Car suddenly stalled and now it won't start

GeeJack · Post by **GeeJack** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:26 am

Hi guys
New to this forum and looks like a very helpful and useful site to all subaru owners.

Well I own a 1992 Subaru liberty Gx station wagon 5 speed manual. Just bought it 2 months ago and everything seemed fine anyway

This is what happened yesterday,

My fuel tank was near empty and i felt the car about to stall at one stage, so i filled up some fuel about a quarter..

Got out of the servo and got close to home, turned into my street and the car just stalled out of nowhere..While turning a corner that is.

Now it won't turn on anymore, engine keeps cranking and cranking..

Fuel pump buzzes before i crank so that's ok, i took off the hose from the fuel can in the engine bay and at ignition it has fuel coming out so pumps should be ok..

What could the problem be?
It is like it is not getting any spark or the injectors aren't firing

Can someone help me out as im stunned what this could be and why it turned off while turning a corner.

I am pretty new to this engine so if you could tell me where to look and how it would be very great..

Much appreciated

Jack

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:10 am

Have you checked for spark yet?

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:18 pm

Given your story, I'd start testing for fuel problems initially.
Running it down to near empty like that can be risky due to the buildup of *crap* at the bottom of the fuel tank. You are running the car off the dregs and it's possible there is now a blockage in the fuel lines somewhere. I would test this by taking the fuel line off in the engine bay and turn ignition on - when the fuel pump primes fuel should come gushing out (into a suitable container of course).
If nothing happens then theres a blockage somewhere. Easiest place to start would be check the fuel filters.

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:13 pm

AndrewT wrote:Given your story, I'd start testing for fuel problems initially.
Running it down to near empty like that can be risky due to the buildup of *crap* at the bottom of the fuel tank. You are running the car off the dregs and it's possible there is now a blockage in the fuel lines somewhere. I would test this by taking the fuel line off in the engine bay and turn ignition on - when the fuel pump primes fuel should come gushing out (into a suitable container of course).
If nothing happens then theres a blockage somewhere. Easiest place to start would be check the fuel filters.

i was going to suggest this, but from what i have read he has already tried that?

Fuel pump buzzes before i crank so that's ok, i took off the hose from the fuel can in the engine bay and at ignition it has fuel coming out so pumps should be ok..

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:35 pm

Ah my mistake, missed that bit lol

Still could be fuel delivery issues within the fuel rails, blocked pressure regulator etc due to some crappy fuel going through. You can eliminate all these by seeing if it starts up with some fuel put directly down the throttle body. It should run for a short time like this even if the injectors don't work at all or fuel rails completely blocked.

leeuwin · Post by **leeuwin** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:50 pm

if its not a fuel problem, pull the top of your dizzy off and see if its spinning when you crank it over, if it isn't then your timing belt has snapped as thats what happened to my mates last week.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:12 pm

Just having fuel delivery is not good enough. You will need about 36 psi reading on a gauge T pieced into the fuel line not just straight from the pump. Had this just last week on a Mazda MPV. Got about a cup of rust crud from the tank, acid washed the tank with hydrochloric neutralised with carb soda and washed out again, new fuel pump as pressure would drop off as soon as driven, serviced five injectors, replaced a cactus one, rusted up! and new fuel filter. Now runs like a dream instead of the nightmare it was.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:37 pm

I would say fuel system related, There is something I would do first, there is a fuel lines that goes into a filter which is near passenger's side suspension tower, one of them goes in the filter, un-plug that and check if there is full pressure coming out (be careful as fuel will go everywhere) and same thing after the filter and see if there is full pressure as before filter. If its slow meaning blocked filter - (happened to someone I knew never replaced filter for 200,000 kms and couldnt start the engine! (we were stunned why it wouldnt start as could hear fuel priming)
Can you hear spark plugs trying to fire? or it just turns over but doesn't sound like normal cranking?
Cheers
AP

tony · Post by **tony** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:53 am

put new fuel filters in probably one under bonnet and one near tank. as pointed out above, just having fuel flow is not enough you need pressure as well. the story of picking up crud when fuel low is just a fallacy, the fuel pickup inlet is near the bottom of the tank anyway so it will pick up the same crud whether empty or full.

Gremlins · Post by **Gremlins** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:16 pm

leeuwin wrote:if its not a fuel problem, pull the top of your dizzy off and see if its spinning when you crank it over, if it isn't then your timing belt has snapped as thats what happened to my mates last week.

Good suggestion, but I don't think you'll find a dizzy on a 92 Lib.

As Fatz mentions check it for spark, it's quick and easy to check for spark (just make sure you don't have any disconnected fuel lines letting out fuel before you do this though). If this is ok then go for the fuel related stuff.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:40 pm

Gremlins wrote:Good suggestion, but I don't think you'll find a dizzy on a 92 Lib.

As Fatz mentions check it for spark, it's quick and easy to check for spark (just make sure you don't have any disconnected fuel lines letting out fuel before you do this though). If this is ok then go for the fuel related stuff.

Thats right you won't find dizzy cup on Liberty.
Other way to find out if the timing is ok, is to remove drivers side cover its only a small piece, remove it and turn the engine over to see if its being turned over.
Also ensure engine isn't running, put your finger on 'loose' area of the belt, push it down if it moves up and down meaning timing is broken, if it doesn't meaning timing belt is ok.
Cheers
AP