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96 Legacy engine misfiring due to faulty switch/relay

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I've got a 96 Legacy that has a faulty switch or relay (not sure which) that is starting to short out and causing my engine to misfire about 50% of the time. The offending part is just to the right of the alternator and on top of the belts. It's very accessible so I assume it is a common part, I just don't know of it. Any ideas?

are you reffering to the crank sensor? right under the Alternator?

I've got a 96 Legacy that has a faulty switch or relay (not sure which) that is starting to short out and causing my engine to misfire about 50% of the time. The offending part is just to the right of the alternator and on top of the belts. It's very accessible so I assume it is a common part, I just don't know of it. Any ideas?

 

How can you tell that the part is starting to short out?

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are you reffering to the crank sensor? right under the Alternator?

 

No, it's about 6 inches to the right of the alternator, and 6 inches to the left of the oil spout.

  • Author
How can you tell that the part is starting to short out?

 

It buzzes and sparks right before the engine misfires.

AC clutch wires?

 

Yea I'm going through my mind thinking what else is there besides the AC compressor haha....My first thought was the coil pack though thats not to the right of the alt. unless of course your viewing the engine from the drivers side haha...

That's all that's around there. So now the question... why is it throwing sparks?

Loose connection or broken wires?

 

Does it change if the AC is on or off? I'm gonna venture to guess that it doesn't do it at all when the AC is off.

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