hherschlag Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Hey all- My first post here, but I have read quite a few. The car: 96 legacy- early 96, some parts are the same for the 95. Extremely reliable- Just towed a trailer 6,000 mile withour a problem. 160,000 of the 220,000 mile on this car were driven by me or my wife, with very few problems. The problem: Car starts fine. Drive a short, or moderate distance, shut car off, car won't start. Starter cranks, no problem. It may try to fire just a bit, showing that there isn't a complete shutoff of fuel or spark, or it may not fire at all. If I let it sit for between 15 minutes and three hours, it starts right up. Since it has only happened three times, I don't have a more distinct, or definitive pattern. I am in the process of trying to find my code reader, in the off chance that it is showing a code. (check engine light is on, but that is from an unrelated issue that isn't really a problem.) Any thoughts? HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Welcome to the forum. It could be that either the cam or crank sensor has become heat-sensitive, but of course there are other possibilities. Reading the code(s) would be useful, obviously. The larger automotive stores (AutoZone, Advance, etc.) usually will read them for free (in the hope that you'll buy parts from them, but that's not mandatory). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg donovan Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 i would put good money on it being a bad coolant temp sensor. just replaced mine on my 95 with 275,000 miles. this one does need to have the code cleared by more than just cutting power to the ECU for some reason. could be crank and/or cam seonsor too. there was a recall on them on my 95. perhaps it extends to yours too since it was a a early build. if so the dealership will replace them for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron917 Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Those symptoms sound EXACTLY like a crank or cam position sensor going bad. I've had it happen on multiple cars, not on a Subaru, but those sensors all work the same way - they are Hall effect devices. It won't throw a code and light the CEL, because the engine has to start before the ECM will store a code. If you can catch it in the act, a voltmeter (oscilloscope is better) will show that the sensor is sending an incorrect signal or no signal at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log1call Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 First thing, since the light is on, is to check for trouble codes. You can check for trouble codes by connecting two plugs under the dash. It might be a good idea to check what the vacuum is at idle. Vacuum leaks or worn motors give those symptoms too. You might like to go here... http://cid-4ca3c3459aaa7f7f.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public?sa=12810571 and read "diagnostic aids for". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hherschlag Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 (edited) No codes, except my regular 420 code. The code reader just hadn't been unpacked from our cross country trip. I did have a similar problem with a mitsubishi, which was a bad computer. Any takers for a bad computer? Also, it was suggested that it could be a bad automatic choke. any thoughts? I'll throw a wild card in the mix, that I am sure is unrelated. (well, pretty sure.) Take it in the context of an incredibly reliable car, without a bunch of wierd quirks. The car just towed a trailer across the country, with no problem, except: When the tank was down to 2-3 gallons, the car would stutter, or even stall. Keep at least 4-5 gallons, and no problem at all. Also, no starting issues. HH PS- we are a two Subaru family, and I am sure I will be soliciting more advice when I do the struts and valve cover gasket on the impreza. Edited May 11, 2009 by hherschlag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log1call Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Since there are no codes, other than a 420? which I have never heard of, I would be inspecting the main relay, or, since it is intermittent, taking it out and putting it in another car to try or try a known good relay in your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hherschlag Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Ding, Ding, Ding!!!! And the winner is............. Crank shaft sensor. Bought both a crank shaft sensor and a cam shaft sensor. Since the crank shaft sensor was the less expensive, I tried it first. So far, so good. HH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg donovan Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Ding, Ding, Ding!!!! And the winner is............. Crank shaft sensor. Bought both a crank shaft sensor and a cam shaft sensor. Since the crank shaft sensor was the less expensive, I tried it first. So far, so good. HH did you check with the dealership to see if your car was covered by the recall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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