Subie shivers when cold but happy when warmed up

[OnlyJoe]

I'm new to Subies but good on most cars that I work on. I bought my daughter a 1995 Legacy Wagon to take back to Rochester NY for school. I live in southern Connecticut. Car ran well until the cold weather hit. She reports it runs poorly (shakes) once the cold weather hit but is just fine as soon as it warms up. I will be up there this weekend. Does anyone know if Subies have had cold issues (assume that the little guy shivers) or if the IAC has casused such an issue? I put in new plugs and wires, filters, timing belt and idlers before I sent her back to school. I have also learned that Mobile 1 and the cam/crank seals on a 150K engine can make a lot of seepage and smoke. I will be changing the seals at Christmas and going back to non-synthetic oil.... Thanks for any help or suggestions. :cry:

[shazapple]

Glad you found the site :smile:

[badbasser98]

I've owned two scoobs, but never had either shake when cold. Well, I take that back. If she is starting the car and immediately putting it in gear and going (assuming its and Auto tranny) then it will still be idling higher due to the engine being cold. If she is stopped (in gear) I have had it shake somewhat then. I think its due to compression and the engine revs harmonizing on the mounts causing a slight shake to the car. I have experienced this with my GT. Other than that I know they don't really like to go untill you've let it warm up a bit. Plus the boxer engines knock like mad in the cold till they get warm. I have always started mine and not put it in gear atleast untill I see the temp guage rise a bit.

Just my $0.02

[Plays_with_Toys]

How bad does it rumble? When it gets cold, yes my car's engine will definately shake the gear shifter and you can feel it in your butt a little. I haven't had a problem because of it.

Also, just in case it comes up. Subaru's run rich in general. But when they first start up they run real rich, so if she reports the fuel smell at start up, its normal.

[Wiscon_Mark]

As I said in the other thread where you posted this- it's probably plugs and wires that need replacing. A common symptom of the plugs not working properly is the shaking + poor performance + really rich smelling exhaust.

[galek_98gt]

mine does act up with the cold. even my driver side window acts up when its cold but its all fine after getting warmed up.

[gil_ong81]

Sounds perfectly normal if it's just vibrations/buzzing until things warm up.


i work at RIT and we have a large community up here. have her hit me up if you need someone to look at stuff in a pinch. and i'm happily married, so no need to worry about me hitting on your daughter. ;)

[Huffer]

Could be the worn engine mounts too.

And piston slap.

[theboyo19]

my 95 lsi does a similar thing too .. i start it and the rpms jump around a little and if i try to move it its fine unless i press the gas too hard then it sputters and loses most of its power, once its warmed up its a champ, my dad suggested the air temp sensor?

[Brockley]

My Sunroof doesnt go back in the cold weather (moonroof still opens tho)

also, mine shudders in the cold if I dont let it warm up first...

doesnt seem to hurt anything, and runs fine once its warm....

[devmaster]

I'm new to Subies but good on most cars that I work on. I bought my daughter a 1995 Legacy Wagon to take back to Rochester NY for school. I live in southern Connecticut. Car ran well until the cold weather hit. She reports it runs poorly (shakes) once the cold weather hit but is just fine as soon as it warms up. I will be up there this weekend. Does anyone know if Subies have had cold issues (assume that the little guy shivers) or if the IAC has casused such an issue? I put in new plugs and wires, filters, timing belt and idlers before I sent her back to school. I have also learned that Mobile 1 and the cam/crank seals on a 150K engine can make a lot of seepage and smoke. I will be changing the seals at Christmas and going back to non-synthetic oil.... Thanks for any help or suggestions. :cry:
http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=4919 could help.. just had same prob

[WinterKnoll]

My '99 LGT shakes and rumbles a good amount when I start it in the cold..it usually starts to improve after 20-30 seconds.