JoshNZL

Thanks for the responses - I don't know a lot about modern auto engines but it definitely sounds rich to me and I know being injected it must be doing that to itself due to a failure or erroneous sensor reading so the MAF sensor sounds like a good place to start. I caught it playing up again today, have a listen if you're interested - prob need max volume, mind the radio coming on =/. I intentionally gave it no time to prime to see if the fuel pump was weak. A little more cranking than normal. Every rev up is cracking and holding WOT, except for the last where I eased it into higher RPMs and then it is fine, flat foot normal power. As the engine warms it is impossible to repeat this symptom. I'll get back to you when I get some time to dig that MAF out and clean it. https://youtu.be/Ho7dedCA0Ek

The only thing that makes me think it's not that is when I was playing around with getting it to show these symptoms, if I eased it past it's blubbery range then it would rev out nicely. I tried driving it like this to, if you nursed it passed ~1700rpm I then had full power available. Only if I cracked WOT would it bog and sputter, which had me thinking more electronics, or sensors. Too much fuel landing in the pots for some reason. I don't remember noting if the fuel pump primed while I was experiencing these problems, but it is now. Are they submerged in the tank or external? I.e. easy enough to pull and check?

Hi guys, I have a 2004 legacy, 2.0 auto. I know that is prior to this sub but from memory it has the fourth gen chassis code, I'll confirm tomorrow. In any case, almost a year ago I couldn't get it started, cranked and cranked I could hear what sounded like low compression firing and after minutes worth of cranking (not all at once) it sputtered to life, eventually cleared and ran fine. Its since become a second vehicle, I've held off selling it until I saw the problem again and could diagnose/repair and for about a year it hasn't missed a beat. Yesterday it started playing up again, gf complained about lacking power when she got home. It did start after a slightly longer than normal crank but wasn't running right. If I cracked throttle wide open it would bog, and pop and carry on down at 700rpm or so (but wouldn't stall - held here for 15secs or so). I was glad to finally see it again - went out later in the day to film it for the forum here and it started and ran fine. Maybe a bit hairy on throttle up for the next few times but hasn't missed a beat since. I can't wait another year to see the problem so I hoped these symptoms might ring a bell for someone more experienced. Both days I've had trouble have coincided with rain. Though I can't see any water anywhere it shouldn't be. Any thoughts appreciated, thanks in advance of course! Josh