1992 Subaru Legacy Hard Cold Start

[yeahultimate]

Hello,

 

Please Help.

 

I have a 1992 Subaru Legacy it has 150 thousand miles on it and I bought it used from a private owner about 8 months ago.

 

The car ran just fine during this time. Then one day I turned on the AC and the car began squeeking loudly and the Check Engnine Light came on. I was on my way to work so I just thought ok ...the AC is out.

 

The next day I tried to start my car and the car would not start. Come to find out that it was the Alternator squeeking loudly and needed to be replaced. I used to work on cars back in high school and this replacement seemed pretty simple so I did it myself since the Shopts wanted 600.00 to replace it.

 

The Check Engine Light never went out it is still on and its been getting colder and the car turns over but does not seem to want to start. After reading all over I thought it was the MAF sensor so I took that off and sprayed it really good with the CRC stuff from the auto store. This has not resolved the problem.

 

The car does not want to start in the morning. Sometimes I can hold the throttle to the floor and it will start and stutter for a bit until taking off. It will then bog down if I try to use the accelerator too soon. But if I let it warm up a bit and after running for awhile, the car seems to run fine.

 

Please help.

Edited October 9, 2010 by yeahultimate

[yeahultimate]

Well to add to this post even tho I've not gotten help yet I thought it was the engine coolant sensor, because the cooling fans would go on before I even started the car. So I replaced that today... still no love.

 

I think I got all the codes out of the check engine light today also. It was kinda hard to read.. but here they are:

 

31

 

13

 

21

 

11

 

12

 

Sure hope someone can help

[bosango]

Not sure how much it will help, but for now:

 

11 Crank angle sensor or circuit

12 Starter switch or circuit

13 Cam position sensor or circuit

21 Coolant temperature sensor or circuit

31 Throttle position sensor or circuit

 

It's possible that some of the codes might be from old problems that were fixed but were never cleared from the code memory.

[GeneralDisorder]

Coolant sensor is a good place to start, but there's a couple problems with your method...

 

1. The CTS (responsible for telling the ECU the engine temp) is not the only thing that causes the fans to run - having the defrost or AC turned on will kick them on all the time, etc. So the fans running with the engine cold is NOT an indication of a problem with the CTS in and of itself.

 

2. The CTS is a seperate sensor from the temp guage sending unit. They are right next to each other - which one did you replace?

 

3. It is possible to TEST these sensors with a DMM. They are resistive temperature elements of some kind and that resistance can be measured and determined to be accurate or not. Replacing them just to see (throwing parts at the problem) is not the answer.

 

GD

[yeahultimate]

I agree throwing parts at it is not the answer. But I am getting a little desperate since its getting colder and it doesnt want to start when its cold outside or in the morning its my only way to work. Plus the sensor was only 22.00 and I bought a 19mm deepwell for 5 bux and some high temp thread seal for 5 bux. I figured for 32.00 if I get it working I'ts better than what it seems like other people try to replace (the MAF). (from reading all over the web)

 

I replaced the coolant temp sensor. It was actually pretty easy. I broke the old one getting it out, but I was going to test it when I removed it.. but this is moot now.

 

I read a procedure on here to reset the computer by pulling the fuse and letting it sit overnight and put it back in and let it run for 15 mins.

 

I tried this procedure this morning. The car started it up right away and the fans did not go on (until it got warmed up). And there is no CEL on.

 

Its strange to me that it seems the computer kept thinking there was a problem when there wasnt. Or theres something elese wrong and it was a fluke that it started up right away. ( its about 65 degrees outside now)

 

Anyway thanks for the responses.