by PominaSube » Wed May 28, 2014 8:24 pm
Thought I'd post an update on this. Car needed a rego check, and was time for an oil change, so feeling lazy, I booked it in for rego and once-over service at a local Subaru independent. I've used them before and they've been competent, so knew I wasn't passing the car to numpties. Also asked them to plug the car in and see what they could find. When I talked about the symptoms, and mentioned I'd already changed plugs and coils, the owner started thinking about CAS or O2 sensors.
Anyway, I catch a bus to work and they plug it into whatever laptop kit they've got and take it for a spin. I get a call later saying they can't find any sign of a misfire, and doesn't it go well! I ask they've called the right guy about the right car and, yes, its my car they're talking about. They duly put it through rego, give it a once over and sump of fresh oil, and go out again, just to check. Computer says "No!" There are no fault codes and no sign of any miss, all sensors working within range. This time, when he calls back, he's comparing it to an STI they had in the day before, and noting that mine seems more-responsive and quicker, pulling well from about 1500rpm and spinning freely to the redline. I tell him he's bluffing.
Now, I've just taken it out for a good thrape and, y'know what, that miss really has gone, and it really does move well. It is possible for me to get it to feel like its hesitating slightly, but its barely detectable, and limited to a very small band of the rev range. In short, something has happened, and I'm not sure what but the car is eminently more fun. Would the mere act of plugging it into the computer to look for problems have reset anything? Of course, karma is a bitch and will bite me on the arse for posting this, but for the moment all is fine. I just don't know why. Not helpful, but thought I'd let you all know!