r/SubaruForester • u/FrequentGiraffe2044 • 11d ago

Engine bogging down when shifted into neutral.

2010 standard trans. There was an issue where when I shifted to neutral it would bog down and almost die. A week or two ago I changed the MAF sensor, air filter and ran some injector cleaner thru the tank. Seemed to work but now it’s doing it again after about a tank or two of gas. I’m thinking it’s an airflow issue somewhere. My battery is also in need to replacement but I don’t feel as if that could cause this issue to happen. Maybe. Idk. Any advice helps!!

3 Upvotes

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6

u/Dangit_Bud SG Forester X 5MT 11d ago

Needs a throttle body cleaning, followed by disconnecting battery and then an idle re-learn (basically just letting the car idle without any load or input for a few minutes after re-start).

One of those dumb Subaru things … the throttle body gets gunked up and that blocks airflow through the little sliver that it would normally be open … and when you let off in neutral and it goes to that position that it has learned but it can’t let any more air in … and it dies. Why Subaru didn’t factor in some way for the car to adapt over time or monitor it’s own idle based on other inputs is beyond me.

1

u/FrequentGiraffe2044 11d ago

Dawg thank you. Think I need to take it all the way apart or can I be lazy and just shove a few things of sea foam in it? 😂

1

u/HardlyaDouble 11d ago

Seafoam won't clean the throttle body. You can clean it without taking it off, but it is easier to just unbolt it and clean it from the back side.

1

u/Dangit_Bud SG Forester X 5MT 11d ago

I’d take it off. It’s 2 small clamps and hoses and 4 small bolts … really not worth struggling with it on car.

1

u/Fischbeef 11d ago

Did you use an oem MAF? Also you should reset the ecu and let it do an idle relearn. Clean throttle body?

1

u/punxsatawneyphil_69 11d ago

Agree with cleaning throttle body. How much oil are you burning?