Need Help, Serious Problem!

Driving my car home from work, it was driving fine all day, running good as usual. As I come to a stop light on my way home, it starts shaking very bad, and sounds as if its about to stall. So with nobody for miles I run the stop light and get home, as my house is just half a mile away. Check engine light starts blinking then it would stop, then start blinking again. The vibration seemed to stop as I was driving, then when I stopped again it came back. I figured I'd just shut it off for now, leave it be, deal with it tomorrow. I figured I'd just come to you guys, if you know the problem....just break the news to me doc.......

Might I add that the car has had these oil leaking problems since I bought it. I would end up running the car low on oil, but never close to dangerously low. I would always fill it up the very day I saw she was low. The motor is not making a tap or knock of any kind. Also, engine temperature was normal when I shut the car off.

Shaking and blinking CEL sounds like possible misfire. If the light is still one, or if the code is still in the history, have it scanned

Did you check your plug wires in case one came loose?

And now the parking lights just randomly came on for about 10 seconds and went off, I didn't touch a thing. Im leaving the car disarmed and unlocked just in case the alarm decides to start going off.

And yeah the shaking does sound like a misfire. My car has been running some exhaust code for some time. I've had it cleared and fixed by both a muffler shop and a local Subaru dealership. I have no idea why it comes back on. I think it was an EGR code? Or Exhaust Manifold, something along those lines. I'll definitely have to get a scanner on her tomorrow.

Originally Posted by monkeyposeur

Did you check your plug wires in case one came loose?

Ill check them now.

Plug wires are good, everything is connected.

Any white smoke? could be chewing on coolant...

It was dark out, but from what I could see there was none. Ive always gotten the usual smoke from burning oil before.

Hmm, you checked both ends of all wires? Wonder what the problem is. I would still check all your plugs and make sure your timing belt is not off by any teeth.

subarus will run on 3 cylinders and you can keep them running on 2 cylinders if you can get it started. it sounds like you have 2 cylinders misfiring. read the codes.

if you have codes for 1&2 (or 3&4) you probably have a bad coil or igniter.
if you have codes for 1&3 (or 2&4) it has probably jumped time. remove the cam covers and compare the timing marks.

it could be other things, injectors maybe, but the above are two easy things to check.

First and foremost, pull the code. Without pulling the codes, you'll be guessing for a while. Knowing what the code is, it will give you a starting point.

May need to pull the plugs too, and have a look.
They could be fouled.

Ill be doing all this bright and early tomorrow, thanks guys. I'll let ya know what happens.

Originally Posted by silentguy

May need to pull the plugs too, and have a look.
They could be fouled.

Ding Ding Ding! Plugs were fouled. Also uncovered my valves are going bad. Also my oil sending unit was leaking badly, so a new one was put in. I dumped some lucas oil treatment shit in it, and cleaned the injectors. Shes running good now. However knowing those valves are going bad, and the age of the ol' girl, she'll be getting put on craigslist soon .

I stopped by the local Subaru dealership today though to talk new car, im in the market for a 4th gen Leggy GT now, gotta stay in the family.

Don't get rid of the old gal. If you must get a 4th gen then keep her as a beater/project car. Remember, car payments suck!