kerandt

I had the same issue with my '93 Loyale. Same paint code 09. I ended up buying some cans of Dupli-color and experimenting. "Medium Garnet Red" cap matches, but don't use it. Too brite for mine when dry. "Bordeaux Red" ended up being the closets match I could find. Dupli-color list it as a Honda color and one called "Mica Ruby" as a OEM for Subaru. Check it out; https://www.duplicolor.com/color_selection.pdf Maybe O'Reilly didn't have that one when I looked? Hope this helps. The Bordeaux color is actually very very close.

I see. Researching. I'm not real experienced here, but would tell you to first look at the timing belts. Peak through the plastic covers. Or pull the cap off the distributor (see if it is spinning when trying to start)(drivers side timing belt controls this). There are rubber plugs in the belt covers too, but with a 10mm wrench / screwdriver it's not hard to peek in there. The starting fluid in the intake could tell you if there is a fuel delivery issue? And keep searching. Lots of similar threads of what others have gone though (with EA-82 not wanting to start). Hope this helps.

What have you narrowed down so far? Looked at the timing belts? Distributor moving? Can you hear the fuel pump cycling? Tried starting fluid? Lets see what else . . .?

Man . . .that's really something. I've nailed myself in the face doing some of the oddest things. Never while working on a car though. Did you have a sense or strange feeling something was about to happen just seconds before?

Have a '91 Loyale and also a '93. Both have fuel pumps that are quite audible. The '93 had a bad pump when I got it. Sometimes It would start and other times it wouldn't. I ended up just getting another used one off of Craigslist. Seems someone is always parting out a Soob. They're easy to get and easy to change. Might just see how long it lasts and carry a spare?

Hey that's pretty cool. Wish I could find an ole Brat for 200 bucks. This site is a great resource. Welcome aboard.

Good deal. I'm actually replacing the timing belts, seals and oil pump right now for the first time. I opted to go with out the covers. I stay on the clean black top for the most part. Good luck on the project

Mind me asking what you had to pay?

Man that's a lot of Subaru's to go through. I'm only on #3. Nice page.

That sounds like a fun trip. I live in Missoula, MT if you have any problems passing through. I'll send over my #. We are actually planning a trip ourselves (to Moab)(next week) in the station wagon (Loyale). I'm trying to be prepared "for the worst" as well. Have extra timing belts, radiator hoses, seals & gaskets, oil, my small tool collection. What else? Anyways good luck on your adventure! -Keith

Thanks guys. I will do more tinkering. It's running pretty good right now though.

I have a Chilton's and then also a set of service manuals by Subaru, but will mention that this site is your best resource by far. This site is a gold mine of information if one only takes the time to dig. I also recommend watching The Art of Subaru Maintenance on Youtube.com (thanks Miles!). It really helped me visualize some of the key steps. Here's one to start with. Also the one timing belt procedure; http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50768

Yes, the only one that comes up is 34, which I believe is the EGR? Was that way when I got the car. I do get 5 blinks before plugging the connectors together but that's normal right?

