my 97lgt intermitantly stalls out

[stirally8]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this(If not can one of the mods move it please. thanks) My car is a 1997 Legacy 2.5GT with an automatic trans. brief run down, I just got done putting it back together my wife put it in a ditch and hit a tree about 3weeks ago. it destroyed the bumper, fender, lower control arm on the left(drivers side) I drove it home after the wreck. never had any issues with it. I replaced everything that was damaged. yesterday I was driving and it studdered. the tach dropped down for a second and then went back to normal. today I was driving and it did it again. this time it continued to do it it kept bogging down when I would accelerate. then it backfired once and stalled. I restarted it and it ran normal again. I checked to make sure everything was tight and found nothing wrong. I did put a half a tank of gas in it thismorning at first I thought it did it yesterday because it sat for 3 weeks and the gas was old. it did it like 6-7 more timesw tonight. sometimes it would just bog down for a second others it would completely stall. then would run 100% fine. I have replaced the fuel filter and done sparkplugs within the last year. It hasn't thrown any codes while it does this. I do have a turbo XS dtec-fc installed. the dtec is not tuned it is set to oem settings. I did notice the injector duty % does drop way down when it acts up.

I think that covers about everything Sorry for such a long post I just want to try to cover all the details hopefully someone can give me some ideas to what is going on.

thanks in advance,
Scott

[stirally8]

any one? I ruled out that it does it after being warmed up it did it again first thing this morning.

[jey]

I'd check for vaccuum leaks, and maybe all the electrical connections, especially to the key sensors (MAF, O2, crank, cam, etc.)

[stirally8]

I already checked to make sure everything is plugged in and there I'd no other sign of a vacuum leak. If it were a sensor it should throw a code.

[ouch1011]

If it were a sensor it should throw a code.

If that were always true, my job would be SOOOO much easier. :)


I'd start by checking all your grounds. I have seen so many running problems after accidents caused by damaged or missing grounds. Especially engine to chassis or chassis to battery grounds.

When it backfired, did it fire out the exhaust or out the intake? Out the exhaust means you are losing spark or it is firing at the wrong time. Firing out the intake usually means a VERY lean mixture, like potentially a failing fuel pump or MAF sensor.

(Just read about the injector DC going way down when it acts up. Must be firing out the intake then. Can you monitor the MAF/Air flow readings on your dtec as well?)

[stirally8]

Yes it was out the intake. it definatly seems to be running lean. and yes I can monitor the maf w/ the dtec. I will keep an eye on it today when I drive it.

[Grafton]

also you cat might be going out, that's the way my 2.2 acted when the converter went out

[stirally8]

It isn't quite acting like a clogged cat. also has no smell. it is definatly leaning out. I just don't know why. it didn't act up at all today.

[anothernord]

Sounds like a failing alternator and or battery. My sister's 99' BD did the tach dropping/bogging thing when the battery went out, taking the alternator with it.

[bulldozer24]

The same thing happend to my car itwas just a bad alternator. I put the new one in and it ran

[stirally8]

I actually just put a brand new battery in it. Optima yellow top (I have alot of electronics) the old optima died while it sat for repairs so I got another under warranty. The charging system works fine.
I am kinda hoping it will act up and stay that way so I can find the source of the problem. either that or that it doesn't happen again.