RS turbo surging

berttus · Post by **berttus** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:26 pm

Hi guys, its been a while since i've posted on here but i've been having some trouble with my 92 RS. I'm cruising along and it will randomly start misfiring/surging. The temp gauge is reading normal and there is no change to throttle position at all. After it coughs a few times and stalls at traffic lights it comes good and runs perfectly as if nothing has happened. Depending on the day it might do it again a few times or run beautifully from there on. It generally happens when the ambient air temp is a little higher and in higher traffic areas which makes me think air temperature is a factor.

I only run the car on 98 octane, has a 9 month old fuel filter, 4 brand new coils and the air flow metre was replaced last summer when i had a similar issue(secondhand unit due to budget issues). My initial thought is the AFM is failing again but has anyone had a similar issue or other ideas of where to look? Fuel?

Thanks
Brett

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:44 pm

I know it sounds strange but check the alternator.

Mine did something very similar and it was the alternator at fault.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:23 pm

and if it had a euro background, I'd suggest a battery swap as well - if all else fails

timmo · Post by **timmo** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:45 pm

Showing CEL? Have you checked codes?

berttus · Post by **berttus** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 7:47 am

Thanks guys, CEL has flashed a few times so im gonna have it scanned. Shouldnt be the battery as its only 12 months old but i will check the charge on it anyway. Thanks for the help.

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:33 am

You can check the codes yourself :

Under the dash on the drivers side there are two balck plugs and two green plugs... these are used to reset the computer as discussed in another thread.... to obtain fault codes from the computer you just have to connect the two black plugs together and then turn the ignition on. The CHECK ENGINE light will flash the code repeatedly. Long flashes are the first digit, short flashes are the second digit. ie. long-long-long-short would be code 31. There may be several codes and it will cycle through all of them then start the series again. If it justs flashes in half second bursts continually you have no codes.
Disconnect the plugs and you're done.

you can also reset the codes :

1. With engine at operating temperature, turn engine off. Place gear shift lever into park (auto transmission cars only).
· Locate the two ECU check connectors, for most cars they are located under the steering column and consist of a black plastic male and female connector, and a green male female connector. The exact location of the connectors varies with the different year models, but generally they are located under the steering column on the drivers side.
NOTE: sometimes they are still taped over with some small amount of plastic tape, so look hard, they will be there!
With the ignition OFF connect black to black and green to green.
· Turn on ignition, do not start the engine, (and for auto transmission, cycle the gearshift lever from park to neutral and back to park ), depress the accelerator pedal to full throttle and hold for a few seconds, and then release. Start engine and then drive for at least one minute, keeping road speed above 10 mph.
· ECU is now re-set.
· At this point the check engine light should start to flash the all clear signal (steady 1/2 second interval flashes). If the check engine light does not flash, or indicates some other sequence, there is a fault present in the system, and should be checked for necessary repairs.
· Once done, stop the car and turn off the engine.
· Disconnect the plugs.

and here is a list of error code meanings :

11 Crank Angle Sensor or Circuit
12 Starter Switch or Circuit
13 Cam Position Sensor or Circuit (TDC Sensor on Justy)
14 Fuel Injector No. 1 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
15 Fuel Injector No. 2 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
16 Fuel Injector No. 3 (Legacy, Impreza, Justy, SVX)
17 Fuel Injector No. 4 (Legacy, Impreza, SVX)
18 Fuel Injector No. 5 (SVX)
19 Fuel Injector No. 6 (SVX)
21 Coolant Temperature Sensor or Circuit
22 Knock Sensor or Circuit (Right Side on SVX)
23 Air Flow Meter or Circuit (Exc. Justy)
24 Air Control Valve or Circuit (Exc. Justy)
25 Fuel injector No. 3 and 4 (XT-6)
26 Air Temperature Sensor (Justy)
28 Knock Sensor No. 2 (SVX, Left Side)
29 Crank Angle Sensor (SVX, No. 2)
31 Throttle Position Sensor or Circuit
32 Oxygen Sensor or Circuit (No. 1, Right Side, On SVX)
33 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) or Circuit
34 EGR Solenoid or Circuit
35 Purge Control Solenoid or Circuit
36 Air Suction Solenoid Valve (Impreza)
37 Oxygen Sensor (No. 2, Left Side, On SVX)
38 Engine Torque Control (SVX)
41 Air/Fuel Adaptive Control
42 Idle Switch or Circuit
43 Throttle Switch
44 Wastegate Duty Solenoid (Turbo Models)
45 Pressure Sensor Duty Solenoid (Turbo Models)
45 Atmospheric Pressure Sensor or Circuit (Non-Turbo Models)
46 Neutral or Parking Switch or Circuit
47 Fuel Injector
49 Airflow Sensor
51 Neutral Switch (Manual Transmission Models)
51 Inhibitor Switch (Automatic Transmission Models)
52 Parking Brake Switch (Exc. Justy)
53 Fuel Pump or Circuit
54 Choke Control System
55 EGR Temperature Sensor or Circuit
56 EGR System
57 Canister Control System
58 Air Control System
61 Fuel Tank Pressure Control Solenoid (Impreza)
62 Fuel Temperature Sensor (Impreza)
63 Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor (Impreza)
64 Vacuum Line Control Valve or Circuit
65 Vacuum Pressure Sensor
66 Sequential turbo system
67 Exhaust valve solenoid (positive pressure)
68 Exhaust valve duty solenoid
71 Ignition Pulse System
73 Ignition Pulse System
74 Ignition Pulse System
88 TBI Control Unit