'97 Legacy will not start

[Mikevan10]

OK, do I take it that it is consensus that my fuel pump is "bad" and that it is not practical to repair it? So I need to replace it. Subrat84 sugeested a 96-99 2.5 DOHC pump. Is that a better pump than the original 1997 2.2 SOHC pump? And what about a pump from an even later model?

 

I am leaning towards going the used pump route so any additional guidance as far as what year and model pumps will fit/work and what pumps might be "better" than others would be gratefully received.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mike V.

[SuBrat84]

My bad... It has been so long I forgot yours is a 2.2. (my '97 is a 2.5 )

I would be willing to bet they are compatible. If not the same pump. Probably what I would do is take my fuel pump assembly out of the tank... take the actual PUMP off of the assembly.. head to the junkyard and ask where they hide the Outback fuel pumps. (At my local pull-a-part they take the gas tanks out of the vehicles before they send them out into the "yard.") I would imagine a pump out of any 95+ 2.2 or 2.5 is going to be sufficient. As long as it is an "in-the-tank" style pump and will mount up to your fuel pump assembly bracket. Good luck.

 

(Edit: If you do take the pump out, and off the assembly, you could hook it up directly to 12v and see how it acts... just make sure you pump some fluid through it, in case it's good still.)

Edited December 7, 2010 by SuBrat84

[Mikevan10]

I just picked up a new Bosch fuel pump at a local foreign car parts store. Cost me $160.00. Not clear how this will mount up. Hopefully all will be obvious once I remove the access cover from the fuel tank. I will make sure to keep you all updated

 

Mike V.

[OB99W]

Do you have a new gasket for the assembly? If the seal to the tank isn't good, you could have gas leakage and/or EVAP system problems.

[Mikevan10]

Now you tell me!

 

Is the gasket a "dealer only" item?

 

Perhaps I can make one.

[OB99W]

Now you tell me![...]

Sorry, Mike, I hoped you had looked at the manual, but I wanted to make sure.

 

Tightening sequence and torque are also important. See section 2-8, "Installation" (page 20?).

[Fuzpile]

I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING RIGHT HERE. This scenario is eerily familiar.

It IS Cold outside as it once was with me testing after a repair of a Lucas electric fuel pump YEARS ago. The scenario CANNOT be the same for you.

 

Please, Please only outside!

I didn't want to run water thru the thing and had no kero so had a pan of gasoline on the workbench and this fuelpump had a bakelite cover which could be removed and you would actually adjust the "points". Was almost done and the fumes and spark hit:eek: ther is the huge flash and then a flaming pan with flames reaching the stringers above.

My Dad would've killed me if i didn't kill them all with this fiasco by burning the house down. I grabbed the pan of gasoline to rush out the closed door. Splilling flaming gasoline on the way. It was terrible. I hose everything off then me eventually. I spent two weeks in the hospital and have scars to this day.

[Mikevan10]

Thanks for the word of caution Fuzpile. I will not follow a similar procedure.

[Fuzpile]

Mike, I'm starting to feel like a jerk because I reread and you spent plenty and got a New fuel pump . You don't need to test this or anything I went thru. The curious thing is that I read it different and so I responded to what I thought neccessary at the time. I think there was a reason for this.

That seems to be the way things work at times. Because of your post and the way I saw it someone else's house doesn't burn down.

Some way this worked. And there is a relay to that fp which some get flakey.

Expected you already knew that.

[Mikevan10]

I just finished replacing the fuel pump. Not too bad a job. The hardest part was removing the hoses and there was a wire running right over the top of the cover plate which had to be "stretched" out of the way... Anyway, the new Bosch pump is in and all seems to operate just fine. Oh yeah, the gasket is rubber and is in fine shape so no problem there.

 

I am 99% sure the problem was the fuel pump itself but I'll let you know if it turns out otherwise.

 

And you be careful Fuzzy! Gasoline must be respected. I disconnected the battery before I started the disassembly today. A liitle spark can result in catastorphe!

 

All the best,

Mike V.