MGHDTi Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Alright, first post. Desperation has set in. 1988 GL Wagon. EA82 with the 1.8L. Driving along Highway 1 just south of Monterey, CA, pull over for a picture, pull back onto the highway and I'm getting back up to speed, shift into 4th gear and suddenly starts sputtering like I'm out of gas, hear a clunk from below and look back for a single second, and I'm pretty sure I saw a brownish smoke cloud behind me. Pulled over, shut 'er off and did what I could with the tools I had with me. I thought broken timing belt(s), so I removed the distributor cap, but the rotor still turns. Then I thought it may be an ignition issue, check for spark from the plugs, spark is there. So I figured it was a fuel delivery issue. Checked the fuel pump connector with a volt meter... no reading, so I checked the relay under the dash, jumped the relay, tried to start the car, and nothing. (pretty sure I was using the volt meter correctly). It's sitting in an O'Reillys parking lot in Carmel and I have to be in Seattle by Sunday night. I start a new job on Monday and as of right now, I have no idea what to try next. Camshaft sensor? Crank sensor? Anyone have any ideas?! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 There is no crank sensor. Ignition is fired be electronic breaker points in the disty. When you crank, does it sound normal even rRrRrRr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 If the passenger's side timing belt broke, the disty is still driven by the driver's side. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGHDTi Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Yeah, it still turns over and sounds "healthy", if you will, with a steady RrRrRr. My first thought was a timing belt, since the breakdown happened rather dramatically. More so than just a fuel pump going out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee2 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 ...shift into 4th gear and suddenly starts sputtering like I'm out of gas, My guess is probably the fuel pump. Rap on it with something like a screwdriver handle. Sometimes that will get it going again, at least temporarily until a replacement can be found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGHDTi Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 My guess is probably the fuel pump. Rap on it with something like a screwdriver handle. Sometimes that will get it going again, at least temporarily until a replacement can be found. Haha, I'll give that a shot, thanks. A temporary fix has to get me to Seattle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 pull a fuel hose and see what sprays out - takes 2 minutes. as said - check passengers side belt - 3 10mm bolts will expose that side cover. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooner Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Yeah, what a crappy situation. My guess would be one of the timing belts broke, same thing happened in an 85 GL i had, nice bang. A little smoke then nothing. I'd pull the two side covers off of the front of the timing belts. That's also not a bad fix on the road, better than a headgasket haha. Best of luck, maybe a member on here is close and can lend a hand? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGHDTi Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Yeah, what a crappy situation. My guess would be one of the timing belts broke, same thing happened in an 85 GL i had, nice bang. A little smoke then nothing. I'd pull the two side covers off of the front of the timing belts. That's also not a bad fix on the road, better than a headgasket haha. Best of luck, maybe a member on here is close and can lend a hand? Thanks, that's the direction I'm leaning towards, and I did bring all of my tools and I'm in an O'Reillys parking lot. I'll check that out tomorrow, hopefully it's the problem, and I can have it fixed and be back on the road. Appreciate all the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooner Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Can't beat that, broken down at a parts store. Silver linings. Are you going to sleep in your car tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jono Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) I can feel your knees a shakin' being so far from home with a lame mule efi or carby? efi has more things to check and go futt either may react with a shot of something igniteable ether, WD40, CRC556 down the intake as it is being cranked. If it backfres and blows flame to either burn you badly, singe eyebrows, scare you etc - may be the timing belt turbo side on your lonesome or got side-kick or family with you - to help, or hinder ? Handy thing about being outside a parts store is most customers could have some idea, tools nearby , better still a curiosity and helpful nature. Have you checked all the blade fuses near your left knee ? Then there are fusible links in the brownish plastic box about a foot along pos lead from battery, but does not sound like them. Edited January 2, 2015 by jono Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Pump should run w/the relay jumpered. Try tapping on the fuel pump w/the relay jumpered. You will hear the pump run.This has never failed to get a "dead" pump going for me. Make sure the relay has power.If not,check the fusible links. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Safe way to test if it is lack of fuel - Spray a good couple seconds of carb cleaner into one of the ports on the intake boot. Go crank it. If it runs for a burst, you have everything except fuel. +1 for tapping on the fuel pump. And checking for it running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferp420 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 did you get it im about 100 miles north of you on hyway 1 i might be able to help if you can get up here worst case ive got a storage yard up here in half moon bay if you just need time or if you can rent a truck like a you haul or something and a get a cheap tow bar just tow it home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickytrus Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Break it down to Is it a timing belt issue? you can pull the plastic cover off the short timing belt easy enough..... Very much worth doing........... right off the bat... say after checking for fuel.... Is it getting fuel? (checking for fuel is easier than pulling timing belt cover so do this first) pour some in throttle body... or spray an ignitable.(not as safe as )..... (gas being the safest like an ounce) When you turn the key do you hear pump come up to pressure???? Heard from passenger side wheel...... (sometimes they make sound when the ignition key is turned to the "run" position prior to turning key to the "start" position.) Is it getting spark? Check at the coil.. (thick wire -- if you not sure how to do this just ask)... if you got... then check at the spark plugs..... Driving along and then suddenly...(*&%$#@) . as you say.... what did occurr..... sounds more like the timing belt...... I have had this occur severa times.... as a result of different kinds of failures..... siezed tensioner....... (not running with T-belt covers and motor started having blow by....... and belt eventually became so contaminated that it snapped.....) and a bunch of other times....... I must say , I don like running without covers.... because... I can always look at it and inspect it.... or just visually see.... if it is still doing what it is supposed to be doing............. Good luck with your troubleshooting....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tundrabrat Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Good luck... Lame situation but you're getting good info, nothing I would add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superpoo93 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) Wait.... Did anyone mention the stoopid rotor screw?? Damn thing got me twice until I put loctite on it. Edited January 5, 2015 by superpoo93 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superpoo93 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Quote: *I had with me. I thought broken timing belt(s), so I removed the distributor cap, but the rotor still turns. Then I thought it may be an ignition issue, check for spark from the plugs, spark is there* Did you actually touch the rotor and try to turn it by hand??? The rotor will still turn without the screw in it, and appear to be ok., I bet anything the screw in sitting at the bottom of the disty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damnsubaru Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 what happened? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XHighOctanex Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 what happened? This is like a book someone cut the half the pages out of 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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