Fairtax4me Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) Of all the fuel pumps I've replaced on various vehicles, I can't recall having done one on a Subaru. But of course, you work on them long enough you're bound to have to eventually right? Today I confirmed that after 20 years and 253k miles, the fuel pump in my 96 L finally has given in. It still works, makes great pressure once the engine is running, but when its hot the engine cranks for about 5-8 seconds before it builds enough pressure to allow the engine to start. Once turned off the pressure drops back to 0 immediately. When priming the fuel system with the supply line stuck in a bottle I barely get a dribble even after 3-4 tries. I guess the check valve went bad. Just thought I would share. Now I have to decide on which brand of replacement pump to buy. Denso, or Bosch. Edited June 26, 2016 by Fairtax4me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) Interesting failure mode, I don't think I've ever heard of that happening before. My legacy does something almost similar, it'll fire back up immediately, but if i wait a minute it cranks for several seconds. I wonder if it's the same issue just starting to manifest itself. It could also be a fuel leak internal to the tank, not big enough to cause a problem (yet), but enough to bleed pressure off when the pump stops. Edited June 26, 2016 by 987687 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 does airtex have a unit for that year? I sometimes see them listed for newer cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted June 26, 2016 Author Share Posted June 26, 2016 $292 on rockauto for complete assembly. Id rather pay $475 and get the real Subaru one from SPFY. I don't plan to go that route unless I find that the housing is rusted out really bad. Walbro 255 kit on amazon is only $87 so that's on the list too. Just have to find some time to pull the assembly out of the tank and check it over. In the meantime: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec03 Posted June 26, 2016 Share Posted June 26, 2016 I've replaced two on 90's subaru. I got my replacements from the junk yards. Really inexpensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iriejedi Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Ya this is a great junk yard item! Easy to pull as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 Would do that, except the yards around here use something like the jaws of life to tear holes in the fuel tanks to drain them. Damages or completely destroys the fuel pump/sender units when they do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvu Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 (edited) Did the walbro 255 on mine, it's a longer pump than stock. I ended up using a pipe cutter and bubble flare tool to trim off about 1/4" on the assembly to make it fit. This is how it looked before trimming the pipe. Edited June 27, 2016 by nvu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 Good to know that, thanks for the tip. Haven't had a chance to pull the unit yet. Too much going on over the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPX Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 I used one of those El Cheapo Airtext fuel pumps on my 1996 Legacy L. It works fine. Has been running fine for >7K miles. (2 years). Needed the usual wire crimping and a fuel hose tweak to make it look like a factory unit. You have to be patient and in a zen mood as you pull the pump stack out of the tank hole since it needs a little finesse to take it out with the float, sender, pump and all through the hole. The real fun was when the car wouldn't start one night and the AAA guy started pounding on the fuel tank with a rubber mallet while yelling at me to try starting the car. It got the car running so I could drive it home rather than be towed. But the next day I promptly changed the fuel pump out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 2, 2016 Author Share Posted July 2, 2016 Ordered the Walbro. Figure once this engine decides to go (compression on #4 keeps getting lower), it will probably get a 2.5 or maybe larger, and I won't have to even think about fuel supply, because it will certainly be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 9, 2016 Author Share Posted July 9, 2016 Walbro is in. Was actually smaller than the stock pump. Kinda skeptical of it at first but then decided I didn't care. Stuck it on and then found it wasn't quite an exact fit, but it was close enough. Wire harness connector that came with the kit I got was a perfect match to the connector on the sender housing. Turned the key and fired right up without even priming it. Still had the access cover off and I could hear the whoosh as the fuel blasted up into the line. Pressure builds instantly, and now holds after shut-off. Back on the road again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Good feeling, ain't it? Thanks for the info, Fairtax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushwick Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Mine was the same way. Actual pump still spun, but engine wouldn't fire. I used the exact fit from parts store (everything lines up perfectly and it includes a slip cover akin to a beer can cooler) and it's been running OK since installing. If car lasts another 190k miles, it'll be an engine held together by rust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobaru71 Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Fairtax, glad to hear you're back on the road/trail. Curious if you recall what the factory pump looked like when you pulled it and what fuel stations you use typically? Personally, I stick to Shell, Exxon or Costco. R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtwinjunkie Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Walbro is in. Was actually smaller than the stock pump. Kinda skeptical of it at first but then decided I didn't care. Stuck it on and then found it wasn't quite an exact fit, but it was close enough. Wire harness connector that came with the kit I got was a perfect match to the connector on the sender housing. Turned the key and fired right up without even priming it. Still had the access cover off and I could hear the whoosh as the fuel blasted up into the line. Pressure builds instantly, and now holds after shut-off. Back on the road again! Did you have a link to the one you bought? I would pay the $80 (cheaper than 120 for a "spectra premium" on rock auto) to have a spare laying around. Second, I have a 2005 2.5i outback, think the walbro would work with it? I am not sure what if any issues could be caused by running a bigger fuel pump than stock if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 On a 2005 you'll have the big plastic pump assembly that I don't think you can replace just the pump. Maybe someone has done it, but I'm not sure if the walbro would fit in that one. Hey Rob, the old pump had the typical brownish/tan fuel varnish all over it. Nothing out of the ordinary. I usually fill at the Kangaroo station down the street from the house, or the BP at Zion if I'm leaving work and need gas. Can't say I've noticed much difference between the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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