96 subaru legacy mis fire!!!

[fomenter]

I have a subaru legacy 96-L. My car has 153000 milleage on it. I like may car but it gave me a serious problem about mis-fire number 4. I got my compression test which says good so it means my compression has no problem. I changed almost everything like spark plurg,tune-up,enjection and etc... If you give me some advises about that, i will be appreciating for it.

[Nastypieceawork]

Get the distributor cap checked - might be faulty. Did a professional mechanic tell you it was mis-firing? Or is that just what you think is happening?

[fomenter]

Many professional mechanics took a look at that. They all found the same problem. I spend almost 500$ dolars but nobody fixed it. You think the problem may be coming from distributor cap? How much is that approximately?Thanks alot

[Nastypieceawork]

I'm really not sure on teh price there, depending on where you live too. I'm in NZ so it is probably a lot cheaper than say... Europe or America. They are dead easy to install yourself on most cars - but I've never had to replace them on a Subaru --- which are notoriously difficult engines to work on!

However, even if the cap IS faulty - you may not have to replace it. For instance, using a lubrication spray such as WD40 or CRC inside the cap can expunge any moisture buildup on the contact points. If you do it yourself, be sure to secure the cap on PROPERLY <---- very important as the cap houses contact 'points' that need a good solid contact when put back on. Its not hard to do, as I sadi - just make sure you do it properly otherwise your car may not start or run properly again.

I am not a mechanic, and know more about Mitsubishis rather than Subarus, so have someone check the cap for you. However, if professionals have checked your car then they would have almost certainly made sure it wasn't the distributor cap. But go back and ask them exactly what they checked for you, and note it down - otherwise mechanics tend to give you the run around for the xtra $$$. bastages.

Good Luck

[Will2]

I don't know what the actual price of a new cap is. But I'm sure it's under $50. Probably under $20. Before I went out and got one though, I'd check and make sure the plug wires where hooked up in the right order and in good shape.

[JARD]

I'm currently having the same problem repaired on my '96 Legacy (only 63000 miles).
Like you, I wasted $400 with my regular "expert" mechanic before I took the car to the local
Subaru dealer service center. Turns out the valve guides on cylinder 4 are seriously
messed-up. Cost will be $1539.00 w/tax to repair (and I don't know where I'll be getting
the money). I'm still nauseous since yesterday. Good luck!

[Akira13126]

My mothers car did the samething, except #1 was mis-firing. I replaced the plugs and wires and now she runs great. About how many miles ago did you have the plugs replaced along with the wires???