and clearing the code...

 

[Roger Buttsnort]

Just fyi for those interested:

Brought it to dealership. CEL code P0447; Evap Circuit fault. Reset, test
drove it, and basically said that they couldn't fault the car.

I drove it away... 10 minutes later, CEL comes on. Sigh. Called back and
was told to just drive it for a week or so and see if it goes out. So
there we are.. At least they didn't charge me for pulling and clearing the
code...

This is SO typical of Subaru's lack of support for it's victims (Customers).
Just drive it a week with the check engine light on and see if it......

Destroys the cat convertor by running rich.....
Burns holes in pistons by running lean...
Damages other engine parts...
overheats......
Voids it's warranty......
Or the light goes out.....

Subaru's NOT impressive trouble-shooting skills....

 

[clare at snyder.on.ca]

This is SO typical of Subaru's lack of support for it's victims (Customers).
Just drive it a week with the check engine light on and see if it......

Destroys the cat convertor by running rich.....
Burns holes in pistons by running lean...
Damages other engine parts...
overheats......
Voids it's warranty......
Or the light goes out.....

Subaru's NOT impressive trouble-shooting skills....

Except that code won't cause any of those.
There could be a sticky/frozen valve that WILL correct itself. Mabee
not. Drive the thing for a week or two. That code will reset itself in
about 50 cycles if the fault corrects itself. If, after the weather
warms up, the problem persists, have it rechecked BY THE SAME
DEALERSHIP. This is a NON CRITICAL code and failure..

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi:

I understand that the P0447 code is not overly serious - but having the CEL
left on might mask other more serious conditions. So I agree with Roger that
having the CEL on isn't a good thing! Still, I've had endless trouble with
CEL lights (finally traced to a corroded wiring harness in the rear wheel
well), and have gotten accustomed to seeing them. The idea that something is
frozen is plausible... the CEL came on a few days ago, when we experienced a
flash freeze, going from very wet, snowy conditions to very cold
temperatures in a few hours. It has remained very cold, and I will have to
wait until the weather warms up to see if the CEL might reset itself. I'm
having no driveability problems - and, believe me, I know how to recognize
driveability problems by now with this car!

 

[Fred Boer]

BTW... flying a plane with a Subaru engine? Given my experience... I'd be
sure to bring a parachute!

 

[Dano58]

Just fyi for those interested:

Brought it to dealership. CEL code P0447; Evap Circuit fault. Reset, test
drove it, and basically said that they couldn't fault the car.

I drove it away... 10 minutes later, CEL comes on. Sigh. Called back and was
told to just drive it for a week or so and see if it goes out. So there we
are.. At least they didn't charge me for pulling and clearing the code...

A P0447 is actually - Evaporative emission control system vent control
low input. The problem with this code (and others like it) is that it
could be a wiring issue with the rear wiring harness, a physical
problem with a vent for the evap system (i.e., stuck open or closed)
or something as simple as the gas cap leaking (unlikely, of course,
too inexpensive....). My son's car was throwing a P0446, which is a
little more specific to the wiring. After examining all of the wiring
behind the right rear tire (where the evap cannister is on his
Impreza) and finding nothing that appeared obviously amiss, I ended up
taking the car to the dealer, as they have specific diagnostic
equipment. After paying $800 to replace the rear wiring harness (huge
labor $$ as they have to drop the gas tank), the CEL went away. We had
no choice as the car was up for inspection.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS
Central NJ USA

 

[Fred Boer]

On mine they repaired the corroded soldered connections when this happened
the first time. It took 3 visits (1 at local shop, 2 at dealership) and
about $350.00 to diagnose and fix this. So that leads us to suspect the
"vent stuck open" is more likely.

 

[Edwin Hurwitz]

It's a Subaru Fred
It's only a matter of time before either you torch it, or it does it on its
own.
The old school Subaru's are bulletproof, the newer ones are just shit....

How old does it have to be to be old school? I have a '95 Legacy.

TIA
Edwin

 

[Fred Boer]

Just FYI...

The code has persisted for a week or two, but... it has gone out 4 or 5
times. It is, for example out at the moment, and has stayed out for the
afternoon and evening to this poing (3 trips). It may come on again, but I
have calmed down about it.

I was chatting with a friend who has an Outback Wagon.. he says he only gets
nervous when the light goes out!

 

[Fred Boer]

What was I thinking to think things might be ok for me and my Subie!?!?

Got a flashing check engine light. I believe this is because of misfiring.
Engine sounded like it was dying. Back to the shop tomorrow. Hm. The
interval was about 4 weeks between problems this time - about a week longer
than average (over the past year....)

--
Fred Boer - Amateur Access Enthusiast
Interests: Library software / Z39.50 / Web Services
Freeware Small Library Application available here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/lornarourke/

Just FYI...

The code has persisted for a week or two, but... it has gone out 4 or 5
times. It is, for example out at the moment, and has stayed out for the
afternoon and evening to this poing (3 trips). It may come on again, but I
have calmed down about it.

I was chatting with a friend who has an Outback Wagon.. he says he only
gets nervous when the light goes out!