Solid Check Engine Light, flashing Cruise Control
I have 2008 Subaru Outback 2.5i, it has 134000m to it and yesterday, while
driving up a steep hill I noticed the CEL was on, steady, and the Cruise
Control light was flashing. No temperature change and no change in
driving..brought it immediately to a trusted mechanic, and I'm just wondering
what I should expect..though from reading on here, it seems that the lights
just try to get your attention and its the specific codes that appear that
actually lets you know what is going on... but now without my car for the
second full day, and still no word about status, I'm wondering if this is
something that I could have continued to drive until I had a better time to
drop car off, not in the middle of my work week and it wouldn't have resulted
in serious damage. I know when the CEL is flashing that you should pull over
, turn car off and have it towed to where you need it to be, but what about a
flashing Cruise Control?
Ask him to read the codes which should only take him a couple of minutes.
My money's on a PO420 for "catalytic converter insufficiency". RSVP.
So got the car back, the mechanic is thinking it may have been a glitch because both intake valve control solenoid circuits were reading error, codes P0026 and P0028... he cleared everything and no lights came back after driving around running car for an hour...but to bring it back to him if lights come back on
Hmmm...BOTH sides, eh? These solenoids are quite robust, but the oil passages to them are small and easily clogged by dirt in oil. More commonly, their pressure switches that sit atop them crack and leak oil all over the engine (esp in the rear on the passenger side). But leaky switches don't fire CELs. Since you didn't mention oil leak(s), then I assume the solenoids' switches are ok. If not, replace them, as they're only %15 ea and take 5 minutes each. If you suspect an oil passage is clogged add a bottle of cleaner to the oil and let it work a bit, then get an oil change. But if you have a clogged passage it may never clear up. But the good news is that the likelihood of BOTH sides being clogged...or having a bad VVT solenoid...simultaneously are very low...unless you ran out of oil, of course! BTW, these solenoids run at VERY high pressure (over 120 psi); that's why they eventually crack open their plastic-centered pressure switches, which are normally made for lower engine cracnkcase pressures.
Well, I guess that is why they call you the Subaru Guru! Thank you for your in depth advice! As far as I know I don't have any oil leaks, though I did notice some liquid when I parked the car at home, but I had my AC on so it could have been that? seems like it was coming from the front left end of car. The Mechanic certainly didn't notice any oil leaking in engine...my oil change is about 1000 miles away, should I add the cleaner before hand just to be on the safe side?
A/C's discharge on the RIGHT (passenger) side of the car...which is perhaps what you mean. Wouldn't hurt to add a cleaner to the oil now...especially if either the 26 or 28 recur.
it is the accelerator pedal going out! Easy to replace yourself!
Justt had this issue. You must have accidentally disengaged your cruise control. Easy fix: turn car on, then turn car off halfway to ACC, then turn car back on :)
AA, yours is a one-off, and not the typical reason why the cc flashes, as Subaru uses that signal to increase visual annoyance when a CEL comes on.
Ahh good to know! Thanks
Same issue here on 2009 Outback. My wife stopped for gas and when she started up again she noticed the CEL and CC lights on, steady CEL, blinking CC. Does that give any clue?
Yes; secure gas cap. If CEL persists past 3 subsequent starts borrow a scanner and erase the CEL.