Loyale Hissy My third Subaru I have owned is a '93 Loyale, w/ 5-SPD push button 4WD, SPFI wagon and love it. But on the way home last night it started acting up. Cruising through town (30 MPH) I noticed a sudden power loss. Kind of a strange bog sensation. I bee lined it (slowly) home fearing I might not make it. Luckily I only had to come to a complete stop at one light, and to my relief it idled decent and resumed movement on it's own, but it was like it didn't want to go over 2K (pumping the petal) and just real gutless. Then I remembered reading a post or two on how sometimes a timing belt would slack up and jump a tooth and throw the timing off. It seemed logical? So after babying the thing home I jumped on the web to do some more brain storming (USMB of course) and came up with a priority list of what I would check the following day. (Fluids, temp, all good tonight!) *Timing belt condition and position *Check engine codes *Vac lines, Plugs & wires *Clean MAF (& all connections) *Change fuel pump (It's a noisy used one) *Possible plugged CAT? *Seafoam (Everything!) Day One (2/15/2010) Visual inspection of hoses and connections. Everything seems o.k. here. Went on to checking the timing with the light, got the green connectors, yup. (I had done this once before) and this time it was showing the timing to be 10 degrees or so. It definitely wasn't at 20 like I had seen the time before. Took the fans off to get outside belt covers off. Started manual engine rotation and inspection. To my surprise every thing seems cool here too. Double checked it a couple of times. Yup. Driver's straight up, other cam straight down (180 from each). Decided the distributor had to get a look over. So I labeled the wires. Removed the cap first. Then the whole thing. Cleaned it . Visual inspection; Rotor good and secure. Inside clean and free of debris. Put it every thing back together so I could try and start it. Monkeyed around a bit trying to get the damn thing to start. Had to go back to USMB to get it back together right (I love this site!). I keep trying to install the dist.at the 3 tic marks and not 0 degrees Oops,(have to remember that). Finally got it to start. Was about to give up, you have no idea. Idles good. I was surprised though I had to max the ditsy all the way counterclockwise (I think) in order to get it to 20 degrees with the light. At first glance I actually could not see any of the timing marks (just staring at the rusty flywheel flicker) I know I have it on the #1 wire. Light set at 0 Advance. Anyways, even after one drive around the block, running much better than last night, I decided to still try it with the dist. set half way or so (set back clock-wise) and no no it had a real bad pinging so move it back (max left). Tonight Took a short drive and seems to be back to normal? TOD (ticking is slowly getting worse but will still go away after the motor is good and warm. Might try a thicker oil? I did notice the engine seems to make more of a subtle whine much like a turbo would make. Perhaps It's the accessory belts, I did tighten them about as much as I could. Will continue to do some tinkering. I'm still a little dumb-founded? I still don't understand really what happened. Pavements dry / nothing wet. Maybe somethings on it's way out? Anyways. Comments, questions? Thanks for looking.

This thread might help. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49918&highlight=trouble+codes

I would definitely do the starter fluid test. I just bought a '93 Loyale SPFI that more or less had the same symptoms. It ended up being the fuel pump. Each time you turn the key on you should be able to hear it under the rear passenger side pressure up. If not try tapping on it. Good luck.

The car has had some service recently. Not long before it started acting up. New alternator, some belts, oil change and it looked like a brand new fuel filter too. Maybe they got something in the fuel line?

Visited with the owner last night briefly. Apparently it ran fine until going to work but would not start at the end of the day. Acted as if it were out of gas. Her son started it with starter fluid and was able to get the car back home (a mile or less). Once parked again, went back to not wanting to start. I've agreed to buy it. So I will wait to investigate any further. My guess is fuel pump or maybe fuel gauge is stuck and out of gas? Thanks again for all your helpful input. Oh, the 1993 is SPFI, everything under the hood looks like my '91. -Keith

Gitt 'r Done!

Thanks again for all the helpful input. -Keith

Do you have pictures you would care to share?

Awesome advice. I will try to look at it closer tomorrow if the owner will let me. Thanks again! Keith

Greetings. I am new to the site (and to Subaru mechanics for the most part). I have browsed from time to time, but never had any serious questions until now. So would appreciate any input you guys could give me. I have a '91 Loyale, SPFI, 5-speed with push button 4wd wagon. And am looking at possibly buying a '93 Loyale (5-spd, 4wd wgn) that has a bad fuel pump. Or so the owner was told "might " be why it quit running. Would my '91 fuel pump work on the '93? And is there an "easy" way to tell if the fuel pump is actually the problem? For those of us who are, what I refer to as; "mechanically challenged". The car turns over but acts as if it is out of gas. Wouldn't a timing belt issue act the same way? I will try to find out more details tomorrow when I meet with the owner and actually get a chance to look under the hood. Thanks in advance! -Keith

I love the 'madmax' wagon. I would piss my pants if it was on my bumper. I seem to be having issues adding pics?? Try the link below, it's my '91 Loyale. http://www.flickr.com/photos/minicab/3349932433/

Thanks for the input. Doesn't sound necessary but on the other hand if it made life easier? Maybe I'll find one at a rummage sale?