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Sooby left me on the side of the road {problem solved}


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I was driving my 87 gl wagon when all of a sudden it sputtered and died.

 

It felt like it was out of gas.

 

I got a tow home and now she is resting in my driveway.

 

When I try and start her she will try, but it is like there is no gas.

I know there is gas in the tank I just filled up today.

 

I checked the fuses and the only one blown was the one marked door lock, which is odd because I do not have power locks.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

-=fred=-

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Well, I checked the timing belts and they are still there. (open covers)

 

I pulled my disty cap off and the rotor looked OK (in the dark).

 

I don't remember there being a screw when I put a new rotor in, I guess it could have fallen out before.

 

I will take another look at it in the light.

 

-=fred=-

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Darn Fred, that sucks... if the belts are still there and tight, then possibly some teeth stripped off. If the rotor DOES turn then check for spark (maybe coil died or wire came off). My coil wire was loose in my distributor and I had to flex the brass in the end to make it fit better. If the rotor spins and you are getting spark, then spray some starting fluid down the carb. Maybe your fuel pump just died.

 

 

Tracy

 

 

 

Well, I checked the timing belts and they are still there. (open covers)

 

I pulled my disty cap off and the rotor looked OK (in the dark).

 

I don't remember there being a screw when I put a new rotor in, I guess it could have fallen out before.

 

I will take another look at it in the light.

 

-=fred=-

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Well my good friend and I took a look at my wagon in the light.

 

The timing belts are good. The rotor moves around.

 

We then sprayed some wd-40 down the distys to see if there was some water in there, and she fired right up.

 

I let it idle for awhile and then jumped in her to drive back to work.

No even out of my driveway she died again :confused:.

 

 

So we went and got a can of starter fluid and sprayed it down the carb.

She would run on started fluid, so . . .

 

We got back to the fuel pump and pulled the hose going to the carb off and turned her on. No fuel.

A test light showed that the fuel pump was not getting power.

 

Looks like I have a fun project for the week end.

 

-=fred=-

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Done! :grin:

 

I got power back to my fuel pump and she is running like a top.

 

I traced the line for power back to the dash and right by the fuse box.

 

From there I could not find a break in the line, but I knew I did not have power so. . .

 

I hooked up a new power line and she is good to go!

 

 

Thanks for all the help from USMB members!

 

-=fred=-

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If this thing doesn't have an ECU, it would still have a fuel pump controller.

 

The fuel pump relay's coil sees constant +12v when the ignition switch is on. The coil is connected to ground by the ECU or the fuel pump controller when they see an "engine running" signal. Tach pulses (from the distributor) provide the "engine running" signal.

 

If the fuel pump doesn't get any power, you might have:

  1. blown fuse
  2. bad relay
  3. broken wire from relay to pump
  4. broken wire from ECU or pump controller to relay
  5. missing "engine running" signal
  6. bad ground at ECU or pump controller
  7. bad ECU or pump controller

The ECU or pump controller require the "engine running" signal so that the pump shuts off when the engine is killed by an accident. You don't want the pump spraying fuel all over the place when there's been an accident.

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I have a lot of "relay" problems with my Subaru. My rear defrost doesn't work, my blower motor doesnt work and my 3rd brake light doesnt work.

 

 

I have no idea where these relays are, or what they look like. I have looked under my dash several times and have not been able to identify them.

 

Dose any one know where the relay pack is? Are all the relays in one location? or are they in a few locations.

 

I would love to have all the above mentioned things working and it sounds like it may be a problem with my Subaru.

 

Any trouble shooting help / pics / locations would really help.

 

-=fred=-

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The fuel pump relay is on the left side of the steering wheel under the dash. The blower relay is under the dash near the center. You may be able to identify them by feeling them when you turn the circuit on. They will vibrate a little.

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The fuel pump relay is on the left side of the steering wheel under the dash. The blower relay is under the dash near the center. You may be able to identify them by feeling them when you turn the circuit on. They will vibrate a little.

 

 

 

Do they look like a plastic box?

 

I have seen a black plastic box behind and to the left of my fuse box.

 

I have also seen one in the center console right next to the radio.

 

-=fred=-

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The relay I had to swap (for blower motor) is a metal cylinder located left of the steering wheel under the dash.I believe the blower motor relay is the one with the large diameter blue wires going to it.Check the prongs when you pull the relays off.If it's shorted one of the prongs will be burnt.

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