3.0R High RPM on startup

[phoonTy]

Hey guys, I've been reading around here, LGT.com, NASIOC, etc, and I can't find the answer to my question, so it's time to ask you knowledgeable folks.

As I posted back in Nov. or so, my parents bought an '08 3.0R. For the first couple months they owned it, it would start up just fine, and idle like any brand new car should. Even after cold starts, rpms would drop rather quickly.

In the last couple months, it has started to idle very high on startup. It acts much like a cold start high idle, only, according to my mom, it keeps taking longer and longer to idle down. To add to this, it will do this when the car has been driven to operating temps and then sits outside in warm weather.

I'm not used to Subaru's so I don't even know where to begin, especially with it being a new car.

Should I just have them take it to a dealer and have everything checked out? Any suggestions as to why it jumps to high rpms on startup? It's a brand new car. It only had 7 miles on the odometer when they bought it.

Thanks for the help!

[Huffer]

It's under warranty - don't even mess around, take it straight to the dealer to have it fixed - and if it happens again, take it back.

"that's not good enough" is the line your parents should use.

warranty FTW!

be a dick when you take it back in, my car was under warranty and SOA dragged it out and BS'd me till the car was out of warranty, then diagnosed it with a very well known issue, in fact a technical bulletin had been posted on subaru forum about the headgaskets

[PA-Outback2000]

tap the gas and it should go down to normal idle.

[phoonTy]

tap the gas and it should go down to normal idle.

I believe she's tried that, and it has no effect, but I will call my mom again to make sure. The biggest cause for their concern, is that for the first two months of ownership, November and December, which are cold months, this didn't happen. It's only recently (since March) that this has been occuring more and more.

When driving around, it idles as normal, in park, at stoplights, etc. From what she's told me, it's just a startup issue.

It was mentioned on AWDPirates.net that some other new Legacy/Outback owners are experiencing the same thing. So maybe it's a TSB/Recall waiting to happen?

I appreciate the input. As I get more info from my mom, or they find something out, I'll be sure to post.

[dodik]

take it to the dealer but from what you have described i'd say it has to do with air or fuel, if you can without voiding warranty check air filter and fuel filter to make sure they are not clogged do it, if not take it to the dealer and have them look at it. i have 02 H6 and my car start high in 1500 range regardless cold or warm outside but when engine warms up it goes down to being like 200 maybe 300 rpms at idle.