99 Subaru Legacy 2.2 Wagon RHD - Starting Problems - Ireland

[CovertIRL]

Hi all,

 

First post and a boring one at that.

I'm in Ireland and I have a 99 EJ22 Subara Legacy Wagon 2.2 - RHD.

This is an interesting car as it was bought directly from Subaru U.S. in 99 and exported to Ireland after 6 months.

I understand that RHD Legacy's were used in the US by the Postal Service.

 

Anyway, the PROBLEM:

Car will fire up but immediately dies. If I leave it for a day or two it will run for 4/5 seconds but then cuts out.

From what I can see it does not have a MAF.

 

Prior to this the car became very sluggish once the accelerator was depressed. Power would just drop off.

 

I have not had the car read for codes. I'm trying to avoid calling out the mechanic!

 

Any guidance or past experience with this is greatly appreciated from the Emerald Isle.

[AdventureSubaru]

Is the check engine light on? Even one of the cheap $10 OBDII scanners from ebay will at least give you the codes so we have somewhere to begin

 

99 was the year that some changed from MAF to MAP sensor. A pic of the engine bay can allow us to identify positively if you're not sure.

 

A no start is either spark, fuel or timing related. Sometimes failing fuel pumps die as described. You can try the poor mans test for fuel and spark.

 

Take some ether/starting fluid or a bit of gas down the throttle body or vac hose (the one to the brake booster works well) fire a shot or two and see if it runs longer/stronger before dying. With two people you can create the "human fuel pump" and sometimes keep it runnig a little. If it runs off of this, you have a fuel issue. Check filter, and wiring and such. Often it's a failed fuel pump.

 

if nothing, check for spark. Pull a plug and hold it against a ground and look for spark while a friend cranks.

 

This should get you started. Post back with results.

[GreaseMonkey03]

You could also try turning the key on and listening for the fuel pump to prime. It will be a buzzing sound coming from under the back seat. Each time you turn the key off then back on again it should prime. If you don't hear anything it's most likely the pump. Sometimes, if your tank can handle the beating, a few cracks from a rubber mallet against the bottom of the gas tank will "wake it up" and then you know your problem.

 

Like adventure Subaru said above, you can do some old school mechanical system checks

but in reality, it can be quite a few things and getting the codes checked even if the light isn't on should be the first step.

[CovertIRL]

Thanks for the replies so far.

 

Hopefully the below link works.

 

The fuel pump seems fine.

Just to emphasise that the car does fire up and dies immediately. 

 

[CovertIRL]

Any thoughts on this guys?

[GreaseMonkey03]

Did you have the codes read? When it starts does it run rough or smooth?

[AdventureSubaru]

The engine is Phase 2 and looks like MAP sensor.

 

I'll continue to encourage you to pull the codes.

 

If you're sure fuel isn't the issue, check spark and timing.

 

other possibilities - massive vacuum leak somewhere. knock sensor.

[GreaseMonkey03]

Out of curiosity, if you start it can you keep it on by applying throttle? Was the battery recently replaced?

[CovertIRL]

Out of curiosity, if you start it can you keep it on by applying throttle? Was the battery recently replaced?

I hope the codes read at the weekend.

 

No, applying the throttle doesnt have any impact. It just dies.

Will post once I have the codes. tks