1995 Legacy Wagon.....

Took it on errands today and everything was fine. Shut the car off at the last place and finished up the running around, came back out to the car to start it. It would turn over, but really didn't want to start. Eventually it did start, but the check engine light is on. Stopped at a gas station on the way home. No one there to run the computer. Went to start the car and the same thing happened. Once it's running it goes fine, it's just in the starting and the CEL is now on (wasn't before). I don't have a computer to check codes, and as of now, no one can get me in til the end of the week, just to run codes! Any advice on possible sensors or what ever would be appreciated.

Northguy's son's Legacy had hard starting problems last year that turned out to be a bad cam position sensor.

 

I'm new to the EJ engines myself, so I'm still trying to learn what their common failings are. Sorry I can't be of much help.

any one know around the price range for a cam position sensor is? also, where is it located? Is it the one around the timing belts?

You shouldn't need a computer to read the codes. OBD2 started in '96. You should be able to look at the LED or CEL light and count the pulses to retrive the codes. Here is a link to help you.

 

http://www.troublecodes.net/Subaru/

 

The cam sensor is up front with the timing belts.

I don't have a computer to check codes, and as of now, no one can get me in til the end of the week, just to run codes!

Get in the Zone! AutoZone can read your Check Engine Light for free. It takes less than a minute. Or if you have an old-school computer, you can read the codes without a tool.

 

I had a fun problem with my Legacy this afternoon. I laid my tools out on top of the engine, as usual, and two of the ignition wires came loose. I started up the engine, and it didn't want to start. On the second try, it started, then sputtered and died. If I had driven it like this, my Check Engine Light would have come on and shown a misfire on cylinders one and three.

 

Point being, don't start replacing parts without getting the codes read.

You shouldn't need a computer to read the codes. OBD2 started in '96.

Maybe. OBDII became mandatory in MY96, but in MY95, many makes and models use it. I don't know what Subaru used in '95.

Just to verify, Subaru went to OBDII in MY95.

I have had the same problems recently with my 1996 Legacy wagon. However my starting problems seem to occur after the car has sat for a least a couple of days. When it does start it takes about five minutes to run smooth and by that time the CEL has come on. I have been able to clear the light by disconnecting the battery for at least a minute. Now, I am trying to cause the bad start because I found that Auto Zone parts stores will code read for free.

The problem may due to a leaky injector and it is running rich until the excess fuel is burned up. There may also be a problem with the EGR valve leaking possibly. Hopefully checking the codes will give you a clue to the problem.

 

You can also purchase a code reader for around 30 dollars if you want.