Steve Hoard

The "clear flood" mode may be part of my solution. Didn't realize that was the way the starting/fuel system worked. Normally, I don't depress the gas pedal to start but a couple of the cold start problems this winter have been resolved with a squirt of starting fluid AND holding the gas pedal down. Your point about cold temperatures makes sense too. All of my cold starts have been after an overnight in the driveway. Have to think about this a bit more, but thanks for the idea. Finally, I normally change fuel filters every 30-40,000 miles but I'm surprised to see the current Subaru filter is pushing 55,000. Going to put a new one in tonight.

My 92 Legacy is having periodic cold start problems. Issues started last winter and continue through to today. Engine cranks at normal RPMs, instrument panel lights show red during this process as normal, and after several attempts at starting I can smell gas fumes but car does not fire. Problem occurs only after the car has set overnight and there has been a significant temperature drop. Each occurrence has involved night time lows of 15-20 degrees F. Today was a typical scenario. My wife drove car yesterday to grocery store returning home and parking in our driveway. This morning, she attempted to start the car and it wouldn't start. Temperatures this morning were 15 degrees. Since the first January, we've had three episodes of no starting. I've replaced coil, spark plugs, spark plug wires, ignition sensor, cam shaft sensor plus added 1/2 gallon of alcohol and a can of fuel injector cleaner. My hunch is that once it warms up this week to upper 40 or low 50, the car will start. Once it starts, it runs fine. Is this an unusual problem? Any ideas on a solution?