1991 RS Legacy keeps coming back from the dead!

[mostrandomguyaround]

Hi all, I recently acquired a Subaru Legacy 1991 RS. The car had been sitting for 7 years in a shed, but needed little coaxing to get going again. Ive had it on the road and warranted for a couple months now. She actually runs really well with no noises, and the clutch and gearbox are PERFECT, best ive ever driven. Zero rust dents etc. Ok now the bad things. Since I got her, when on boost (she boosts hard and all the way to red line apart from this) she will jerk or buck slightly a few times, but I can still keep my foot planted and boost hard. Ive put up with this since getting her as I dont know what it is. But more recently, she has aqcuired a new problem (related, unrelated?). She will only start intermittantly. I go out to the car and crank it over, but no go. Its about half the time. The other half the time, she fires after 1 or 2 cranks idles perfect. I have to leave it for anywhere between an hour, to the next day, and try again and it fires right up. Also once while driving, halfway thorugh doin a U Turn, it just cut out. I was on the fuel light so thought it ran outta gas. We put lots of petrol in but still no go. I went back to it a couple days later with all my tools, but alas I didnt need to do anything. She fired right up and I was able to use her as normal for a couple days. But yesterday I went outside to start her up and no go. Just cranking.

Please HELP

[Bazza-NZ]

Got any codes? ,

Could be that your crank sensor / cam angle sensor is gone

Mine did / does this every while... expect mine will start with enough cranking...

try this.. when you can't start it take the battery off it, pump the brake pedal 10 times and leave it for at lest 15 mins, put battery back on, turn the key to ACC position for 3-5 seconds then try crank it over...

that's what i do when my car really doesn't want to start, after about 20-30 mins with battery off it will fire up on 1st crank and will run fine for another couple of weeks

[BC5RA]

The ignitor is known to go on these.

[ReubenH]

And coils too.

[mostrandomguyaround]

Hi Bazza, sounds like one of those "stand on one foot while spinning in a circle and rubbing your tummy" type remidies. Lol but ill give it a try now haha. And yeah as for the cam sensor and ignitor. Where are these two things. I really need a manual for this thing. Im typically a Mitsubishi/Mazda person, but ive owned a few Subarus to be eligible to have one braking down on me i think

[Bazza-NZ]

 mostrandomguyaround said:

Hi Bazza, sounds like one of those "stand on one foot while spinning in a circle and rubbing your tummy" type remidies. Lol but ill give it a try now haha. And yeah as for the cam sensor and ignitor. Where are these two things. I really need a manual for this thing. Im typically a Mitsubishi/Mazda person, but ive owned a few Subarus to be eligible to have one braking down on me i think

Yeah i know not the answer you where looking for ;D but might just work to help enable you to use your car to find out what the bigger problem is

i only have my car so i needed to do it to get the car to the shop, now its fine, well as fine as it wants to be

[DRFVDR]

also could be a sign of fuel pump going

These are great looking,awesome cars (use to have a GT wagon) but oh so problematic and it usually small things still love them and if it was not owning 4 vehicles i would kept mine

[mostrandomguyaround]

Hey guys ive been to pick a part and played with the car for a couple hours, just thought id update whats happened (I hate when people post in forums and then dont update when they find the problem). I went to pik a part and got a cam sensor, crank sensor, and an ignitor (i also got a little black box next to the ignitor with 1 vacuum going to it, just in case). I replaced all the parts (and boy are the wires for these sensors under the manifold a PAIN). I went to start the car fully expecting it to go. it didnt. GRRR haha. So as the last poster suggested, I checked a couple forums for more info regarding the pump. I listened for it to prime, and it wasnt. So i removed the pump (a pain also if you dont remove the rear seat). I tested the pump on the battery. It went OK. So I can only assume the Relay for the pump has crapped out. In the mean time I have tapped in the wiring for the pump to another (+) that only goes on with the ignition, and BAM she GOES!!! So yeah, FYI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also now doesnt feel as fast, but thats probably just me. The car was broken down at the local petrol station and has just been sitting there for a couple days, lucky it didnt get broken into

[Bazza-NZ]

Glad you where able to get the beast going again,

How much did the bits cost you at pick a part? I found the reason for mine, Crank angle sensor is going bad, got it tested today and found the fault there...

Long live the old school subies

[mostrandomguyaround]

They didnt know what they were so just a couple dollars each. I got the last ones at Mangere, and Avondale doesnt have any. I think Takanini may have several though.

[Bazza-NZ]

 mostrandomguyaround said:

They didnt know what they were so just a couple dollars each. I got the last ones at Mangere, and Avondale doesnt have any. I think Takanini may have several though.

A little out of my way... I'll just hit the one down here in Welly

[sickmatesick]

theres a plug under the rear seat for fuel pump that has a tendency to melt, mine did it four years ago

[Guest]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Subaru/Lancer/auction-234995680.htm

[Bazza-NZ]

 dynominet said:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Subaru/Lancer/auction-234995680.htm

HAHA

Subaru Lancer Evolution 4 1996 ...... :-[

Auction actually say Subaru Legacy RS

[mostrandomguyaround]

How do u figure that? lol