1995 Subaru Legacy ENGINE LIGHT

the first thing to do is to get the fault code read. This will identify a problem in the engine management system, do this first.
mark (mhpautos)

i have a 1996 legacy which started out with the same problems 8 years ago. we had it to 2 subaru repair shops who scanned it, did repairs and said they fixed it. within 2 weeks each time, the problem was back. my brother told me to change the mass air flow sensor. when i kept taking it to garage after garage and asking them if that could be the problem, they laughed and said no, they didn't think so. since 2000, we have had it to 12 different garages and spent over $8000 trying to figure out the problem which just got worse and worse. it got to the point that it was shutting off while driving when i would slow down. fed up, i removed the mass air flow sensor and soaked it in fuel injector cleaner over night (like my brother told me to 8 years ago) then cleaned it with a toothbrush. i also cleaned the place the sensor is inserted into. after letting it dry really well, i reconnected it and drove it. there was a marked improvement so i bought a new sensor and the problem disappeared.
donna

HI there,

With modern automotive technology there are many exceptions to the set rules. It is always a good idea to do the excepted tests first and then if that dose not fix the problem some detective work is needed. Sometimes systems can give a fails reading to the ECU, so as long as the computer is getting an in put signal for a sensor it will respond accordingly. it will only recopies a fault with lack of input. The dirty MAF sensor is a good example of this, poor performance due to faulty input... not lack of it. I would alway do the set tests first then my all means start a series of tests to determine the fault.

mark (mhpautos)