March 10, 200719 yr I have a 87 Subaru Gl FI, and i cant get it to start. I just replaced the fuel pump and it is turning over but not starting. what are some other common possibilities i should check? Could use any sugestions! Thank You!
March 10, 200719 yr Back to basics. Fuel, air, spark. For now we assume air is supplied:-p Do you have spark? Do you have fuel flow? nipper
March 10, 200719 yr Make sure your timing belts are still tight and turning the overhead cams or possibly they have jumped a couple of teeth. Sounds like a "no spark situation." since you have a new fuel pump that crossed that off the list. If you take the cover off your distributor then crank the engine and your rotor turns, very good chance that belt is good, the other belt (right side) has a little removable plug on the front cover and kind of feel the belt in there... usually the belt that turns the left cam/distributor wears out first... lots of info on this in the search area... If you have a belt that jumped teeth you will have spark.. just at the wrong time. Also, Welcome too the board. I have an 88 wagon that looked like yours under the hood, takes time to learn it all and too clean it up, but looks like a fine rig under the hood:-p
March 10, 200719 yr what is the best way to test for fuel flow? I don't have my book with me right now... but your fuel pressure depends of if your SPFI (Single point Fuel injected) or Carberator, and you can remove fuel hose and jumper in a pressure gauge. A simple way to determin if fuel shoot a bit of starter fluid into the carb, put air cleaner back on and crank, if it fires then dies shortly after, yea, possibly no fuel flow. You have one fuel filter I think..... drivers side, by fire wall.. but not certain.. When you turn the key on you should hear your fuel pump come on..., on your earlier post you said new fuel pump so that would leave basicly filter or main fuse is out. with a new fuel pump, I would think spark is an issue on your rig... just guessing. Other things like plugged fuel return line, bad pressure regulator etc.. are rare but they do have problems, so figure out if spark or fuel first and go from there.
March 11, 200719 yr Author Yall' have been awesome! I tested the spark plugs and they are not sparking so i'll be troubleshooting ignition stuff now. Thank you! I checked all the fuses in the passenger compartment and found two blown but they weren't very important. cigar and mirror... How do i know if the fusible links behind the battery have gone bad or not? Thanks again!
March 11, 200719 yr The cigar and mirror circuits are shown in my service data to be on the same fuse, #14. If you also found #5 blown you most likely found your trouble. If the fuse doesn't just blow again at least.
March 11, 200719 yr How do i know if the fusible links behind the battery have gone bad or not? Thanks again! Test for continuity across the link. Or test for 12v at both sides.
March 13, 200719 yr Author So the ignition system is fine the fuel system is still the problem. It is starting for about five seconds and i don't think enough fuel is getting through. i tested the fuel pump's power and it is receiving about 8 to 9 volts. Is that enough? Could there be a issue in the fuel line itself? I really want this car to run... what can i do?
March 14, 200719 yr The voltage is low alright. You need to back track the line to see where the problem is. It may be the fuel pump relay that is causing the voltage drop.
March 14, 200719 yr The info for a '88 model shows it to be near the steering column, connected to a blue connector.
March 14, 200719 yr ... the fuel system is still the problem. ... what is the best way to test for fuel flow? The best way for me, is to Disconnect the Main Fuel Line from the Intake, and Place it on a Empty Can, then turn ingnition "ON" but not to Start Engine (Just to "Red Lights" on the Dashboard) and the Pump will give around 10 Ounces of Fuel, then it will Stop automatically. if You Turn Back the Key to "OFF" and then Again to "ON" Position, the Pump will give other Similar Amount of Fuel. but it Certainly Shall Stop after some seconds, Around 20. Why? ... Because the Pump is Designed to do That... it in some way, "Feels" that the Engine isn´t Running, and Quit Sendin´ Fuel. but if it Deliver Fuel, it is O.K. so, its "Normal" to the Pump to Stop when Engine is Stopped. With that Li´l Amount of Fuel Given, your Engine Shall Start, if Not, I Suggest you to Search in other Part for the Cause of the Problem. Good Luck!
March 14, 200719 yr I am virtually certain that SOME of the ECUs do NOT cycle the fuel pump on until the key is turned to the "start" position, or unless the engine is running... Different Fuel Injection systems approach this differently, some (definitely SOME of the ea-82s) cycle the pump as you described Loyale, but some function like I described.. the ECU does not energize the fuel pump relay unless either A. the engine is running or B. the key is turned to the "start" position I have NEVER heard my fuel pump with the car off, unless I had my green diagnostic/timing plug connected.. I had at one point gathered that this was normal and universal on the soob FI, but then I got called out and told I was wrong about it. Last I recall, GD chimed in that he had seen some that did and some that did not; but if MY car turns the fuel pump on before cranking the engine, then my name is Mickey Mouse. :-p Anyhow, I just wanted to make that clarification.. unless someone else wants to prove me to be Mickey Mouse (a non zero possibility, to err is human) the only DEFINITIVE "test" of the fuel pump circuit is verifying it while the car is running, or using the green connectors.
March 15, 200719 yr Author two questions... How do i use the connectors? they are under the hood for me, do i connect them then read the codes and where does the code blink at. exactly? Secondly what does the fuel pump relay look like??? Not quite sure what i'm looking for. thanks yall!
March 15, 200719 yr Secondly what does the fuel pump relay look like??? Not quite sure what i'm looking for. thanks yall! Look for a device that is about 1 inch in dimensions and plugged into a socket. The socket may be blue.
March 15, 200719 yr Look for a device that is about 1 inch in demensions and plugged into a socket. The socket may be blue. Socket is blue. It has 4 wires as follows: Signal from ECU= Lt.Blu w/Blue stripe wire. comes from pin 47 of ecu. power out to pump= Lt.blu w/ White stripe wire, This wire can also be found and checked for power at the big "check" connector(13 pins natural) near strut tower and "test" connector. same color, Lt.Blue w/White stripe 3rd pin in from left top, next to the lock tab. Grounds=2 Black w/ White stripe wires, or same wire split or jumped to both. It lives beside steeering coumn, clipped to it, above where the stock ECU would be. Can be obscured by the ECU. blue connector and wires are the positive identifiers.
March 18, 200719 yr First pull off dist. cap crank engine and see if rotor turns if not, timing belt is broke/stripped, VERY common problem
May 10, 200718 yr where is my fuel pressure regulator located? On the back, driver's side of the throttle body; secured by two bolts. It has one fuel line connected to it, and one vacuum line. You have an idea what a FPR looks like, right?
April 6, 201114 yr I have a 87 Subaru Gl FI, and i cant get it to start. I just replaced the fuel pump and it is turning over but not starting. what are some other common possibilities i should check? Could use any sugestions! Thank You! chdeck fuse for elec pump. also, if a used pump, could be bad.
April 6, 201114 yr chdeck fuse for elec pump. also, if a used pump, could be bad. Please check dates before responding, this is a 4yr old thread.
November 21, 20178 yr 4 year old post but the problem was never solved. I'm having this same issue. I changed the fuel pump relay and still no fuel when the key is turned. If I by pass then fuel comes out but this relay is brand new and it still isn't allowing fuel to enter the engine
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