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Nice to have had a Subaru dealer on STX for a year or so. Anyone know who does repairs on them now? I've just had the dreaded "check engine" light come on. Manual says take the car to the nearest Subaru dealer, but we all know it's a long swim!
Posted : February 28, 2013 7:13 pm
Any car co with a diagnostics computer can plug in and read the code. I know Pete at Target Tire has one.
Posted : February 28, 2013 11:32 pm
Reading the code is only a place to start. For instance if you get code for a oxygen sensor, bank one sensor one (1/1) that does not mean the sensor is bad. It can be anything related to the sensor. IE: fuse, wiring, relay or even the computer. It needs to be properly diagnosed. Everthing else is just guess work that can result in hundreds in un necessary repairs.
You can try this: If you don't mind losing your time, radio presets etc. Dis connect the battery for 5 minutes. Reconnect it and start the engine. If the light pops right back on you have what's called a "hard fault". In other words the computer recognizes the problem immediately and doesn'y have to go through a number of trips or key cycles. You have a failed component or previously mentioned problem. If it stays out, the problem is not there right now. Check your gas cap for a cut, worn, missing o ring. And if you were getting gas with the engine running so you could stay cool that will trip the light also.
Bottom Line? It ain't just that simple anymore
No offense to Neil. That was a good place to start.:-)
Posted : February 28, 2013 11:55 pm
No offense taken. Pete never charged me for checking and would tell me what to ignore. Sometimes the light is designed. To get you to visit the dealer for their preventive maintenance pitch. I had a Yukon once that did that.
Posted : March 1, 2013 11:10 am
Jeff and Terry -
Jeff used to be the mechanic at the old subaru dealer donkey years ago.
Posted : March 1, 2013 9:01 pm
No offense taken. Pete never charged me for checking and would tell me what to ignore. Sometimes the light is designed. To get you to visit the dealer for their preventive maintenance pitch. I had a Yukon once that did that.
Just FYI. Older vehicles had a maintenance required light that the dealer could program mileage into when your next service was due.
The CEL or check engine light has always been seperate as far back as 1984. It's had a few names since then. The power loss light was one.
WOW those cobwebs have been in there for a while.:-)
Posted : March 1, 2013 10:20 pm
Topic starter
Armed with the complete list of possible CEL codes (that I got from a Forester's user group) I got someone w/ an analyzer to check it for me. The code (P0244) translated to "Wastedump solenoid stuck open." He reset the CEL, and it hasn't relit -- so I guess the solenoid unstuck itself. How could it not on our roads!
Foodie: thanks for the info on Jeff. I'll check w/him if I have further problems.
Posted : March 1, 2013 10:57 pm
Armed with the complete list of possible CEL codes (that I got from a Forester's user group) I got someone w/ an analyzer to check it for me. The code (P0244) translated to "Wastedump solenoid stuck open." He reset the CEL, and it hasn't relit -- so I guess the solenoid unstuck itself. How could it not on our roads!
Foodie: thanks for the info on Jeff. I'll check w/him if I have further problems.
Wishful thinking. As soon as it goes through enough trips or cycles theres a 90% chance it comes back on.
Posted : March 2, 2013 3:23 pm
