1998 Subaru Outback Engine missing badly

1998 SUBARU OUTBACK

185,000 MILES • 4 CYL • AWD • AUTOMATIC

OUTBACKER

MEMBER
1 POST

My outback started running badly in the last couple weeks - few hundred miles. Ran fine up until then. Now it won't idle, missing so badly at lower engine spees that it quits. Seems to run fine at higher engine speeds, kicks into passing gear ok and accelerates fine with pedal to the metal. The check engine light has been on and the OBD2 code reader indicates P0302,3,4 indicating misfire. I changed spark plugs which it needed badly but it didn't help. Seems unlikely all the plug wires would go bad at the same time, or coil etc. for that matter. Any suggestions? Could it be a fuel injection problem? What to do?

Thanks.

Dec 28, 2007 at 3:56 PM

MHPAUTOS

✓Experienced Mechanic
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

start with the basics first, plugs your done , leads, air & fuel filter. You may need to run it on am oscilloscope to view the ignition pattens, voltages and spark lines, this will check the operation of the coil and you can do a cylinder balance, best do a compression test first, just in case there is a valve issue. Check for vacuum leaks and have the exhaust analyser inspection as well.

Mark (mhpautos)

Dec 28, 2007 at 4:16 PM

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