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Check engine light just came on :(

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wazawski
Posts: 756 - Karma: 159
I bought a used Subaru about a month ago, and it needed a new clutch. It was the first standard I had ever driven so basically I learned how to drive a stick with a slipping clutch. I just got a new clutch today and now I pretty much have to relearn how to drive a standard because it is totally different. Getting into first gear is really tough now and when practicing around my neighborhood, I would stall the car quite a few times. There were a few pretty rough starts too where the car would jerk a lot. So after driving for a bit, I went to get some gas and my check engine light came on. Do you think this was just a coincidence or did I most likely cause this from stalling repeatedly?
Nov 10 2010 7:02PM
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ryantheconnolly
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 108
I also have a manual subaru which I learned to drive stick in. I can almost guarantee you that i have stalled it more times and the check engine light still hasnt come on
Nov 10 2010 7:04PM
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molsongolden
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 162
you done blew something up

when was your last oil change? some cars flip the light on if you are past due for oil, check your fluids and everything. i don't think you really hurt anything by stalling out and i've never had that light ever mean anything really severe. Find a friend who works at a garage and get him to plug the little computer thing in and check it out.
Nov 10 2010 7:04PM
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MFM
Posts: 842 - Karma: 77
is it a wrx or an old legacy or something? call you pull a code? did you install the clutch yourself?
im predicting o2 sensor just for fun.
Nov 10 2010 7:05PM
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Lt-Aldo-Raine
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 120
How old is it? Is the light blinking? Probably didnt tighten the gas cap all the way, they'll go on if it isnt screwed tight enough.
Nov 10 2010 7:05PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
probably right, doesnt have anything to do with the clutch unless you out it in yourself and did it wrong. or maybe its like tire pressure and youre reading it wrong haha
Nov 10 2010 7:07PM
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wazawski
Posts: 756 - Karma: 159
it's a 2000 Impreza Outback and I had the clutch installed professionally with all genuine Subaru parts.
Nov 10 2010 7:11PM
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Benhamine
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 308
Subarus are sold brand new with check engine lights. Most likely an O2 sensor. My check engine light goes on and off all the time. Same thing with my old one. If the engine still starts and nothing sounds weird your fine.
Nov 10 2010 7:14PM
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Lt-Aldo-Raine
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 120
Check the gas cap man
Nov 10 2010 7:14PM
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molsongolden
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 162
gas the cap check man
Nov 10 2010 7:22PM
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churchill
Posts: 131 - Karma: 17
Almost 100% percent sure it is your gas cap, if you don't screw it back on the right way or don't close it properly the light will come on.
Nov 10 2010 7:23PM
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norm.storm
Posts: 97 - Karma: 35
Could be a vacuum issue, but most likely by stalling your car so many times the O2 sensor is fouled.  On most cars an easy fix is to disconnect the battery and then reconnect it.  Good luck.
Nov 10 2010 7:29PM
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SKIU4EA
Posts: 2387 - Karma: 2,072
my engine light has always been on, for as long as i can remember.  Once in a great while it will go OFF and i start to worry a little.
Nov 10 2010 7:32PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
same with my audi, its the o2 sensor. even when we get a new one, it just kinda stays on.
Nov 10 2010 7:37PM
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tronned
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 790
Im a mechanic by day. No one should be speculating anything about what is wrong till codes are pulled. It could be thousands of different things. CEL are normally from emission related stuff, hardly ever mechanical failures. Go back to the place you got your work done and ask for them to pull the codes, since you just spent a good chunk of change there they should do it for free. There is no point trying to speculate what is wrong without that vital info. There is hundreds of connectors and modules on the car that control everything. The CEL light might go away in a few key cycles aswell ( on/off ). It could be just a CEL for one rough start from a stall which will store a sporadic fault which can be cleared with no issues. If you have any questions, Just pm me... ill help you out.
Nov 10 2010 7:55PM
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wazawski
Posts: 756 - Karma: 159
So the light ended up going off, but then like a day later it came back on. I brought my car into my mechanic to get new brakes so I had them run the test and the code they pulled was P0463 which is Fuel Level Sensor A Output High Input. The mechanics weren't 100% sure why that was coming up because they said that fuel tanks in Subarus never need to be replaced. So they are going to have one of the mechanics who knows Subarus really well call me on Monday. This light is off now and they said that the problem wasn't pending so I'm hoping it will stay off. Any thoughts?
Nov 13 2010 3:31PM
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Mr.Luke
Posts: 2441 - Karma: 166
I post the same thing every time I see a car problem on Newschoolers.

CAR TALK

888-CAR-TALK

thats

888-227-8255
Nov 13 2010 5:39PM
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molsongolden
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 162
Click for larger image
Nov 13 2010 9:26PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51869 - Karma: 165,064
You overheated the flux capacitor. go to doc browns house and get some work done on it.
Nov 13 2010 11:29PM
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Detroit_Steeze
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 193
Scan the car, im assuming its somethin small like an o2 or vacuum leak
Nov 14 2010 12:54AM
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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
You probably overfilled the gas tank. The CEL goes on when you do that in my 4Runner.
Nov 14 2010 2:25AM
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WikiWiki
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 426
I ran my diagnostic tool and figured out what your problem is

Click for larger image



charts were off the scales

Click for larger image


Nov 14 2010 2:33AM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
I can guarantee I know what the problem is.
There isnt any electrical tape over the check engine light, just put some on and it will go out. problem fixed.
Nov 14 2010 9:27PM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3229 - Karma: 1,098
my brothers 04 impreza does the same. Its something that happens with a lot of subarus. Its probably just an o2 sensor like said before. Make sure your oil is good, if so, i wouldnt worry about it
Nov 14 2010 9:33PM
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thisandthatfilms
Posts: 7714 - Karma: 526
mine came on for this exact reason this week
Nov 14 2010 9:37PM
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7-3instacall
Posts: 999 - Karma: 1,005
moi ma tercel lcheck engine yer allumé dpuis un boute pis a marche bin parreille.
Nov 14 2010 9:59PM
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