Impreza Terzo - non start

[jac-in-a-box]

Cry for help here guys! Kid has just bought a non running Impreza Terzo for peanuts. Can't get the car started.

Battery has been fully charged
Fuel pump can be heard "whirring" and pressure can be felt in flexible pipes.
Don't think it's the immmobiliser - when immobiliser is on, fuel pump can't be heard, when off the pump can be heard.
Engine turns over pretty smartly.
No spark - he's just bought a coil pack thinking it may be that.

Have little (no!) knowledge of these cars, are there any obvious weak points on the ignition side - indeed anything else he should be looking at?

The car was heard running last week and the previous owner let it run out of fuel - fuel filter has been changed, so pretty sure it's not fuel related.

Thoughts, advice and pointers appreciated!

Edited by jac-in-a-box on Monday 28th December 17:59

[ScoobieWRX]

If it's not even firing change crank position sensor and you should at least get a spark even it doesn't start. Thereafter if still no joy try changing the coolant temp sensor. Again if still no joy you've got to be looking at something more serious like doing a compression test and possibly some wiring issue. In fact do the compression test first before you go lashing out on sensors.

Coolant temp sensor about £35-£40. Crank position sensor is about the same money.

[jac-in-a-box]

^^^ Thanks

Coil pack change made no difference, so we'll follow your advice and go for sensors. Any way to check them before splurging out on replacements? Got a decent multimeter - or if they're hall effect type sensors, I suppose I'll need an o'scope?

[ScoobieWRX]

It is a hall effect type. Just a simple digital switch that's either on or off as the trigger targets pass the sensor. Output you see will be a square wave when using a scope.

Personally speaking don't faff about with a scope and just change the bugger, it's cheap enough!!

[sherman]

jac-in-a-box said:

the previous owner let it run out of fuel

I know you have changed the fuel filter.

There is actually enough new petrol in the tank now to run the engine?

Edited by sherman on Tuesday 29th December 01:24

[jac-in-a-box]

Success!

Spent the night locating sensors and cleaned all the connectors with contact cleaner, same with any other electrical connection that could be found.
Managed to remove the plugs (what a PIA that it is!) Filthy and reeking of fuel - disconnected wiring from fuel pump and spun engine over, seemed to be a fair bit of fuel being blown out. Oil smells stongly of fuel too.

Anyway, got it all back together and it caught first turn of key...really nice and smooth idle. Guess it was flooded with perhaps a sensor with a damp/dirty connection preventing the engine firing earlier?

Oil/filter (engine, transmission and diff's) Brake fluid and plug change today should see it all sorted.

Next job that'll need doing, either precautionary, or because it's needed, will be the timing belt. Is that a DIY proposition? Got a fistful of invoices (but no service schedule book) last t/belt change was at 59k - with car at 125k I'm guessing it's due again?

Have to say that for £400 he's managed to get himself a pretty decent car now it's running - panels are all straight, paint needs a polish and interior interior needs a light clean - looks a little more subtle than regular scooby's too. Non standard wheels look a little naff, so it'll be a hunt for some OE wheels.

Thanks for your advice so far guys. Beyond what's been listed above, anything else he should be looking at doing?

[ScoobieWRX]

I'd still be thinking about doing a compression test. The strong smell of petrol in the oil suggests that either the cylinders became very flooded and neat petrol seeped into the engine past the rings and contaminated the oil or there may be a bigger problem with rings being worn well worn. At 125K and with no evidence of an engine build it's more likely to be rings.

A bloody good service though sound a cracking idea and you might think about changing the gearbox and diff oil too. I wonder when they were last changed.

Well done on getting it started. Sounds ultimately like the plugs were properly well fouled. Nice one!!

[jac-in-a-box]

^^^ Thanks Scooby
Sheer bloody mindedness saw it through to starting - a good pointer on sensors though; reckon it was perhaps a combination of plug fouling and dump/dirty sensor connections.

Gearbox/diff oils being changed as well this evening along with all other fluids.

Not too sure I'm going to point him at a compression test now...he's probably had enough of engine problems just now
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Let him get a bit of enjoyment first!

Timing belt replacement a competent pair of DIY'ers job - probably get a Gates set, unless OE parts are better advised?

[ScoobieWRX]

You can get a decent Kevlar timing belt for less than £50 online. It won't ever break on you and is cheaper than the OEM belt from a subaru stealership.

All you've got to worry about when changing the belt is do the tensioners look OK and lining up the pulley marks 100% spot on by the book. Lining the marks up before you pull the belt off makes life easier because then you'll know what to look for when the belt goes back on. If you need a workshop manual shout!!

I love it when a plan comes together!!

[Terzo123]

Can't be that many Terzo's left.

I've had mine for 9 years now, can't see me ever getting rid of it. Probably retire it down the bottom of my garden with a view to restoring it in years to come.

[jac-in-a-box]

Again Scooby thanks for the tip on the belt Will take a look for one in the NY and have a go at fitting.

Car seems to be going well, great in the snow just ploughs through it where others founder! Had a problem with a CEL being thrown, overboost - a quick rummage through the boost control pipes revealed a hardened/split hose. Found a length of Samco hose that fitted and it's now behaving itself.

Really in need of a wiring diagram for the lights...rear lights stay on regardless of switch position - not good for battery life overnight. Sadly some tacky aftermarket lights, F&R have been fitted and crudely spliced with sellotape at the joints. Original light units came with the car so they'll be going back in.
Could do with access to a lighting wiring diagram to sort the mess out - any pointers for an online version please?

Mr Terzo - good looking car! Must admit I hadn't heard of the Terzo's until junior laid his hands on one...a little fettling I'm sure his will look fine once done.

Happy New Year all

[ScoobieWRX]

You don't by any chance have a switch on top of the steering column plastic shroud or anywhere else do you that activates parking lights. I remember leaving those on once. Hadn't used the car for a few days and when i went back to it the battery was dead.

Although i never use it i always make sure now it's always off as it's easy to knock and leave on.

just a thought

[omgus]

ScoobieWRX said:

You don't by any chance have a switch on top of the steering column plastic shroud or anywhere else do you that activates parking lights. I remember leaving those on once. Hadn't used the car for a few days and when i went back to it the battery was dead.

Although i never use it i always make sure now it's always off as it's easy to knock and leave on.

just a thought

I've done that, spent 2 weeks taking the battery off every night until i called my local garage and he laughed his head off for ten mins before telling me about the switch.


Learnt my lesson though

[ScoobieWRX]

[jac-in-a-box]

"That switch"...you were right Mr Scooby! It's there and it was on - junior and his pals completely oblivious to its function have rewired the rear lights to work from rear fog light switch (bulb removed from rear fog)

Thought he was so clever and his face was a picture now he knows

[ScoobieWRX]

Blimey O'Reiley!! ROFPMSL

I'm so chuffed this major electrical fault was eventually discovered!!

[omgus]

jac-in-a-box said:

"That switch"...you were right Mr Scooby! It's there and it was on - junior and his pals completely oblivious to its function have rewired the rear lights to work from rear fog light switch (bulb removed from rear fog)

Thought he was so clever and his face was a picture now he knows

Thats even better than me!





Glad it's sorted now.