legacycentral bbs

Okay guys, here is one to get you thinking.
Car: 1993 Subaru Legacy L FWD 5 Speed

Problem:
Car is only sometimes hard to start, like this morning before I went off to work it would just keep cranking, and almost catch sometimes but not fire up.

I took my mother's Subaru to work.

When I got home from work I go to start my car and it sounds like I am not getting compression, like the engine is free wheeling. I fell into slight depression, and I wanted to prove to myself that I was losing compression so I got a tester. Before I tested, I attempted to start the car, and after a minute of on and off cranking, it finally fired up and ran... EXTREMELY RICH, white smoke pouring out of the exhaust and after it warmed up no more smoke., no CELs, it wasn't missfiring, it was running absolutely fine.
I got back and ran the car through the tests and these are my surprising results:
Cylinder 1: 150
Cylinder 2: 140
Cylinder 3: 140
Cylinder 4: 145

I am definitely getting fuel, I haven't checked spark, I will check that next.

I know my timing isn't screwed up so what could this be?

Also when I went to start it this morning, there was fuel seeping out of the fuel filter on one of the ports that go into the filter (not from hose to metal). Could irregular fuel pressure cause my car to sound like it's not getting compression, sometimes make it hard to start, and cause it to run really rich when I first start it up?

This is also on NASIOC, I am eagerly waiting for someone's opinion.

Thanks in advanced for your help.

Ok an update. I just checked spark, and that is what I am lacking which could explain the extreme gas smell because no fuel is being burnt, it is just sitting there.

While testing for spark I would not get spark while cranking, but once I stopped cranking, when you can hear the relay's clicking, some spark would show up.

I will check out all my relays and my fuses and see if I find anything fouled.

I replaced the crank position sensor some 3,000 miles ago, the part was used, it had only 86 miles on it when I bought it.

I did a small rebuild of the engine because the clutch was shot and while I had the engine out I replaced basically everything except for internals, head gaskets, and the only sensors that have not been replaced are the TPS and the cam position sensor. Everything else is pretty new.

The wires and plugs have 3,000 on them.

I changed the oil 3 days ago with some 10w30.

I have an extra coil pack lying around, I will put that in and see what happens.

I will test the igniter. (My mother has a 95 legacy, they are the same part number so I will swap those out and see what happens)

I had to relocate my ECU ground because the bolt it was originally on was too loose, and it was tightened all the way so I moved it to the intake manifold, I will check that ground and make sure that it has proper resistance.

I really don't know what else to test than what I have stated above. I will do all this and get back here and let you know what happens. I have to work 8-5 tomorrow so by the time I get home to test everything it will almost be dark and will be cold. Working on cars in the 40 degree weather in your driveway with a garage light that works sometimes is far from fun. I'll see what can be done tomorrow, if not then I only have school on Monday so I can do everything then.

I had the same issue from my GC when it had the 1.8L (took a minute before it finally cranked then had white smoke pouring out), turned out to be the Crank Positioning Sensor. It had oil and dirt on it, I replaced it anyway, ran great after that.

Try replacing your used one with a new OEM one.

Jester808 wrote:I had the same issue from my GC when it had the 1.8L (took a minute before it finally cranked then had white smoke pouring out), turned out to be the Crank Positioning Sensor. It had oil and dirt on it, I replaced it anyway, ran great after that.

Try replacing your used one with a new OEM one.

I went to the dealer and the best one they could find me was one that had 86 miles on it, which is the one I am running in it now, when I get home from work later, I am going to test EVERYTHING. This has happened to me before and it turned out to be a bad ECU ground, so I won't miss a thing this time around.