terryb52 Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 OK--I posted to this board a few days ago with a 92 wagon that wouldn't start. Had it towed and of course it started right up at the shop. Well, I got stranded at work today. No start again. Even went back after an hour and tried again. It is definitely trying to turn over but seems like no fuel is getting there. What are the logical steps to have the mechanic try? I will have it towed tomorrow if it doesn't start in the morning when I go back. I don't want to replace a bunch of stuff and want to keep expenses down as we try to determine what might be causing the problem. What would you do??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTrain Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 do you know for sure its not getting fuel?? when you turn on the key, do you hear the fuel pump turn on for a few seconds? ive had my share of intermittent no fuel delivery problems (in a chevy pickup, not a subaru) so i can totally relate to the frustration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTrain Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 one more thing, dont let the shop attempt to solve the problem by replacing everything spark AND fuel related, hoping they figure it out by the "shotgun" approach. again..ive had waaayy too much experience with intermittent nostarts related to fuel..aargh...could write a book... good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 My guess is that you are not getting spark to the plugs. Get a spare plug and remove one of the plugwires from a plug in the engine. Put the spare plug in the end and place the plug body on a good ground point of the engine. You should see spark when you turn the engine over. If you don't see any spark you will have to check that power is getting to the right ignition areas. I would also take a test light along to look for voltage. Using a squirt of starting fluid will tell you if the fuel is getting to the cylinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99obw Posted October 19, 2003 Share Posted October 19, 2003 The previous posters have given good advice. I would like to echo what BlueTrain said about not letting a shop replace things until they find the problem. A lot of your less skilled mechanics lack sufficient troubleshooting skills and are essentially only parts changers. Avoid this kind of shop or your walllet will ache. IMHO ether (starting fluid) is not good for gasoline engines, so use it sparingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p.monro Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 I quote from Haynes Engine rotates but will not start. 1. Fuel tank empty. 2. Battery discharge (in and rotate slowly). 3 Battery terminal connections loose orcorroded. 4. Leaking fuel injectors, faulty fuel pump, pressure regulator,etc 5 broken or stripped timing belt. 6 Ignition components damaged or damp. 7 worn, faulty or incorrectly gapped spark plugs. 8 broken, loose or disconnected wiring in the starting circuit. 9 broken loose or disconnected wires at the the ignition coilor faulty coil. Engine hard to start when cold. 1 battery discharged or low. 2. Malfunctioning fuel system. 3. Faulty coolant temperature sensor. 4. Injector leaking. 5. faulty ignition system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryb52 Posted October 20, 2003 Author Share Posted October 20, 2003 EMERGENCY ANSWER NEEDED! I had to have it towed again yesterday and the mechanic tried to start it this morning. No start. While whacking on the fuel system and trying to start it did so he thinks it's the fuel pump. Does that sound right??? Is there anything cheaper it might be that he should check and how should he check for it? It looks like a $450 job otherwise. THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p.monro Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 You can check if the fuel pump is operating. When you turn the key to the position just before it engages the starter motor there should be a soft purr sound for about 2 seconds. You can hear this better if you get some one else to turn the key while you listen at the fuel fuel filling pipe with the cap removed. The sound is very faint and you need to do it in a quiet place. When did you have the fuel filter replaced? It is supposed to be done every 25,000km or 12 months. If it is like mine it may never have been done after 9 years and 140,000. But perhaps it is just blocked. Have you just got the car? perhaps the previous owner had dirty fuel. But first check for the pump sound. If you can not hear that it is possibly the pump Although not unknown, it is not common Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotsubarus Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 Hey... been there with your problem. First its not and expensive problem, lay the back seat down and raise the carpet up onto the back seat... then on the passenger side up near the seat you will find a metal plate with 4 screws in it and remove them..... then un plug the white conector and get a test light ( test each wire with the light by someone else briefly turning the ignition over ... I think it is the thick red wire i believe there are two thicker wires and 3 thin ones ) If you are getting fire then it is the posibility of pump or bad conection inside tank you can take a batterey with two wires and conect to the two terminals inside the conection to see if working properly or remove the pump system there are about 8 to 10 (8mm) nuts and 3 hoses to remove then you can test the pumpw ith it out by stating at conection and then each end of the wires all the way down to the pump ( i had a bad connection on one of mine where the wire plugs in on the inside of the tank i just removed it and scratch the suface then squezzed the connector tighter and forced it back on ) never stopped running) If you are not getting fire at the connector to the pump there is a relay under the dash above the fuse box either the (green, brown or white connector ) any manual will tell you. Good luck i have a pump for a 92 wagon for 25+shipping if you cant find one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richierich Posted October 20, 2003 Share Posted October 20, 2003 In 92 many dealers were installing special computer chips so you could not start your car if you did not have it in. Even if you did not buy the system, it was still hidden under the dash, with a blank key inside. Many customers have had a problem with these in the last 5 years. Should take a good look and see if there is any extra systems under there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sregor13 Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Weel, I am not sure what determination the mechanic used to say fuel pump and I dont want to assume anything. You must pull the codes, if you dont know how to then legacy777 can give you very detailed instructions on his site. He is the master of the 90-94 Legacy. It could be your crank sensor. This would cause you car to Crank but no Start. However it is unlikely that a 92 Crank Sensor would go out. I would replace the Fuel Filter and toss a little Sea Foam in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 If it cannot be started, you can't add seafoam. Besides, why start adding something that likely has no bearing on the situation? Intermittent no-start is not a carbon build-up problem, and therefore seafoam is of little use here. I'm sure it's great stuff, but it seems to be a little over-prescribed here. Wait until you have the car in running shape, then determine if you have a carbon build-up issue. Just follow the advice to check for spark - if bad, then troubleshoot the spark from the coil. If good, then to check if the fuel pump is operational. The labour is easy - the part is probably pricey. If you have spark and the fuel pump is fine (i.e. you can hear it operate), replace the fuel filter. Weel, I am not sure what determination the mechanic used to say fuel pump and I dont want to assume anything. You must pull the codes, if you dont know how to then legacy777 can give you very detailed instructions on his site. He is the master of the 90-94 Legacy. It could be your crank sensor. This would cause you car to Crank but no Start. However it is unlikely that a 92 Crank Sensor would go out. I would replace the Fuel Filter and toss a little Sea Foam in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sregor13 Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 If it cannot be started, you can't add seafoam. Besides, why start adding something that likely has no bearing on the situation? Intermittent no-start is not a carbon build-up problem, and therefore seafoam is of little use here. I'm sure it's great stuff, but it seems to be a little over-prescribed here. Wait until you have the car in running shape, then determine if you have a carbon build-up issue. Just follow the advice to check for spark - if bad, then troubleshoot the spark from the coil. If good, then to check if the fuel pump is operational. The labour is easy - the part is probably pricey. If you have spark and the fuel pump is fine (i.e. you can hear it operate), replace the fuel filter. I recommend Seafoam because I had a simlilar problem on a 85 GL Wagon and an 87 Wagon. Both were from Salt Lake and were rusted. When my wife ran them out of Fuel. ( In both ) Rust and other debris in tank went into the Fuel Filter and clogged it. After replacing the Fuel Filter I added Seafoam to the Gas Tank. This helped greatly I agree that he should test for spark and make sure the Fuel Pump works. If he has not changed the Fuel Filter within the past 5000 Miles then I still stand by replacing it and adding Seafoam regardless of the other troubleshooting. I might be assuming to much to think he has not changed it at regular intervals. So please disregard if you have done this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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