Engine cuts out when braking

[Duck!]

Hi gang.

I have a MY98 Outback, which as the title says, occasionally cuts out/stalls when braking to a stop. I've become rather adept at bump-starting it by dropping the clutch when necessary. The car is getting on a bit; it's nudging 380 thou, so some problems are probably to be expected....

Some background, which may or may not be related. I've had the car for five years. The Engine light has been an almost constant companion, although the first time I got it looked at, apparently nothing irregular showed up. Some time later I was having an intermittent misfire around 2500 RPM, especially when accelerating from curves. A Subaru dignostic told me knock and O2 sensors were stuffed, and although I didn't do it straight away, both have since been replaced. I also had the plugs & leads done when the miss got worse; they were pretty stuffed my mechanic said. Cruise control does not work. I have no idea when it stopped, because I never used it anyway, but I know it did when I got the car 'cos I had a bit of a play with it.

That's pretty well solved the misfire, and the engine light even goes off occasionally! The car runs pretty well for its age, I just have this stalling when the revs are allowed to drop.

Any hints what might be causing it?

[bigBADbenny]

Super guess: maybe google "IACV outback 2.5i" ?

Or similar with your year/engine type.

Also "98 outback stalling when coasting to a stop" brought up heaps of hits

[Duck!]

Thanks, I'll have a poke around when I can see what I'm doing.

[Cole]

When would you say was the last time you had the fuel pump done? I had a similar problem on my older 92 liberty and it didn't come to light until I started having problems starting it one day and it all connected!

[Duck!]

I haven't had the pump done in the time I've had the car. Is there an easy/cheap (it's old, I don't want to spend more than I have to on it!) way to check if there's a fuel pump problem? I did the fuel filter not particularly long ago, so that's fine.

Starting for the most part is fine, however just sometimes when it stalls it can be reluctant to start again. That's pretty rare though.

[Cole]

In my case the actual motor in the fuel pump had burnt out on one part, causing it to not start when the pump was stopped in that one tiny spot. I assume each time it wouldn't start, or had stalled on it, it would burn out some more until I had to give it a bang to start the car..

I really have no ideas on how to test if you have a similar problem other than next time it stalls, don't try and start it straight after just turn the key till you are in the "on" position and just listen to see if you can hear the fuel pump priming.

[Veldex]

Whatever you do, don't go to Subaru boasting this problem, all they'll see is money and not even fix it. Story time.

My mate whom used to own a B4 Liberty went to Subaru with this issue, it would mainly stall when it was hot. They swapped out the immobiliser several times, updated the ecu several tomes, even replaced it a couple of times. He took it down to his local mechanic (Unfortunatley they shut down) and he told him straight up - fuel pump. Replaced it and he's back on the road.

For all you WA people, Barton Vechicle Maintenence in waneroo are a good set of lads. Mainly specialise in mining vehicles but I trust them with my liberty.

Moral of the story - don't ignore the obvious.