Hello from a 92 Loyale owner

[th317erd]

Hello all! I have owned my '92 subaru loyale for 3-4 years now and it has always ran strong. It has recently been asking (kindly) for some repairs, and I have been trying to decide if I should just sell it and get a new car, or put money into it and have it run for another 100k.

 

I just recently decided to go for the repairs option, and suddenly it died... completely. I came here hoping to get some advice on what is wrong with it. Here is the scenario:

Went to work like I do every morning, worked all day, and when I went to go home it wouldn't start. It cranks over fine, but acts as though it has no ignition at all (not even a sputter). I checked everything: It has 47lbs of fuel pressure, there are no CEL codes, the distributor was a little worn, but replacing the cap and rotor did not help. When I first check it had spark at the plugs, and gas, but no running. I had to get a ride home that night, I went back the next morning and checked the fuses. After I checked the fuses I thought I would give it another shot. To my surprise it actually started! I left it running, and shortly after it warmed it it died (in a hurry... again, not sputter, just dead). Ever since it died the second time I haven't been able to get it to sputter at all. There is a spark from the coil (though I must admit it seems slightly erratic), and the coils resistance reads right at around 5ohms.

 

Bottom line:

* Has gas

* Spark (ish? as far as I can tell)

* Distributor rotor is turning, so at least ONE of the timing belts isn't broken (not sure how to verify the other isn't broken)

* No check engine light

* Before when it ran, and when it ran for a little while it purrs like a kitten... no sputter, no funny sounds.

 

Any ideas? In theory '92 is supposed to have fuel injectors, but I can't find them (the fuel line goes to what appears to be a carburetor). Also, the distributor IS actually a good old fashioned distributor (not an Ignition Module).

 

Thank you!

 

[turbosubarubrat]

It has a throttle body with one injector in it. And it does have a ignition module in the distributor. How are the battery cables? i Had one where it had a bad ground connection when it got hot and would die.

[MR_Loyale]

Take off the distributor cap. Is the set screw on the rotor shaft tight? It can fall off and the distributor will not turn at all. If the screw is there and tight with the disty cap off, have someone crank it and watch to see if the rotor spins.  Report back results.