Can't get my 98 Forester to start.

sg_halvorsen · 11-20-2012, 12:31 PM

I don't know much history on the car. I bought it from someone not running and they bought it not running.
What I do know from before I got it;
A different engine was installed at some point.
One of the heads (pass side) was replaced on the new engine. (I believe this was the repair that it hasn't run since)
The starter, clutch, battery and water pump were all replaced.

The engine will turn over and has compression.
It gets spark and fuel at all four cylinders as well.

What I have done;
Plugs (Ngk)
Wires (Ngk)
Gates timing kit with pulleys
Drained the gas (which was nasty)
Fuel filter (after replacing gas)

The only codes it throws is a code for the coolant temp sensor. There is no radiator in it right now.

I don't know if it matters but the timing covers are off and so are the accessory belts and crank pulley for them. Also the intake is off up until the throttle body.

I'm almost certain the timing is set right but couldn't find a good right up for the dohc na in the 98 foresters.

Is there anything else I should check out and are there any tricks to the timing that aren't obvious?

Thanks!

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V8Slayer · 11-20-2012, 12:40 PM

Send me your email and I will send you the FSM for my legacy. It has the exact same engine as in your dohc 2.5L forester and will show you how to do your timing(or make sure it's correct in this case).

V8Slayer · 11-20-2012, 12:46 PM

Oh and while your car is down, invest in a Vag-com cable so you can view some of your obdII data. It's an $8 cable from ebay and free software.

Sounds like your doing all the right things to try and get it started. If the intake is off when you are trying to start it that means that no air is passing through the MAF housing, connect the intake back up and see if that helps.

V8Slayer · 11-20-2012, 02:04 PM

E-mail has been sent, I hope it helps you.

sg_halvorsen · 11-20-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Slayer

E-mail has been sent, I hope it helps you.

Thanks again. I'm sure it will!!

sg_halvorsen · 12-23-2012, 04:28 PM

Hooked up the map sensor and still nothing. So I sprayed some starting fluid in and it turns a few times. Seems like it tries to fire and bogs down and then starts to turn again. My thoughts were that maybe the exhaust was clogged but then I was looking under the hood and saw some oil dripping down onto the passenger side exhaust can gear... What could be causing this and could that have something to do with why it won't fire?

That was the head that was replaced before I bought the car if that makes a difference. Maybe something wasn't put back together correctly?

scarney1988 · 12-23-2012, 06:08 PM

Well it sounds like you have quite a bit of variables here.

What is battery voltage (key off, engine off)?

Have you measured fuel pressure?

Is there a coolant temp sensor connected, if so what is its room temp resistance?

Are your cam and crank sensors connected?

What did you test spark with?

What did you test fuel with?

Do you have a scan tool/code reader that can dispay live data?

Are you trying to start it with the intake tube connecting the throttle body and MAF housing?

Have you tried starting it with first putting the pedal all the way to the floor?

I have seen faulty coolant sensors cause crank no starts. Not common, but certainly possible.

Sorry for the many questions. But it sounds like you have tried quite a bit, so I am trying to get up to speed on where you are. Either way, good luck.

Storm · 12-23-2012, 07:12 PM

The 98 needs to have the intake tube connected to the MAF sensor, as well as the smaller idle air tube....which has to be connected to the main air intake tube. Without these items, the ECU does not know if air is being ingested or not.

The fuel lines may be reversed and not building any fuel pressure. The fuel line from the filter goes to the top nipple on the motor. The other line goes to the bottom nipple, and the smallest line is a vent, which goes to the middle nipple on the motor.

A less obvious thing to check, would be the crank timing gear. If the replacement motor is from a newer car, it may not be the correct one. It should only have 6-7 reluctors passing under the crank position sensor.

Along those lines, it may be out of time if the person who did the work was not really familiar with Subarus. Often times folks will use the arrow on the crank timing gear as the reference, and it's wrong. Check by putting the hashmark (visible on one of the reluctors) at 12:00 and then look at the cam gears. The top 2 should have the marks at 12:00 and the bottom gears should have marks at 9:00 on the left and 3:00 on the right (looking at the front).

If the cam marks are way out, turn the crank 1 more complete turn and stop on the hashmark, then check again.

Check these things and try it again.

