Scooby Owners, Help and advice please.

[omgus]

My Car is broken, it is a V3 STI Wagon and it is not turning over. My Mechanic has had a look over it for the last couple of days and is scratching his head over it as well.

It is not sparking, and we cannot find the reason for it. The Sparks are fine, the Lamda sensor is fine, the coil packs are fine, the crank sensor is fine, the fuel pump is pumping and still there is no spark once you turn the ignition.

Further info is that has an Apexi ECU with the little screen in the cabin, boost controler and a rarely used turbo timer and there is nothing mechanically wrong with it. Individaully all parts seem to be working, but it still won't fire.

I know the next call is getting an auto-electrical guy out, but i would like to have a rough idea of what he should look for as this is starting to get expensive, i have just had the OH's car serviced and really could do without another hefty bill.

Any advice will be welcomed.

Ta

Gus

[Rotary Madness]

Does it have an alarm/immobaliser thats throwing a fit and refusing to let the car start? I know mine would do jack st when the alarm was having a bad day. Does it even crank over?

[omgus]

Alarm isn't playing up, it cranks but just no spark. It origanilly stopped working on the move as well. No warning no drama it just stopped.

[GravelBen]

Did it run rough for a while before stopping? Thats what my old Legacy TSR did when the MAF died, and then steadfastly refused to start again until it was fixed.

Its a simple sort of thing but gets missed sometimes.

[omgus]

Very rough, I thought it was a fuel pump problem to start as it seemed to be struggling to to get fuel in. Then stopped completely.

[GravelBen]

I'd suspect the MAF then as a likely culprit - have you checked for ECU fault codes? If you can do it with the Apexi ECU - is it a piggyback or standalone? Easy enough to check with standard Subaru ECUs.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 19th March 10:54

[omgus]

Right, I have an update, without the right equipment you apparently can't get the fault codes from an apexi ecu. If anybody knows a way to cheat round this please let me know, otherwise the car is in for another tow tomorrow to somewhere that has the right diagnostic epuipment.

I know there is a way to check the fault codes with a normal ecu but that doesn't work with the apexi unit.

Again thanks for any info that can be given.

[wilkoca]

correct you cannot run a diagnostic with an apexi - only the standard ecu - do you have power running through the ecu ? does the hand controller light up?
Plus can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition.

This sounds very similar to a problem i had with my V5 STI

[omgus]

Yep, all are working, the display lights up, have found somewhere that will swap ecu's to have a look but it is a bit of a chore.

[wilkoca]

not to bad a job carpet up - 3 bolts swap and off you go - then i gather your going to run a diagnostic

[omgus]

I think I have to, I do know somewhere that can diagnose as it is, they just aren't cheap so looking to see if they can fit me in tomorrow.

[wilkoca]

im pretty sure without the standard ecu an obd2 port reader wont work.

Heres a handy diagnostic how to - helped me no end when ive had previous sensor issues.


http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.php/Knowledge/R...

i had a complete nightmare with mine - had to strip the dash and voltage drop the whole loom / changed main relay the works.

Edited by wilkoca on Friday 19th March 13:48

[wilkoca]

Just a thought ---- Turbo Timer that may be the beastie - i had one that was faulty and it knocked out the bottom end - personally id strip that out and at least thats one less variable - they're a waste of time anyway.


Ah and also have you checked the earth - the early scoobs had notorious earthing issues.

Edited by wilkoca on Friday 19th March 13:53

[omgus]

Not sure about the earth, but the turbo timer may be a place to look at. Regardless i have resigned myself to the fact it will be moving garages this weekend.

Everything that has been suggested seems to have drawn a blank and without seeing what the fault codes are we cannot do any more.
I will pass on turbo timer and see, but the timer is vary rarely turned on, i used it more to start the warmup process this winter than i did for the rest of the year.

[TAS1981]

Know anyone whose ECU you can borrow? They are *really* easy to swap. Where are you based?

If it is cranking it is prob not the alarm immobiliser. I can't imagine it would be the MAF either as it would still spark surely.

Can't you do the manual fault code trick with the black and green connectors under the wheel with an Apexi ECU fitted?

If you are really stuck I have fault reading gear laptop / cable etc and a spare ECU...

Tom

[TAS1981]

I am in Kent...

[omgus]

Thanks for the offer Tom but i have it booked in to somewhere with the right diagnostic equip for tomorrow morning.

And no the green and black wires don't do anything, very annoying.

Hopefully it will be a plug in and go tomorrow but i am bracing myself for the worst.

[TAS1981]

I reckon it will just be a fault with the ECU. Could be a reset with scooby monitor equipment or worst comes to worst, throw out the apexi and buy a second hand ECU, I think there is one with a Polar Performance chip in the classified section here.

Good luck matey.... must be irritating being off the road what with the weather improving etc!

[omgus]

Not jut that, without it i have to blag a lift or get the train to work, i hate being without wheels.

If it is an ECU reset will hopefully get it done tomorrow, just hoping my supply of car funds doesn't run out.

[m3eezer]

Hi mate, Something like this happened to my civic SIR2 a while back. We took the car apart including the clifford alarm/immobilzer. After 2 weeks we established it was an injector issue. I think it was something to do with the wiring. Just a long shot but give it a try.