Subaru croaked, crank no start. Ideas?

2002 Impreza 2.5TS, 5 speed, 217k original everything except a recent coil pack. It's been throwing misfire codes for at least a year, something lessened by the new coil pack.

Just died on a gentle upshift into second(15 miles from home with my 2yo in the back, of course). Car stalled on clutch in, now cranks without catching whatsoever until the battery dies. Not yet sure whether it's lack of spark r fuel, or if it jumped time(ignition pickup is from driver's side cam wheel); compression still sounds great.

Tried to pull codes while waiting for my wife to pick us up, scanner refuses to connect to the ECM. That's a new one. A product of a low battery, I'd guess.

Headed back out there shortly to meet the tow guy. Any simple ideas before I fork over a load of money I don't have for a tow and diagnostics?

Do you hear the fuel pump when you turn it on? That would be my first thought. If you jumped time, you probably would have heard some other nasty noises. If you can't hear the pump, it's pretty easy to get at the connection for the filter to see if fuel is moving(under hood near driverside strut tower).

No dice on audible anything, very high traffic area$ 'Twas my first though, too.

Didn't hear any crunchy valves either, but supposedly ignition goes kaput when the driver's cam is even one tooth off.

Making arrangements for this to be someone else's problem as I type this.

Is the timing belt original too? yikes...

later, matt

Likely timing belt or fuel pump. Dealer fuel pumps are $$$, and napa ones last 1-2 years (and now take a week to get and show up with something else in the box).

I have quite a bit of service history from new, timing belt replacement(at 105k) is not there. New Gates kit with water pump is in... In the trunk. Valve covers have never been off, near as I can tell.

Another impromptu roadside diagnostic later, and it appears Mr. Fuel Pump went home for good, no pump whine or fuel at the rail. Thanks all!

At least its an easy fix, thats pretty common. If you can afford a dealer one its worth it if you plan to keep the car a long time, the parts store ones will almost certainly die in no more than ~80k miles.

^Noted. It's likely I'll be throwing a cheapie at it, if the pump is indeed the fault(It's on the original from Japan, I can't imagine that's it's all that good). The car really needs a full overhaul nose to tail, but spotty overtime and $1500/mo daycare have seen to it that this bugger is going to see peacemeal budget fixes at best.

ValuePack, if the impreza is dead and gone, or you just don't want the motar anymore, I'd be glad to refund you so you're off the hook.

That said, I'm 99.999999999999% sure it's your crank angle sensor or cam angle sensor. More commonly crank angle sensor. Remove both harness clips and jiggle profusely (like, "oh god, please dont break because IM handling you like a 10¢ hooker) and try starting it again.

Edit: should read before posting

Edit2: Regarding fuel pumps, would now be the time to do a walbro?

ValuePack wrote: and $1500/mo daycare

holy E36 M3 batman ... that's more than I take home in a mo. probably a good thing I never had any kids

Hahaha, daycare is actually DOWN to $1500 now that my daughter is in first grade. It's$1800/mo in the summer when she's there more. But hey, the boy turns three this month, so it'll be $10/week cheaper.

Taiden: Cam angle sensor was my first thought, cleaned the connector roadside(it helps to be a mild hoarder and have electrical parts cleaner in the car at random!), it was soaked in oil. Jiggled the hell out of everything I could reach. It's cold out, someone else can fix it. Walbro is on my mind, too. We shall see. I think I may have you keep the engine and the money, I can't see myself getting up your way anytime soon.

UPDATE! Nobody gives a E36 M3 about Bigfoot! No, wait...

Got this hauled down to my BIL's transmission shop(I'm a former employee and get a deal on labor). He dug into it today, I fielded a bunch of calls about his gorgeous Snap On scanner not being able to find the ECU, banter back and forth about voltage issues, leftover harness from a botched aftermarket cruise control the PO had installed, etc etc.

A 10yo fuse had given up the ghost, so the ECU couldn't power up. Hopefully this is a freak thing and not just the tip of the iceberg, I'm useless with a multimeter. The car is back from the dead to it's normal hanging-on-by-a-thread state.

So, today's lesson is: no matter how many questions need to be answered to the two year old in the back seat, keep your wits about you and check the easy stuff first before paying for a 60 mile tow. And get AAA.

Travis_K wrote: Likely timing belt or fuel pump. Dealer fuel pumps are $$$, and napa ones last 1-2 years (and now take a week to get and show up with something else in the box).

for the record, NAPA stores generally stock a bosch for this application. they can get a carter or a delphi usually within a day or less, or if you can wait a day or two they can get the OE pump for a little over $200.

Which one are you referring to?

Sounds like it's time for a circuit breaker!!!!!!!!!

I am talking about for a 1996 legacy in California. They are completely out of them in California and the surrounding states, so it's a week to get one, then a week to get another one when they sent the wrong one the first time. ~$150 from napa, $399 from the dealer. The car is getting close to 400k, but this is either the 3rd or 4th time for replacing the fuel pump.

Taiden wrote: Sounds like it's time for a circuit breaker!!!!!!!!!

Don't give me any ideas. I'm weirder than most people here know, and have long pined to build something ridiculous of epic circus freakshow proportions using this car specifically as a base. One monster master throw switch in place of the head unit like you'd use to awaken Frankenstein... That's on the list now. There's just something about the notion of daily driving something that could make Jay Lamm blush.

Things I've talked myself out of: rear drive, four speed, and big carbed Buick V6. Slammed street rally rat rod on gold Braids and gravel Avons, pre-existing severely weathered BRP, and no front sheetmetal save for strut towers. Ghostbusters theme. Hearse theme(wife's a funeral director and embalmer, she liked that best). Lifted on Forester struts, 28" Swampers with a DIY exocage. Did I mention my Detroit Diesel and 4BT lust? Work that in there somewhere.

Don't give me any ideas.

Hours later edit: Speaking of freakshow transport as a means to defeat the mundane nature of everyday life, how's the flat six 10 speed coming along?

Get another fuse and put it in the glove box. This will guarantee that the one you replaced will never be a problem in the future.

Day 2: rear wheel still out of round, water is running out, eg33 appears to fit, unsure if the tires will maintain traction, insanity sets in....

Aye, but how many Nissans gave their life for hood-to-PS resevoir clearance? Methinks now may be the time to consider trike conversion to combat unwanted lateral weight transfer(read: tasting the road) and on-throttle traction limitations; I have plenty of OBS 15s with 205/60s to donate for the rear. Perhaps wheelie bars.

Crrrrap, now this sounds less like funny and more like something I want to build.

I still want a brat with an eg33 in the bed rwd

Awesome. Make mine twin ER27'd XT6.

Car is back from the shop today, heaps of new parts on. Still runs like garbage and the battery is on it's last leg, but it's quieter and isn't pulling an Exxon Valdez anymore. I miss my straight pipe.