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Help before i scrap my XT


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I had a problem while back i posted about dropping fuel pressure.

apon acceleration sometimes it would bog out, almost stall for a second then come back. did some research and was told to check the fuel tank.

The tank was full of crap so i dropped it and cleaned it out.

then it got even worse. it would die when i would accelerate hard or make and positive boost. replaced the fuel pump. and it got a bit better but its still hardly driveable.

Im stumped. not sure whats left to check.

 

car is a 1986 XT turbo 4WD.

112,000kms

no codes otherwise.

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this is not the sensor for the gauge, but the sensor for the ecu. if it is out of whack, the engine could run too rich, or too lean, or cause the idle air control valve to remain open or shut.

 

the one for the gauge has a single spade terminal. the one for the ecu has a brown connector shaped like the ones on the injectors.

 

the turbo engines are also finicky with the throttle position sensor. the contacts inside become corroded. you could try to remove the cover and clean the contacts. make sure you marrk the orientation of the sensor before you remove it. It can be dialed in with a multi-meter and range specs.

 

also, check the contacts for corrosion where they plug into the sensors. Sometimes cleaning the contacts will improve considerably.

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has the car ever run properly?

maybe the timing belts are off?

 

fuel filter ever been replaced?

check fuel pressure at the engine.

check fuel pressure regulator.

 

check for spark?

check distributor cap/rotor - i had one with issues and turned out the "new" cap and rotor were destroyed when i removed them.

spray starting fluid around hoses/engine intake to check for vacuum leak.

 

i've seen a couple/few distributors cause running issues without throwing a code for some reason.

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Checked the TPS. was clean and functioned same plugged unplugged.

car ran proper before. cant really pinpoint when exactly it started this.

about 2 weeks now.

 

check all the obvious things.

when it got to fuel i ran around for the day with a fuel pressure gage on the car.

every time it would bog the gauge would drop to Zero.

 

i had the gauge before the fuel filter. thats why i thought fuel related.

and why it would either fuel tank or pump.

 

however missing spark or ignition would also explain the bog.

but how would monitor while driving to see if it causes the bog.

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fuel pressure regulator? The regulator is located aftehr the injectors on the return side. Try a fuel pressure test aft ehr the regulator and see what you get. Inspect the vacuum lines to it.

 

The fuel pump runs from a signal put out by the disty when the car is running, or with the key turned.

 

Make sure the green connectors in the trunk near the ecu are not connected. These are to remain disconnected during operation, and are for code diagnostics.

 

The fuel pump relay is located near the ecu.

 

Check the little nugget inside the top of the disty cap.

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The fuel pump runs from a signal put out by the disty when the car is running, or with the key turned.

 

The fuel pump relay is located near the ecu.

 

Check the little nugget inside the top of the disty cap.

 

I think you nailed the problem somewhere in there!

 

when for a drive this morning with the new pump and the gauge and saw that the pressure would bounce constanlty up and down. while it was bogging.

but iit wasnt bogging, i think it was actually missing. and if it missises and the dizzy controls the operation of the fuel pump then it was cause that pressure to vary like it was.

 

Man, i hope that was a brainstorm moment. i guess i can get a timing light on it and see if its good.

what is this nugget on the cap you speak of?

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Oh lovely, its seems whoever replaced the heads on this engine never installed the timing plate. i cant check timing with a timing light.

ill have to reset engine to TDC and guess on dizzy placement.

 

ive done it many times on honda's. whats the best way to get crankshaft to TDC on a flat 4?

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okay i lined the flywheel to the 0 to match it with line.

In this picture it shows the right side to have the dot on the bottom right and the right side shows the dot to be upper left

2007-12-23_195638_001.gif

 

on my engine is opposite right now.

right side is upper left

left side is bottom right.

 

does that make any sense? flywheel is off 180*

or timing is.

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okay i lined the flywheel to the 0 to match it with line.

In this picture it shows the right side to have the dot on the bottom right and the right side shows the dot to be upper left

2007-12-23_195638_001.gif

 

on my engine is opposite right now.

right side is upper left

left side is bottom right.

 

does that make any sense? flywheel is off 180*

or timing is.

Doesn't make any difference. The distributor was just installed 180 degrees off. Plus if you rotate the engine one more full revolution, the dots will be where shown in the picture.

Edited by john in KY
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I think its too late.

going to set this car on fire.

 

reset TDC and it ran excactly the same.

re checked compression.

 

going to get another cap and rotor.

 

then set it a flame. :Flame:

 

Correct ignition timing should be 20 degrees BTDC with the green test connector located next to the ECU in the trunk connected.

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so now that i have the timing like in the picture, does my distributor need to be rotated 180*?

i can barely move the thing its so stiff, let alone pull it off.

 

i ordered a cap and rotor for it. it was looking a bit used.

still thinking about the fuel pump and how it is linked to ignition timing.:banghead:

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IF the timing was off 180, the car would not run.

 

what i meant about the fuel pum p, is it is operating when the disty is turniong, regardless of its position or timing.

 

The cam pulley dot on the passenger side will be in line with the hard edge of the valve cover when the #1 piston is at TDC, and the rotor will be pointing at the master cylinder, just to the right of the retaining clip/screw for the cap.

 

Where did that diagram come from? I invented this timing trick myself, and now there is a diagram explaining the same thing?

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