So... It is really freezing and has been really cold these past few days. But, my 2001 Subaru Legacy L Wagon started acting up.
First, here are things I know been replaced before I got it - Tires, Brakes, and Catalytic Converter. During this past year I have replaced (in a shop) the spark plugs and wires as part of a tune up. The tension belts - and been told that the timing belt seems fairly new.
So, about a week ago the car starting showing interesting behaviour. It started on a cold day, there was a strong gas smell coming from the AC. I drove around all day, and by the end of the day I tightened all the bolts and screws I saw - and I guess for most of the fuel line. (did it after reading this). Then I noticed a loose rubber hose. It was old, and cracked at the end. I tightened it with a zip tie, then drove to Auto Zone and got a rubber replacement and also tightened it with plastic zip ties. The attached picture shows the rubber hose (circled in red) - and it is the passanger side - just infront of the filter. What is this rubber hose for?
It seemed the smell went away, but yesterday and today (really freezing) the smell came back when idling at red lights or stop signs and the heat is on.
The second weird behaviour that I have experinced is what I can call as momentary power loss. Happened when I am starting to drive from standing at red light, stop sign, or in traffic - the car is vibrating more than usual - then lights and radio are killed and within a second or so are back - the radio is reset as if lost battery power (time and settings are reset). And today, for the first time, the car also jerked when it happened - but then recovered and kept on going.
So, my questions are:
- Does anyone knows what is that rubber hose is?
- Any ideas where the gas smell comes from? How much will it cost (roughly) to replace/fix all the fuel lines?
What can cause the power loss?