I've diagnosed my car with Narcolepsy

~*~JenSVX~*~ · #1 01-18-2011, 07:48 PM

Hello All
Stopping by to see if anyone here has any suggestions for a problem my car has developed. :-/
When driving my car recently it began go to turn itself off... In the beginning it would not change in idle just all of a sudden be off. Mostly while driving but also occasionally at stop signs. I was able to put the car in neutral and turn it back on with ease.
Then the car began to do it more frequently and it was more difficult to to start the car. It would take maybe 2 rarely 3 times for me to get the car started again.
Next my car would drive the 6 miles to work.... Then on a trip back either lunchtime 4 hrs later or home 9 hrs later it wouldn't go more then half a mile without dropping in idle quickly and durning off. I was able to rev it up if it dropping in idle sometimes and it wouldn't stall but other times I would floor the gas pedal and it wouldn't rev at all.
I brought the car to my dad(1hr away) to try and have him re-create the problem to hopefully come up with a diagnoses but after it dying on me on the way there probably 20-30 times and not being sure I was even going to make it there he drove it just about every day for 2 wks and it didn't die at all on him although it did seem to be idling a little high at that point.
Anyways I took the car back thinking I'm crazy and the 2nd day I had it back it was back to the pt where I couldn't make it past half a mile. Repeat dropping it at dads and it sat for a few days(blizzards kept it buried) now he spent a few days and it is yet again not dying on him.

Although narcolepsy is logical conclusion it doesn't make sense that it's being so spurratically intermitten :-/

I know I've neglected my Old school favs on here for a bit but I know if anyone has a helpful clue it would be you!

Huskymaniac · #2 01-18-2011, 10:48 PM

Could something as simple as a short in the power seat do this? I would think it would pop a fuse. Can't imagine what else would be different, other than seat position, when your father drives it. Maybe you drive it with the throttle either much higher or lower and hit a bad spot on the TPS?

TexasSwift · #3 01-18-2011, 11:18 PM

Are you saying that you diagnosed your car while having narcolepsy?

The first thing that came to my mind is the loss of grounding from chassis to engine. When you have an open ground loop, the engine dies. When the loop is closed, it runs fine. There is a ground strap that is intended to maintain the ground loop. I believe one is from the upper engine mount at the top back of the motor. It goes from the bracket at the engine to the firewall. If there is corrosion at the connections it would seem tight, but not provide grounding. The negative cable on the battery also goes to the block near the starter and to the fender well (chassis).

Hocrest · #4 01-19-2011, 05:50 AM

Sounds like the common MAF issue. If you don't have a spare, can you borrow one out of a 90's Legacy? If that is the issue, you'll want to get an SVX one. But by using the Leg one for a few days it will let you know if that's the problem.

sabin · #5 01-19-2011, 12:31 PM

just swap the MAF from your 92 and see if it fixes it

SoCal LS-L · #6 01-19-2011, 01:13 PM

+1 on the MAF sensor... seems to be a textbook set of symptoms for one going out.

bwb3 · #7 01-19-2011, 02:20 PM

Mine started doing that last week. Popped in my spare MAFF and all is back to normal. I did have a 23 code when I checked.
Gene

~*~JenSVX~*~ · #8 01-19-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabin

just swap the MAF from your 92 and see if it fixes it

The one in there is the MAF from the 92 already. Lol
The symptoms just weren't the same as last time it went. :-/ maybe because it just was shot last time and this time it's going slowly.

I appreciate the input guys!! Hopefully this weekend gives us some time to get to the bottom of it! Anyone have an idea of pricing on a MAF these days since I've utilized my spare?

::edit:: 800th post Woot Woot!!

Sean486 · #9 01-19-2011, 09:34 PM

You should pop it open and re-solder it. It worked really well on the 2 bad Mafs that I had. Both had different issues but after re-soldering they both worked great. Just follow the guide in the how to section.

If I can do it, you know it must be pretty easy.

~*~JenSVX~*~ · #10 01-23-2011, 06:23 PM

Slow process but luckily we remembered we had a spare MAF sensor so we will be trying that soon. Also the connection to my MAF is very sloppy I'm thinking it's more likely the connection which is making it more intermitten then stabile.
:fingers crossed:
Appreciate all the help guys!!!

oab_au · #11 01-23-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~*~JenSVX~*~

Slow process but luckily we remembered we had a spare MAF sensor so we will be trying that soon. Also the connection to my MAF is very sloppy I'm thinking it's more likely the connection which is making it more intermitten then stabile.
:fingers crossed:
Appreciate all the help guys!!!

Jen make sure that the wires to the MAF, are clipped into the spot on the side of the air box, just below it. If not they will swing around and loosen the plug and the wires will break.

Harvey.