Low idle/ won't start when it gets colder.

Asked by Ben Oct 09, 2020 at 12:58 AM about the 2004 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My 04 subaru outback has a low idle issue that starts
when it starts getting cold. When I first start the car the
idle is fine but once it warms up the idle drops real low. It
also dips real low when I come to a stop. When it gets real
cold it won't even start some times ( more time then not).
I've clean the throttle body and air control valve ( also
checked it was working).  The parks plus, ignition coil, and
the spark plug wires were all replaced as well. I can seem
to figure out whats cause the load idle.

1 Answer

48,700

Are you SURE you cleaned the upper and lower surfaces of the throttle body with the butterfly held open with a gloved hand or stick? If all is new and clean then note that you can unscrew and CAREFULLY rotate the ACV very slightly to boost idle about 50- 100rpm, If you go too far the ECM will get pissed and force the idle back down again and possibly throw a CEL you'll have to erase and restart the adjustment. Note that the ECM wants to slam the iudle down to 650 to control emissions; that's a bvit low to prevent to the driveline from shaking in gear. Not much can be dome to remedy this shake except to turn the AC on and get an auto-idle push from the system. That'll waste fuel, of course, but maybe it won't shake as much. This state was improved in 2005+ when more bolts were used to secure the motor to the trans. Ern

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