...it's sitting dead in my garage. I've got a '94 legacy, nothing fancy on the inside, only on the outside. When I turn the key the engine turns over but won't start (had this backwards in original post). The engine's getting fuel, new alternator, new spark plugs, air flow seems okay. The coil checks out. I'm thinking it might be the ignition control module, but I can only find one auto parts store around St. Paul that can test it (they said it's bad, but I want to find a second opinion because I'm concerned they don't know what they're doing). And to just buy a new one, even from a scrap yard, is not cheap. So the questions: any advice on how to test the part? other culprits? where's the best place to buy new parts in town? I'm not that knowledgeable, but have a friend who knows what he's doing. Thanks, Jared
This is what I am looking at. Are you trying to say that the motor turns over and does not start?? Does it try and fire on any cylinders, or does it just spin?? I would also try a compression test on the motor to make sure that you are getting compression. Welcome to the site. Russ
How does the coil "check out"? it would need to be getting spark for it to "check out" my guess is crank sensor, no spark, no start. Used to be pretty common on the older legacies.
Russ, Yeah I meant turns over but doesn't start. Thanks. I'll try the compression test next. Does it make sense to have compression one day and then not the next with no 'event'? The car rode fine tuesday and was dead wednesday morning. Jordan, after turning over a few times we checked the spark plugs and they were wet. Also I probably should have mentioned earlier, the care isn't a turbo. Thanks.
If the coil is sending spark to the plugs, and its getting fuel then the car should start. Is it cranking funny? it ran when put away?
I'll let my car know that it should be running fine. It wasn't cranking funny before hand. Over the years it'd occasionally ride rough for a few moments in the winter mornings as it was warming up and as I was getting up to speed on the highway. (and it would die on me if i put it in gear, esp. reverse, before the engine warmed when the temperature was below 32, but that didn't happen this winter). And yeah it ran like a dream for the last two weeks since a new alternator was put in. So I was both shocked and annoyed when it crapped out on me this week.
We did try that, but I think it's worth giving it another try when we start exploring again tomorrow.
The old Legacy is notorious for the main ignition relay going bad. If the car ran fine with a CEL, than that is a definite possibility. If you pull the codes, does it tell you everything the car needs to run is bad? It is the green relay in the upper left area behind the dash. Jeremy (Deride) says to can get to it without removing the dash, by reaching from the right side of the steering column. Otherwise, it takes about an hour to remove the dash if you've done it before. Having a friend on hand the first time you remove a dashboard helps a lot. That's all I have right now.
Here is a site for the factory service manual. http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/subaru_manual_scans/
