fuel kill switch?

Discussion in 'General Subaru Discussion' started by HiImBrian, Jan 9, 2009.

  1. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    Well I just bought my first rs tonight and it died before I even got home. I was with a friend and we were waitin for a buddy in a parking lot. Well the lot was full of snow and I just got a new awd suby so I figured I'd slid around a little. I wasn't rippin on it hard at all, just doin some mild donuts and then all of a sudden the car died.

    I try to start it and it'll turn over and over and over, but it sounds like it's not getting fuel. I checked and the spark is good, but I wasn't able to get the fuel line off to check if there was fuel (maybe not the best idea, but I was running out of ideas altogether).

    My buddy called and brought up the idea that maybe the fuel pump got shut off. Like when cars roll sometimes there is an automatic shut off for the fuel pump so things don't blow up. Well I'm not sure where (or even if there is a switch at all) the switch would be.

    Could anybody please please please help me or give me any sort of advice!?
     
  2. KA-T_240
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    KA-T_240 Well-Known Member

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    Can you here the fuel pump when you turn the key on? Also, is there gas in the car?(sorry, had to ask) The gas gauge may not be accurate or something.

    What 2.5rs did you buy? I see your from Fargo(Being that your 21 from the same town and a car guy, I must have met your before). I may be available to come give you some ideas tomorrow night or sat.
     
  3. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    No I cannot hear the fuel pump. Yes I filled the car up 30 miles before this happened. I bought a 98 impreza rs and I'm actually not even in Fargo yet. I'm stuck at home in the cities. Do you know anything about this "kill switch" idea?
     
  4. Impreza 2.2 T AWD
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    Impreza 2.2 T AWD New Member

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    could you smell fuel, or were the plugs wet when you pulled them out? if you didn't check the plugs right after you turned it over, maybe you should, no fuel may point towards a ECU problem.
     
  5. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    well I've been talkin with some guys on another board, and I forgot to mention the CEL came on. I didn't check for fuel because I wasn't able to get the lines off or the plugs out. I've got a friend with a shop a couple miles away, so I'll just bring it there and have the cel checked and see what we can do.
     
  6. aspiringRexer
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    aspiringRexer Member

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    Your fuel pressure regulator may have taken a crap and is just dumping back into the tank, not generating enough pressure to get any fuel out of the injectors.

    Not sure if the FPR is wired, but if you knock the connector off while playing, that would throw a CEL.

    Pull the code and let us know.
     
  7. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    ^That is a possibility, it's weird that it happened so suddenly. Anyways, I'm just gunna get it towed to a shop so they can run the cel and go from there. I haven't gotten me a code reader yet :(
     
  8. piddster
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    piddster Lone Wolf

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    The FPR is a mechanical device, referencing vacuum or boost. With no vacuum in your intake manifold, you should see a little over 40 psi of fuel pressure.
     
  9. AWDimprezaL
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    AWDimprezaL has more posts than you

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    My guess is crank sensor. check for spark while cranking it. pull a wire off of the coil pack and have someone check for spark while you are cranking. Where is the car located? I may be able to help you out this evening, as I have a few cam, and crank sensors. Oh and its definatly not the FPR, when they fail they will cause hard starting when cold, but they wont ever make the car stall.
     
  10. Scuba Steve
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    Scuba Steve Well-Known Member

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    you bought a 98RS? May I ask from where, a dealer?
     
  11. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    There is a spark. I checked this. I got the car towed to a shop in Osseo and I'm just gunna have to cut off my arm and give it to them once they fix it. I absolutely HATE taking any car into a shop because you'll end up paying $100 for them to plug a sensor back in. sry /rant
     
  12. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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  13. readymix
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    readymix ...Lest ye be trod upon... Staff Member

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  14. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    haha surprise! lol

    I killed a poor unicorn :(
     
  15. deegee
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    deegee Well-Known Member

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    Damn, nice purchase.
     
  16. readymix
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    readymix ...Lest ye be trod upon... Staff Member

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    You didn't kill it, everything is fixable. It's an N/A Subaru. Does it have spark? If so, is it getting fuel? Check those two first. You mentioned it has spark. Does it have spark on all cylinders? Not that that would be something I'd expect, but it is worth checking everything.

    Fuel pressure regulators are mechanical devices. Not usually a failure item, but if you aren't getting pressure, that could be it. Turn off your radio and A/C fans in the car, then turn the key to the Accessory position, don't turn over the engine. WHen you click position three, do you hear a buzzing sound from the back seat? If not, check your fuses.
     
  17. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    I checked the fuel pump fuses and they were both fine. Like I said, I already took it in the shop, so I'll let you know what the conclusion is when I get it back.
     
  18. HiImBrian
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    HiImBrian Member

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    thanks, I really just lucked out. Didn't even know anything about "unicorns" until I had pretty much decided to buy it.
     
  19. AWDimprezaL
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    AWDimprezaL has more posts than you

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    wow, amazing looking car, unicorn indeed! Ive never seen one in real life... @ 151K its probably had head gaskets done, so thats good, It should be good for many many miles now, as long as you check/change your oil.