[cardoc]

I have a 2006 Outback with 84,125 miles. Is this mileage close enough to the 90k for me to schedule a visit to the dealership? Is there any reason to wait until the odometer flips to 90k before doing the maintenance?

I've had an issue with my car starting lately. I'm not sure what the problem is yet, when it happens I get the flashing CEL and Cruise Control lights. Usually, I just wait a few minutes and then it will start. This happens about once a week lately.

While driving on my lunch break today, my car suddenly died. I pushed it into a gas station lot and let it sit for a few minutes before trying to start it again. It wouldn't start, similar to the usual problem I've been having where it cranks but won't turn over. I asked someone for a jump and that got it started again. I am going to take the battery out and have it tested asap.

I did notice one thing while I had my hood open in the gas station lot. There is some oily fluid leaking near my engine. It looks like it's coming from a hose on the front left side, just behind the radiator fan. I'm not sure what the part is, so I will snap some pictures and upload them here once I get the chance to do so.

If I'm close enough to my 90k service, I would like to take it to the dealership and have everything done at once. If not, it's no big deal.

Thoughts? Thanks.

Bring it to me. You don't need the dealer. Sent PM.

 

[cardoc]

That would be the power steering pump and that broken piece in the last photo is the banjo bolt seal. Someone has had this off before and didn't reinstall it correctly. Overtorqued probably. Or someone saw a leak and thought tightening the bolt would stop it when it made it worse. There could also be a seal leak on the pump but it would have to be cleaned and checked after.

Auto Zone idiots. He could have checked the battery with disconnecting the cables. I keep telling their district supervisors that they are doing more harm than good both in giving people bad advise and clearing the ECM memory either by a dumb move like you mention or purposely using the scanner. There went freeze frame.

 

[cardoc]

Follow up:

Changed his oil. M1 and Subie filter. The filter looked like it was leaking a litle. Cleaned that up.

Ran a scan on the car and it only had history code for P0335B, crank signal.
Freeze frame showed no RPM, but had 5.7 g/s MAF. It only happened once since the ECM was reset.

Data showed high LTFT, up to 21% in neutral at 2200 rpm. AF and O2 sensors were working. ECM was regulating STFT well. Temp was excellent. Looking at the O2 sensor data, it had a steady waveform idling and after increased engine rpm matching the STFT closely. I don't think the CAT is bad because after a few minutes at high rpm, the data leveled out. The CAT heated up and was better able to burn the HCs even with the high trim. Couple the high LTFT with the way the CAT is acting, its the fuel. My guess would be high amount of Ethanol.

Recommended a fill up with Premium from a major fuel company, 93 octane here, and a full can of Sea Foam in the tank, with continued use of the 93 and then I'll recheck the data later.

The PS pump was cleaned to see if the leak is from the banjo bolt, unlikely, from the o-ring under the hose adapter or the spring clamp is allowing for fluid to seep out due to a hardening return hose at the adapter.

Otherwise, all checked out good. His 90k is minuscule since the engine was replaced at 60k and the front engine overhaul won't be necessary until 165k. A long way to go.