OT: Car help, severe hestitation and stutter at idle

[davester]

Well, it may be mechanic time but why are people trying to send him to the dealer? In my experience, dealer repair costs are always the highest. Better to find a highly rated independent mechanic who specializes in Subarus. Any mechanic will be able to pull the codes. At this point there are a ton of things that could be causing the problem. I doubt that you can diagnose this via the internet. If you don't have some kind of local rating service, check out the car talk website which does have mechanic ratings.

[wurm]

You've received some good info here, and if you haven't already done so, I'd suggest you also post this issue over at http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/

[DRR]

davester wrote:
Well, it may be mechanic time but why are people trying to send him to the dealer? In my experience, dealer repair costs are always the highest. Better to find a highly rated independent mechanic who specializes in Subarus. Any mechanic will be able to pull the codes. At this point there are a ton of things that could be causing the problem. I doubt that you can diagnose this via the internet. If you don't have some kind of local rating service, check out the car talk website which does have mechanic ratings.

In my experience an independent who specializes in a certain make of care will have prices that hover pretty close to the dealer. I'd say 90% on average.

One difference though is you can save through an indy, if you make it clear that you're willing to put in non-OEM parts. Don't know how much life you'd expect to get out of a 161k Forrester but I'd certainly consider non-OEM for a car that has that much experience.

[blusubaru]

There are no Subaru-specialized indy mechanics here in Indy (that I've found). Ironically, we do have a very good indy Saab mechanic we use for my wife's car. He only does Saabs though...

Took it to the dealership today and they pulled the code as "misfire". They wanted $300 to change the ignition coil. On a whim, I had already replaced that with a known working, used on on Saturday. They're telling me this one on it now is no good. Instead of having them do the work I paid the $90 investigation fee and ordered the part online for $130. It takes 10 minutes tops to install.

[davester]

DRR wrote:
In my experience an independent who specializes in a certain make of care will have prices that hover pretty close to the dealer. I'd say 90% on average.

Apparently you've never owned a BMW (or GM for that matter...my GM dealership was the most overpriced of any of the dealers I've ever gone to).

[DRR]

davester wrote:
[quote=DRR]
In my experience an independent who specializes in a certain make of care will have prices that hover pretty close to the dealer. I'd say 90% on average.

Apparently you've never owned a BMW (or GM for that matter...my GM dealership was the most overpriced of any of the dealers I've ever gone to).
I've got an Audi. Both the indy and the dealer are expensive.

[lafinfil]

Sounds like the spark plugs are too powerful

: -)

[space-time]

put in OEM plugs

[Carm]

I would have to concur, spark plugs are too powerful, the engine can't handle them, so it sputters and hesitates.


Joe

[Racer X]

higher resistance in the new plugs may be putting too much strain on the rest of the ignition system.