2004 SUBARU IMPREZA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

UPON STARTING THE CAR DURING THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS, A RAW FUEL SMELL WILL BEGIN TO FILL THE CABIN IF THE HVAC SYSTEM IS TURNED ON TO VENT FRESH AIR. THIS SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE LIGHTHEADEDNESS AND THE SENSATION OF NAUSEA. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FUEL UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN VISIBLY SEE A PUDDLE OF FUEL BOILING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO HARD METAL FUEL LINES RUNNING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS CONNECTED BY A SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE WITH CLAMPS. HOWEVER THIS HOSE FROM THE FACTORY IS CUT TOO SHORT, SO WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD ENOUGH THE RUBBER LOOSES ITS ELASTIC PROPERTIES AND AS THE METAL LINES VIBRATE / MOVE WITH THE MOTOR, IT LEAKS FUEL OUT OF THE RUBBER HOSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY...

STARTED AS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE WHILE IN PARK (AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS TURNED ON). AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RUNNING IT (DRIVING 48 MI TO WORK AND ERRANDS), I WOULD PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE & AS SOON AS I WOULD REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE (ALREADY HAVING A HIGH IDLE) IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN TO 15-20 MPH. WHEN I WOULD BRAKE AND BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP, IT WOULD "JUMP" SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE BRAKE. FINALLY I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WAS NOT MOVING SMOOTHLY. AS I TOOK THE CAR OFF OF CRUISE CONTROL (AT 65 MPH) BY TURNING IT OFF AT THE CC CONTROLS ON THE WHEEL (MY FEET NOT NEAR THE PEDALS) IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. AT THIS POINT I PARKED THE CAR & CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE SUBARU SERVICE...

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON 7 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2004. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP (VALLEY DODGE, INC.) THAT IT WAS A FALSE CODE (#P0301) FOR A 1ST CYLINDER MISS FIRE. ON THE THIRD TIME THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE ECM AND SENT TO THE SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY TO REPROGRAM. THE FOURTH TIME THE DEALERSHIP, PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. FACTORY, ADJUSTED THE #1 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP PER SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACED THE INJECTION AND STILL HAVE THE CAR TO BETA TEST ON A 100-MILE 'TEST DRIVE' AS I WAS TOLD TO COMPARE THE READ-OUTS FROM THE ECM DURING THIS 'TEST-DRIVE.' I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 20 DAYS NON-CONSECUTIVE IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *LA