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Followup to 2006 Outback with hesitation

I have a 2006 Outback 3.0 VDC Wagon with the 6-cylinder engine, and, it has noticeable hesitation, several seconds, when slowing down (NOT stopping) to turn the corner, then trying to accelerate, or when trying to pass on the left (I've almost gotten rear-ended). You push on the pedal, and.....it just pauses, THEN CATCHES UP.

I just took it in for my initial 3,000 Mile checkup, and, told the Service Manager about this. After I got it back, I asked them what they found--he suggested that "I not put the all-weather floor mats on top of the regular mats, as, they could rub against the accelerator pedal, and, not let you press it down enough". Well...I do NOT have that problem, at all, and, I brought him out there to look, and, the pedal is no where near the top of the mat.

He then said that the technician said the car drives fine. I asked to drive another Outback to make sure that it's not me, but, all they had was a standard 4-cylinder. I drove that, and, it behaved just exactly like I thought a car should--you push on the gas, and, it goes.

The Service Manager then told me that "you only have 3,000 miles on the engine, so, it's probably just not broken in, yet". I gave up, and, left. Vowing to go to another dealer.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I've heard that it could be a firmware upgrade (I asked, and, he said that there was none), or a bad oxygen sensor (he said it tested good, and, refused to replace it, as a test).

Thanks.

Reply to
Bill Bradley
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There's a TSB on low throttle hesitation on 4-bangers, which provides a couple methods ot getting the ECU to spark up better.

Chances are you need to quit pussy footing your new car so much.

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Reply to
Bob H

Even if I slam the pedal to the metal...it pauses a second or two, THEN kicks. It's not my lack of tromping on the gas, it's the lack of that doing anything that's the problem...

I do push it, but, this hesitation is frankly scaring me. I just got rid of a 96 Saturn to get this, and, it didn't have near the problem my Outback does.

Reply to
Bill Bradley

And the 4-cylindar WAS broken in? Oh my .. what do they take you for? Amazing

Reply to
whinylilbitch

Try another dealer. You must be able to demonstrate the exact problem, repeatedly if need be.

Reply to
Bob H

Reply to
Bill Bradley

Reply to
Bill Bradley

After reading your report, I have reached the conclusion that the "Subaru Factory Trained Service Techs" you spoke with would not know their ass from a hole in the ground if they needed $2.50 in exact change for bus fare to get home from work with. (no suprise really as I have had numerous dealings with Subaru Corporate on an unrelated issue at the NJ HQ, and they are just as dumb-as-a-post and useless for Customer Service as is my local Subaru Dealer Service Center that is staffed by UTTER MORONS in "ASE Certified" blue jumpsuits to make them look good for the suckers who are dumb enough to believe Subaru/FHI's line of ongoing corporate BS.

Apart from that, I think you have a injector issue. methinks that something is plugged up or a sensor is malfunctioning. Probably the Air Sensor or the RPM feedback loop. Take it to a good PRIVATE MECHANIC shop, not the Subaru Dealer.

You'll get the problem fixed for 1/2 the cost and 200% less agrivation if you take it to the fools at Subaru.

Reply to
elevator farter #81

I hesitate to suggest other than a Subaru dealer for a warranty issue. What happens if the "independent mechanic" replaces something and causes another larger problem? You may find yourself without a warranty. Can you find another dealer?

Reply to
Edward Hayes

Reply to
Bill Bradley

Although I may tend to agree, I'm not quite at that point, yet. Thanks.

Reply to
Bill Bradley

Took it back to the dealer, insisting a technician drive it, and, they told me that the automatic transmission fluid was low, not low enough to cause damage, and, that was my problem.

I asked them why they hadn't checked this out when I bought the car, and, was told "Subaru now does fluid checks at the port, and doesn't pay us to do them when the car's bought, so, we don't check them at purchase.". I then asked them then why they didn't check this at my initial 3000 mile check, and they said "our technicians SHOULD do this, but, many of them don't, because the automatic transmission never gives us any problems."

The Service Rep then reminded me that "Subaru may send you a survey on your satisfaction with this service, and, they rate us pretty severely, so, you'd need to mark us in the first two blocks.".

The car DOES seem to perform with less hesitation (I would have sworn it was an engine, not transmission issue, but, time will tell for sure), but, I'm VERY hesitant to take my car back to that dealership.

Reply to
Bill Bradley

Bullcrap!

Every brand of car I've ever bought, including my Outback, has had a manufacturer provided pre-delivery checklist that included fluid levels. Check your paper work, I'll bet it's there somewhere. Checking fluid levels, tire pressures, etc... are so "dealer prep" that it's not funny.

As far as your 3000 mile service goes, I'll bet they checked it off as OK on your paperwork.

That's 0 for 2 when it comes to pride of workmanship at that dealership.

I once had a Jeep salesman check off "rear wiper OK", when the factory had forgotten to install the switch. I asked him to describe how he tested it before I told him it wasn't there. Good times!

Reply to
Bonehenge

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