"lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

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Zombaja
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"lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by Zombaja »

So finally got that nasty oil leak fixed, and as winter and holiday interstate driving season approaches, a new possible issue appears.

When stopped, engine idle and warmed up, the car idles with enough wobble to jiggle the car. It is noticeably stronger in gear but still present in neutral and park.

Doesn't do it when cold, and doesn't seem to do it when hot. But now that outside temps have dropped into the mid 60's, the motor doesn't get to the halfway mark on the temp gauge anymore. On the morning commute when traffic is less and I can wind up the motor a bit, the problem is almost nonexistent. But the commute home, with lots of idle time, most travel at less than 30 mph, with no max speed over 60 for more than a minute, it gets real noticeable on the last mile home.

Feels like an aggressively cammed small block out of a redneck's Camaro. Or an American V-twin :P

No sign of this when any throttle at all is applied. Motor hasn't at idle but feels like it's almost hitting that point like it's idling too low.

Car takes a bit longer to start in the morning as well.

Already had the oil screens for the variable valve and turbo checked.

Engine throws no codes, nothing showing up in my code scanner.

I figure it's time for new plug wires and plugs, but this is gonna have to wait as I'm driving out of state in a couple days.

This new behavior isn't symptomatic of something serious that I have to address before racking up 1500 miles over the next week and a half, I hope?
Zombaja
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by Zombaja »

well, it wasn't the MAF sensor.

finally getting a code, a "misfire in cylinder 1"

limped it to a mechanic whose looking at it now.

he says having a flashing CEL means something is up with the ECU. Is that a thing?
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mikenmel08
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by mikenmel08 »

Not necessarily , but usually when it is flashing it's not good.......Do you remember the actual code #?
Zombaja
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by Zombaja »

It was the P0301. Limped the thing to a mechanic who is replacing the #1 cylinder coil right now. misfire got so bad I couldn't even get idle at all trying to get to the nearest place I could find. was on 3 cylinders for the last block.

I read up on the blinking thing. Apparently Subaru has two different behaviors for the CEL. If it's on solid, the car is driveable but needs attention soon. If it is blinking (and the cruise control button blinks too) it's a "pull it over and get it towed" situation.
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mikenmel08
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by mikenmel08 »

That's the same for every car on the road, The blinking thing I mean...... What's the info on your car? Year , engine?
randy
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by randy »

Blinking check engine light means if you keep driving the car at its current state you do further damage to your emission equipment.
Zombaja
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by Zombaja »

yeah I got drove it two blocks to the mechanic and it'll get towed from around here.

had the #1 coil swapped. While they were pulling the plug, they did a compression check.

got only around 30 PSI.

if I'm lucky, just head rebuild needed. I didn't hear any rattling, but don't know if that means the piston got away unscathed or not yet.
Zombaja
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Re: "lumpy" idle for Baja Turbo when warm-ish

Post by Zombaja »

so if it's a burnt valve, a lot of internet sites are saying this is due to a weak or failing injector. So if I'm gonna rebuild the heads anyway, should I replace all the injectors (a little pricey but a tiny percentage of what this problem is costing me already)

should I go with stock or is there an upgrade I can have in place that might be more robust and will have me ready for a larger turbo a few years down the road, but will not change performance/fuel mileage significantly or require reprogramming until future upgrades are made?
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