hi, I just bought an 88 subaru gl 4wd, I was told that the timing on the car was off, so I could not start the car when i bought it; but i didnt really care i wanted my first subi. So with some help from my grandpa I redid the timing. but when i fired the car it idled for about 20 seconds and died, its not getting spark, I bought a new ignitor, and still not starting up. Any help please I dont know to much about this thing. help me out!

hi, I just bought an 88 subaru gl 4wd, I was told that the timing on the car was off, so I could not start the car when i bought it; but i didnt really care i wanted my first subi. So with some help from my grandpa I redid the timing. but when i fired the car it idled for about 20 seconds and died, its not getting spark, I bought a new ignitor, and still not starting up. Any help please I dont know to much about this thing. help me out!

Did you check to see if your getting power to the coil? are the nuts on the coil tight? coroded? check the fuse? plug wires in good shape and not rubbed thrue causing a ground? check the hall sensor with a multi meter.

Oh that sucks man. Welcome to the forum

 

Sounds like a spark kinda thing. Check if you're getting spark to all four plugs, check plugs themselves, rotor, cap, etc. If all thats good see if you're getting fuel.

Where are you at? Post your location in your info box as there are members all over that could possibly come to your rescue.

 

Don't be too frustrated with the no start issues as this is part of figuring them out and finding a cheap car and running it for years rather than making car payments.... there is a learning curve, pricey at first but take your time, ask for help and you will be able to figure it out. Possibly someone in your location can come and take a look at it.

 

Look in the "Search" forum, look at timing belts, possibly a jumped timing belt/broken. There is a test you can do with the connectors under the hood so look for "Test connectors" or "why aren't these wires connected" or "what is this stupid green wire?" Listen for the fuel pump to pulse when you turn on the key.... but it will stop as it awaits the ignition signal. It could be something as simple as plug wires not running to right plugs, you need to align your "0" timing mark to plug #1.... If I remember it is 1,3,2,4 and rotor turns Counter clockwise. But with the other posts, focus on timing belts, coil, or fuel pump.

 

I loved my 88 wagon... great rig. Be patient, look for a subaru repair manual, e-bay, on here or craigs list, you can do this just give yourself some time.

 

Congrats on your Subaru.

Edited February 12, 201016 yr by Indrid cold

Edit: Posting at the same time, YAY ^^ What they said

 

Congrats on your first Subie! Did you check your timing belts? They could have broke. If the car has sat for a long time, the belts could have rotted but held together for 20 seconds, and then broke. Check to make sure the distributor is turning when you crank the car over, that should tell you if your timing belts are broke or not. That would be the first thing that I would check, and then I would check all the other stuff. The T-Belts like to go out on these cars all the time. Luckily it won't mess anything up with the car, and it's a fairly forward process replacing them, so it's not THAT big of a deal if they do go. That being said, I have not had to replace one yet, so I am no expert on that subject at all, but this issues seems to come up quite a bit on here...

wow thanks for all the help guys. im going to check some of this out today, and i live in Trout lake, Washington. im way up in the woods, this was a city car i figure its about time its used for what its made for. well ill keep you guys updated.

Make sure fuse #5 is good also. If the horn works it is ok. You also should see voltage on the plus and minus sides of the coil when the ignition is ON.

subi running, these things are great!

subi running, these things are great!

 

Sweet deal what was the problem in the end?

timing belt had broke

That Simple... got to love these Cars.. Its What makes A subaru a Subaru

OK I have the same car and it kind of seems like the same problem. But I really have no clue. So it crapped out in like March and I have been so frustrated with the car that I just let it sit there. I did do a diagnostic test thing and its not the coil... I took the computer boards from a parts car and they didn't make a diff. So now I just have kind of a torn apart piece of ************ sitting in my dad's drive way. It's been sitting there for MONTHS now and he's starting to hassle me about it. PLUS it's summer and i want to be able to get my 4wheel drive on. I don't know too much about fixing this problem but I love my car and miss driving it. Does anybody have any suggestions?

OK I have the same car and it kind of seems like the same problem. But I really have no clue. So it crapped out in like March and I have been so frustrated with the car that I just let it sit there. I did do a diagnostic test thing and its not the coil... I took the computer boards from a parts car and they didn't make a diff. So now I just have kind of a torn apart piece of ************ sitting in my dad's drive way. It's been sitting there for MONTHS now and he's starting to hassle me about it. PLUS it's summer and i want to be able to get my 4wheel drive on. I don't know too much about fixing this problem but I love my car and miss driving it. Does anybody have any suggestions?

 

Do you have: fuel, ignition, air, and timing? If it doesn't run it's always one of those.

If you aren't getting spark did you check to see if the rotor in the disty is turning when you crank the engine? If it doesn't turn then you have a broken timing belt. If that is ok then you need to make sure that power is passing through the coil plus and minus connection points. If that is ok then the CAS sensor inside the disty needs to be checked.