Ok so I have a 1992 Loyale non turbo with the 5spd. She has 389k and some change on her. Today I was going down the freeway and she died on me. Opened the hood everything looked fine. I pulled the fuel filter and had plenty of fuel. threw some starting fluid down here still nothing. Pulled the cap and there was what I thought was all my problems! There was a screw laying in the bottom of the distributor and the rotor was just spinning there... So I put the screw back in and cap back on and all and turned the key and she fired right up! Then died 3 seconds later... She will start right up every time I turn the key and then dies right after.... I was thinking maybe a clogged fuel line or something between the filter and the throttle body... Should I be able to blow air through that line or not? Any advice on this matter would be very greatly appreciated! Thank you guys very much! I hope your help get her back on the road so I can get her to 400K+

For the three seconds its running, is the CEL on?

 

Sounds like though you have a vacuum leak. Did you unplug any hoses or knock any loose? I know my SPFI would run for a couple seconds then die when I forgot to hook the IAC hose back up

yea, my car today was doing a simliar thing, starting and then just stalling, i nocked one of the Cam case breather hoses off, lol. so check all the vacuum hoses and PCV hoses.

Ill look over all of my vacume lines tomorrow and let you guys know! I was dinking around a lot so i very well could of bumped one off!

What is the CEL?

Thanks for the advice guys!

...What is the CEL?...

"CHECK ENGINE" light on the dashboard. It means that the engine control unit (ECU) detected an error.

400,000 miles and he's never seen a CEL. Are you sure it's a Subaru? lol

I have a check engine light? lol

I have never seen it! Its not on when the car is running. Maybe my check engine light bulb is burnt out.. lol This car has not been treated good. I change the oil on it every 10k most the time. All I have ever done to it is chance the timing belts and some gaskets while I was in there. First time ever on a tow truck in its life was yesterday! The car is truely AMASING! Ill let you guys know what I find as far vacume lines!

You should see the CEL when you turn the key to on, but don't start. Its one of the lights below the gauge cluster.

Dont think I have ever seen it......

COUld be how it got to 400,000 on a turbo motor, the CEL is burned out

 

Check for vaccum hoses, and check the ignitor and distrubotor. At that mileage, either one can be way over due for replacement. the ignitor can drive you batty.

 

 

nipper