Hi, i'm from romania, i have a friend who owns a loyale wagon, ea82 turbo, 4x4, from '86. we are having a little trouble with the car. After redoing engine, it worked fine, and now 2 weeks trouble started The problem is that the engine suddenly stalls. At first we thought that it is the distributor cap (it was very worned out), we changed it, still same problem. After we digged deeper, we noticed, that when the engine stalls, in the central spark plug (between distributor cap and igniton coil) there is no spark. So, we checked the sistem step by step. The coil is ok, the wires are ok. We cleaned the distributor, the contacts (the plug that goes in the distributor held by 2 screws was oily). After putting everything back, the problem seems that it dissapeared. Everything seemed ok, the car worked fine for one day. Today, we started it, for 2 mins it worked ok, after that again. If we took out the distributor, and mess with it a little, it starts working again (only for a short time). The problem is that we can't find the cause of the problem. it apears sporadic, without a precise rule. One thing, when i take out the distributor, with ingnition on, when i spin the distributor, i can hear the fuel pump working, but there is no spark it only sparks one, when the pump stops working. The distributor has an optical sensor like thing, and a disk with two tipes of holes, big ones i guess for injection, and smalls for ignition. What is the problem ? Please help Thanks!

any hints anyone ?

Over here,86 turbos don`t have optical distributors.

 

Not sure if your car has one,but,it sounds like a problem w/the ignition amplifier.This is a power transister mounted on the coil bracket.Check the grounding of this component if you have one.

"Ce Faci"

From Cluj huh? My wife is from Cluj. She still has family there... Deva I think?

 

Have you checked the coil's resistance? Though they usually just die, its a thought. It sounds like your CAS is working but for somereason the coil still doesnt want to give spark. As NARU said it must be grounded. The whole bracket needs to be bolted tightly and its mounting should be clean and rust free. Also check the wire harness from the disty and its plug, and the same for everything on the coil. It sounds like a connection problem, especially since you just completed major service.

good one naru

i have an 87 rx with the same problem...it runs just fine and then dies either a couple minutes later or a couple seconds later. what i have heard is the same thing as naru...its the ignitor that sits on the bracket right underneath the coil. with this thing dying like that it wont throw a hard code for the diagnostics to catch. so i would replace the ignitor and go from there. but dont order from subaru because they only (from what i heard) sell a kit, which is the ignitor, the coil, and the bracket. then you just plug it in and go. but subaru wants an arm and a leg for it. my best bet would be going to a parts yard and taking one off of another car. thats what i am in search of right now. good luck

Thanks for your answers ! Yes, i live in Cluj About the distributor, the car had this type of distributor in it (disk with punched holes in it). Also, we got another type of distributor without cables (and also, the cap is held with screws ). When we finished the engine and tried to start it, we put this type of distributor with the other's cable, but it whouldn't start When we put back the original one ( disk + optical sensor), it started We got now about 1000 km's on the engine since rebuild, and this problem appeared now 1 or max 2 weeks. The coil has constantly 12v (at the + ) and i find it strange, that when it's not working, and i spin the distributor by hand, the injection works, and when the pump stops, it sparks one. it may be the amplifier thing, we will check it thanks again And by the way, it has that amplifier thing, right below the coil

 

Later edit: the problem with the parts is a big one In cluj, i don't know if there are more than 3 wagons, and maybe 2 normal L series. We can find spare parts in shops (sometimes at very big prices), and that's all.

Edited March 11, 200917 yr by knx

From your statement about spinning the disty makes things happen it sounds to me that the CAS is working ok. By replacing the ignition amplifier I suspect you will be back on the road again.

FYI,the power transistor momentarily connects the coil primary to ground upon receiving an ignition pulse from the ECU.

 

Bad transistors can usually be detected w/the "diode check" function of a digital multimeter.Tap lightly on it while measuring.Bad ones normally have an open junction.

 

If the coil mounts on the body,make sure it is well grounded to the engine.

 

Your distributor seems OK ,as the ECU sees a CAS input and starts the fuel pump etc.

 

2nd possibilty is missing ignition pulses from the ECU to the power transistor.

the disk with holes, he is talking about, is the crank angle sensor i beleive

Thanks everyone ! So, we reached the conclusion that the fault is with the ignition amplifier. What can we do, in case we can't find a new one or a replacement for it ? Is there a possibility or a way to crosswire that sistem ? Or to change that transistor ? Couldn't we find a compatible one in an electronic hardware shop ? :-\

And by the way, on what subaru models can that ignition amplifier be found ? Because there is a wagon witch spare parts are for sale(it's very rusted), but it's the version with carburetor.

Edited March 11, 200917 yr by knx

If it has numbers on it,should be easy to matchup at the electronics store.Even if it has no numbers,it shouldn`t be too difficult.

 

I`m guessing it is a NPN about 10 amps,450V range.Probably low gain?

 

Not sure exactly which Subes have them.Anything ea-82 w/an optical distributor,I think.No carburetted ones.

 

Might find one on a different make junk car already mounted on a heat sink.

I have seen some data in the past that seemed to indicate the transistor may be a Darlington version.

I have seen some data in the past that seemed to indicate the transistor may be a Darlington version.

 

 

Like this one?

http://www.allspectrum.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=998&osCsid=db8c7a893a625efb48b7eb4563092414

 

or these?

http://www.st.com/stonline/products/literature/ds/5288/bu941zt.htm

well the ignition amplifier or transistor everyone is talking about is called the igniter. from what i have heard it has to be a turbo model 1800 fuel injection car. not a carb model car. just go looking in parts yards for one and find a car with no front end damage on it and take it. i am still currently looking for one myself. but i am sure that once we both find one. we will both be back on the road.

It would be interesting to see if this one would work. I think it would myself. If I still had my old car I would experiment with it to see if it would work. It would help a number of folks with this problem if it did work.

Here in the USA I've found a couple would-be parts cars, but before 86 the Turbo engines did not use the transistor-style ignition amplifier. I have found 86 and 85 turbo engines that do NOT have the same system as the 87-88-89 turbo engines do.

 

It may be worth your while, since I'm assuming you have internet access (since you are posting here...) to look up a number of transistors that may fit your bracket... I dont know how available an electronic parts store is around you, but there are a number of online vendors selling NPN - T-zero-three (t-03) type transistors that may very well fix your problem if it's an amplifier failure. These cost between 2-5 U.S. dollars each, and depending on where you are I guess maybe more or less??

 

Hope this helps, and good luck!!!

 

88RxTuner

This link that Naru posted refers to one that would work I think.

 

http://www.allspectrum.com/store/pro...b7eb4563092414

We managed to find subaru heaven on earth ) ( a guy who has 7-8 cars for parts), got a new distributor, and a spark amplifier, and now it works fine Thanks everybody !

Good deal. Thanks for the update.