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Fuel Filter Replacement/Update:Distributor


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Hi fellow Subi's:) I have an 1987 GL-10 Turbowagon with 61,000 original miles. I just finished a tune-up, and replaced the fuel filter. It ran well for 4 blocks, then died. I checked spark, all good. I didn't bleed fuel system, do i need to? any help would be appriciated. Thanks

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Was the tuneup being done to fix problems you were having or as routine maintance.

 

No, relieving the pressure and then hooking everything back up wouldnt cause this. However, putting the fuel lines on backwards might, or if they are kinked somewhere it would too.

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Thanks Shawn for reply. I don't know the history of this car, but I owned a 88 turbowagon for 297,630 miles before trading in for a jeep. I won't even GO to the headaches I had with the Jeep...But anyway, I noticed a bit of stalling when it was cold Friday, So I decided it being 17 years old, to do a complete tune-up before winter. When I replaced the oil-drum sized filter, i lost alot of gas in the process. I surmise since it is a pressure system, the fuel comming into the new filter is pushing air into the fuel rails as it tries to refill the empty new filter.? After it died, the cel would flash on and off, along with a bunch of relays whirrling and clicking in the engine compartment (engine not running) sometimes it would run for 2 seconds, others it wouldn't start at all. Fuel filter is installed correctly, and no pinched lines. It ran fine before I did this???? Very frustrating.

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Update: I went today and purged the fuel line of any air. It started right up, and ran well until it warmed up. I drove it about one mile, then it started sputtering again, along with the CEL turning on and off while it was sputtering. I managed to limp it back to Hopkin's Automotive, and we'll have to see what they find out. I don't have a clue......

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Picked-up Soob today, they had to replace the whole distributor. They found a used one, but I question, at only 60,000 miles why did it fail? We called the Subaru dealer here in Spokane, only to be told Subaru doesn't make a rebuild kit or optical electronic replacement part for the distributor, only a $600.00 replacement one, since this was a TURBO distributor. I still have the original one that failed, can it be rebuilt? Thanks Pro's, I value your expertise in this area.

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That does sound awfully strange. Question: during the tune-up did you replace the cap & rotor? If so did you make sure they were the EXACT same as the ones that came off your car? This is a known problem as in getting the wrong parts for the cap & rotor, normally they won't even fit but I think there is a few that interchange and might possible work but don't quite make contact as good as what they should. Just a thought, I know I've battled with getting the right cap & rotor a few different times.

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Thanks for the reply. I started at the Subaru Dealership for OEM parts,cap-rotor-wires-plugs, only to be told that they would have to order them:-\ So I went to Napa and got the parts. My mechanic used the new cap I purchased with the swapped distributor, and it hasn't stumbled or bucked since I picked it up yesterday. I try and always use OEM parts, but what a pain in the rump roast waiting for simple ignition parts from the dealer. What other choice do I have here? The used distributor seems to have fixed the problem, so far......but should I hang on to the original distributor? can it be rebuilt with new electronics (keep in mind this is the TURBO distributor)? Subaru Dealer says no......

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A company in Portland will rebuilt your distributor for you. www.philbin.com Ooops, looks like the link is no good; I'll edit this again when I'm home.

 

Also, I have a used distributor and coil from an '87 Turbo wagon which is mechanically in good shape (the wagon was a wreck so I'd assume the distributor was okay). Anyway, it's for sale for $20 plus shipping.

 

The real link is: http://www.philbingroup.com/rebuilt/distributors.htm

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edrach, I'd have taken you up on your offer in a heartbeat, if I had known that the distributor was the problem beforehand. My mech found a used one, and with installation it came to a hair shy of $200 with labor. Live and Learn. I am interested in the "rebuilder" of Turbo-distributors, located you said, out of Portland, Ore. I think I should probably have my old one rebuilt, since I don't know the history of this used one.

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