Cranks but will not start

Tiny
STEFWLR
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
Blown head gasket was the initial problem, so it ran a little. Removed cylinder heads, had them worked over at a machine shop, new gaskets, seals, timing belt, plugs, wires, cam sensor, crank sensor. Put it back together, cranks but will not start. Checked fuel pressure, 35 lbs. Pulled spark plug wire out of coil and turned engine over, spark is present. Squirted a little fuel into intake and still would not start. Changed cam and crank sensors. Pulled covers off the front of engine to double check timing marks, cam timing lines up perfect, but not wanting to turn the engine over by hand eighty four times to line up the crankshaft mark and the cam marks on the timing belt. I took the timing belt off and started over, lined everything up again and still would not start. Checked tooth count on belt thinking maybe it was wrong but it is the same as old one, 281. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
Thursday, January 11th, 2018 AT 8:35 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hello,

When you install the timing belt for a subaru there is specific instructions. Here is a guide to help us double check your work. Also please take a compression test.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

and

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/subaru/legacy/1996

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Friday, January 12th, 2018 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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Got around to checking a few more things. Spark at plugs is strong, compression is between 155 / 160. Checked timing again, dead on. Changed the spark igniter with another. I sqiurted a little fuel in the intake and still won't start.
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Saturday, January 13th, 2018 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The spark must be at the wrong time is the only thing that can stop it from starting. Anyway this can be? Crankshaft trigger in the wrong place or? Can you take a picture of the crankshaft sensor?
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Saturday, January 13th, 2018 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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I was wondering that same thing. I've changed the igniter with 3 others and still won't start. The crank sensor is in a fixed position, same with the cam sensor.
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Saturday, January 13th, 2018 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
STEFWLR
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
More information.
I pulled the left intake timing belt gear off today and inspected the pickups on the back, they all looked good. The one thing I did find when checking spark is that when I check the spark on the front two cylinders the spark is double, the back two looks normal, what's up with that? I've changed the igniter with three used ones I pulled from other Subarus. This must be my problem but how do I correct it? Again remember the car ran before I took it apart. I'm not a Subaru mechanic but learning quickly. Thank you again guys!
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Sunday, January 14th, 2018 AT 9:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I am thinking a ground wire could have been left off for the computer wiring harness. Can you double check that all engine grounds are tight and secure please?
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Monday, January 15th, 2018 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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Did that, just double checked them, all is good and tight. Just pulled the valve cover on the right side and checked to make sure machine shop didn't swap cams, all is good, I'll check left side tonight. Can you explain why I'm getting double spark on the front two cylinders? I also checked to see if any of the crank gear teeth that triggers the sender work broken or gone, no all six are there.
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Monday, January 15th, 2018 AT 12:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Are all cylinder getting spark and if so are they all getting a double spark? Also can we run the codes to see if anything will show up?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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Yes like I said earlier the two front cylinders are getting double spark and the back two the spark is normal. No codes
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Tuesday, January 16th, 2018 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like you could of had a voltage spike that affected the ECM and fried the coil drivers but first lets check the wiring to the ECM power and grounds to make sure it has them all. here is a guide and engine wiring diagrams so you can confirm.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 AT 9:37 AM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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Great thanks. I'll check it out hopefully this weekend.
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Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
STEFWLR
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  • 9 POSTS
Can I put another ECM in my car to test to see if that's the problem? From another 1996 outback legacy.
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Thursday, January 18th, 2018 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep you sure can, here is the location. Let me know what happens have a good weekend. ;)
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Friday, January 19th, 2018 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
STEFWLR
  • MEMBER
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Here's what I found. First of all the Subaru is up and running! When I took it apart I didn't pay close enough attention to the timing mark on the crank pulley, that was the problem. The FRONT of the crank gear has a diamond shape mark on one of the gear teeth, but that's not the timing mark, the timing mark is on one of the six teeth that the crank sensor works off of, a vertical line, and the thing to look for is the key way needs to be in a six o'clock position, all the way at the bottom, mine wasn't, it was at roughly 3 o'clock, moved the crank gear where it needed to be and it fired right up. Thanks to a local Subaru specialist that lives close by. Hopefully this information might help someone in the future.
Thanks again to the specialists who chimed in to try and help me. What a great forum.
Steven
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Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, January 24th, 2018 AT 11:01 AM

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