Good luck,
Jay

11-20-2012, 12:31 PM	#1
sg_halvorsen Scooby Specialist Member#: 201924 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Eldersburg, MD Vehicle: 07 L.L. Beaner	Can't get my 98 Forester to start. I don't know much history on the car. I bought it from someone not running and they bought it not running. What I do know from before I got it; A different engine was installed at some point. One of the heads (pass side) was replaced on the new engine. (I believe this was the repair that it hasn't run since) The starter, clutch, battery and water pump were all replaced. The engine will turn over and has compression. It gets spark and fuel at all four cylinders as well. What I have done; Plugs (Ngk) Wires (Ngk) Gates timing kit with pulleys Drained the gas (which was nasty) Fuel filter (after replacing gas) The only codes it throws is a code for the coolant temp sensor. There is no radiator in it right now. I don't know if it matters but the timing covers are off and so are the accessory belts and crank pulley for them. Also the intake is off up until the throttle body. I'm almost certain the timing is set right but couldn't find a good right up for the dohc na in the 98 foresters. Is there anything else I should check out and are there any tricks to the timing that aren't obvious? Thanks! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-20-2012, 12:40 PM	#2
V8Slayer Scooby Specialist Member#: 111565 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Winnipeg Vehicle: 1999 Legacy 2.5GT Boosted & meth injection!	Send me your email and I will send you the FSM for my legacy. It has the exact same engine as in your dohc 2.5L forester and will show you how to do your timing(or make sure it's correct in this case).

11-20-2012, 12:46 PM	#3
V8Slayer Scooby Specialist Member#: 111565 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Winnipeg Vehicle: 1999 Legacy 2.5GT Boosted & meth injection!	Oh and while your car is down, invest in a Vag-com cable so you can view some of your obdII data. It's an $8 cable from ebay and free software. Sounds like your doing all the right things to try and get it started. If the intake is off when you are trying to start it that means that no air is passing through the MAF housing, connect the intake back up and see if that helps.

11-20-2012, 02:04 PM	#4
V8Slayer Scooby Specialist Member#: 111565 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Winnipeg Vehicle: 1999 Legacy 2.5GT Boosted & meth injection!	E-mail has been sent, I hope it helps you.

12-23-2012, 04:28 PM	#6
sg_halvorsen Scooby Specialist Member#: 201924 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Eldersburg, MD Vehicle: 07 L.L. Beaner	Hooked up the map sensor and still nothing. So I sprayed some starting fluid in and it turns a few times. Seems like it tries to fire and bogs down and then starts to turn again. My thoughts were that maybe the exhaust was clogged but then I was looking under the hood and saw some oil dripping down onto the passenger side exhaust can gear... What could be causing this and could that have something to do with why it won't fire? That was the head that was replaced before I bought the car if that makes a difference. Maybe something wasn't put back together correctly?

12-23-2012, 06:08 PM	#7
scarney1988 Scooby Newbie Member#: 317760 Join Date: Apr 2012	Well it sounds like you have quite a bit of variables here. What is battery voltage (key off, engine off)? Have you measured fuel pressure? Is there a coolant temp sensor connected, if so what is its room temp resistance? Are your cam and crank sensors connected? What did you test spark with? What did you test fuel with? Do you have a scan tool/code reader that can dispay live data? Are you trying to start it with the intake tube connecting the throttle body and MAF housing? Have you tried starting it with first putting the pedal all the way to the floor? I have seen faulty coolant sensors cause crank no starts. Not common, but certainly possible. Sorry for the many questions. But it sounds like you have tried quite a bit, so I am trying to get up to speed on where you are. Either way, good luck.

12-23-2012, 07:12 PM	#8
Storm Scooby Guru Member#: 5218 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: SAUL'S Motorsports Vehicle: 96L Most Over- Developed Beater	The 98 needs to have the intake tube connected to the MAF sensor, as well as the smaller idle air tube....which has to be connected to the main air intake tube. Without these items, the ECU does not know if air is being ingested or not. The fuel lines may be reversed and not building any fuel pressure. The fuel line from the filter goes to the top nipple on the motor. The other line goes to the bottom nipple, and the smallest line is a vent, which goes to the middle nipple on the motor. A less obvious thing to check, would be the crank timing gear. If the replacement motor is from a newer car, it may not be the correct one. It should only have 6-7 reluctors passing under the crank position sensor. Along those lines, it may be out of time if the person who did the work was not really familiar with Subarus. Often times folks will use the arrow on the crank timing gear as the reference, and it's wrong. Check by putting the hashmark (visible on one of the reluctors) at 12:00 and then look at the cam gears. The top 2 should have the marks at 12:00 and the bottom gears should have marks at 9:00 on the left and 3:00 on the right (looking at the front). If the cam marks are way out, turn the crank 1 more complete turn and stop on the hashmark, then check again. Check these things and try it again. Good luck, Jay