I have a 2006 wrx that has an intermittent problem I was hoping somebody can make a suggestion. Every now and then the car seems to be starved of fuel making it hard to start or worse when your driving it starts to kangaroo hop. There does not seem to be any pattern to it and drives fine otherwise. The mechanics have tried many things to no avail .they now want to install a new cam sensor. Are they on the right track. cheers clay
Does the ECU set any codes? Are you running any aftermarket parts? (even a K&n 'oiled' filter or ???) Was any work done just prior to the problem beginning? Wreck? You say no pattern. There have been heat failures on crank angle sensors years ago I think.
how many miles on the car?
Anyway, they should put the MAF sensor on the list of possible issues I guess.
Carl
Hi,
I would suggest starting with the basics, e.g. when was the fuel filter last changed ?, maybe run a can of injector cleaner through it and check no codes related to ignition problems sitting in the ECU.
Regards
Also check for O2 sensor operation. That same thing happened to me when my O2 sensors were going kaput. (Eventually traced to a head gasket leaking coolant down the exhaust, but the 2006 probably isn't having that problem.)
I would think an intermittent in the cam sensor would throw a CEL, or at least post an ODBII code.
Unfortunately, once you start trying to diagnose intermittent problems that _don't_ set an OBDII code, you're sort of stuck swapping in new (or known good) parts. We call it a "witch hunt" :-)
Your best bet as far as minimizing cost, will be to find a willing owner of a similar car, and systematically exchange components until you get the problem to switch vehicles. Then you'll know.
About the only other thing you might try would be to purchase one of the OBDII tools (try ElmScan), hook it up to a laptop running one of the diagnostic programs with data logging capabilities, and drive around until the intermittent starts. Look for fuel or timing issues, or anything that changes from when the car was running normally. This can be tedious, but probably preferable to paying someone to do it for you, or spending a lot of $$$ on a Witch Hunt! Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck mate!
ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101
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