I am new so please go easy on me.

 

Our 96 Legacy OB with 112K miles is having problems starting. The engine will crank but won't start. This started last night and it has happened twice, and both times happened after the car has been driven for a short distance. The check engine light is staying on. If I wait a while the car will start and run fine. I think the problem may be caused by a bad fuel filter or may be the fuel pump? How do I check to see if the fuel pump is working properly? Any help you can provide is appreciated.

the camshaft angle sensor may be bad. at 112k, i wouldn't doubt it.

 

mine was doing the same thing -- it seemed like a random problem. it would crank and crank, but wouldn't turn over. let it sit for a few minutes, come back and then it's fine.

 

the camshaft angle sensor is a cheap repair (like $100), and is known to go out in these cars.

 

hope it helps.

some years even had this part recalled. i got the cam and crank sensors on my 95 replaced for free! yeah. how is that for customer service?

Throw coolant temperature sensor into the realm of possibilities, Get the code pulled and that will almost certainly tell you what the problem is. Next time it has trouble starting try pressing the gas pedal to the floor and hold it down while cranking, a sensor is probably sending too much fuel during starting, holding down the gas often gives enough air to start.

Thanks fellow newbies. I will have the code pulled to be sure. Stay tuned.

I live in part of the country where there is an auto parts store called auto zone, they will pull the code for free for you, then i figure i'll buy the part from them, and the coolant temp sensor was bad and i replaced it, ~$25 and its fine now.

auto zone used to do that here too, but they stopped it b/c, according to the guy there, they got in trouble with the dealerships. I will take the car to a local subaru guy and pay him to pull the code for me. Thanks.

Cam shaft angle sensor was the cause. Thanks again for the help.