Stalling with clutch in coming to a stop?

[apsilon]

All,

Hoping someone has come across this before. Had to replace the battery in dads car yesterday (my old MY06 Forester). Took it for a quick run to grab some takeaway this evening and found it was stalling coming to a stop. First time I thought it must've just been me but quickly worked out it wasn't.

Coming to a stop, clutch in, foot off accelerator, revs drop lower than normal idle and the car stalls. Seems to happen 80% of the time. Car can be restarted right away. Stopped sitting at idle in neutral I can put the clutch in and release it and rpm remains constant so I don't think the clutch is sticking.

Could this be related to the battery change? I'm hoping it's not a TPS issue as they're generally not cheap.

I'll plug my Scangauge in tomorrow and see if there's any codes but thought I'd try and get a headstart by asking the question tonight.

Thanks.

[Rally]

MY06 don't use a TPS like earlier cars as they have no throttle cable. They use drive by wire. But they still need to know I guess where the throttle is. Try disconnecting and re-connecting the battery again and see if that helps. Also check for any loose vacuum lines

[Point]

the same thing happened to Mum's MY06 just the other week. It just needs to 're-learn' it's settings, and should be fine in a couple of drives.

[Rally]

That's strange. My father has an 05 Liberty- same set up as an 06 Forrie basically- and he has not experienced that. Either way, I hate factory drive by wire.

[apsilon]

Thanks.

Connected the Scangauge and no errors so it's not something obvious.

Can anyone ID this?

http://members.optusnet.com.au/apsilon/misc/tps.jpg

I assume this is the electronic throttle then? It's in the right position and about the size I would expect. I've never paid much attention but should it be making noise without the engine running and the ignition at accessories? If it should be making noise should it just be a constant pitch or should it be changing occasionally? I would expect it to just be constant and the occasional flutter I'm hearing indicate it's receiving a different signal for a moment which would indicate a fault.

I looked over all the hoses and couldn't see any issues there. I can try disconnecting and reconnecting the battery but it's not the first time I've had the battery disconnected and haven't come across this before.

[Rally]

I think that is the electronic throttle. I've not had much to do with them except on dad's Lib. It made no noises that I can remember

[apsilon]

Well I've disconnected, checked everything was clean and reconnected the battery again but there's no change. Took it for a bit of a drive and it drives fine, just stalls coming to a stop. Only thing I can add is just now coming down the street I put it in neutral, foot off the accelerator and let it coast. Revs dropped below idle, battery light flashed on for half a second then revs picked up again to normal idle.

If it only happened once after connecting the battery I'd put it down to learning but ever stop, there has to be an issue. it'd be undriveable in traffic. Car only has 78k km on it which is low km for the age so annoying that it would develop such a problem.

Anyone know a Subaru wrecker around Parramatta?

[apsilon]

Car appears to be fixed. In case someone ends up with the same issue all that it was is the throttle body and control were heavily gummed up with carbon. Very thorough cleaning and it's acting normally again which is just as well because the electronic throttle can't be removed from the throttle body so I can't imagine it'd be very cheap to replace if it was actually faulty.

I assume it's a symptom of the fact dad doesn't really do anything other than very short trips.

[Rally]

Not using upper cylinder cleaner?

[apsilon]

No, never had an issue with any other vehicle. Something particular to the boxer design? Is it added to fuel like other cleaners? Every service interval? Subaru might have done it back when it was leased and had to be serviced by them.

[Rally]

there is a fuel additive, but the upper cylinder cleaner is a spray- bit like carby cleaner and should be done every service

[apsilon]

I see. Sprayed into the intake with the filter removed and engine running or something I assume. I think I'm out of filters now so next time I go to pick some up, I'll grab a can of this as well.

[Rally]

Bit harder with the 06's, but yes. Mainly through a vacuum hose though is what Subaru recommend, but I try and get some through the throttle body as well