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Car turns over but will not start

Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 SUBARU BAJA
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 57,000 MILES
Car listed above is the Sport model AWD, non Turbo.


Battery is fine.
The fuel pump and filter were just replaced.
I hear fuel pump motor whirl when I turn the key.
Car was running fine yesterday and just stalled.
I added gas, no help.
No Logged/Active or Pending Fault Codes.
Note:
If I spray Starting Fluid in Throttle Body - engine starts up and runs briefly.
Any ideas why I can't get this engine to Run?

Thanks in advance if you can help me.
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Saturday, September 21st, 2019 AT 2:57 PM

16 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

You aren't getting fuel to the engine. Although you hear the pump, it may not be producing pressure. The first thing I would do is check fuel pressure. Here is a link showing how in general it is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Here are the specific directions for your vehicle. The specs are included in the directions and the attached pics also correlate with these directions.

Now, if you find the pressure to be within spec, then we need to check for an injector pulse. Here is a link that shows how that is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Since it starts on starting fluid, either the pressure is bad or there is no pulse to the injectors.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, September 21st, 2019 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
HI Joe,
Thanks for detailed guides and images!
I will do pressure test today and reply with results.
Thanks again!
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Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 AT 6:29 AM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
I do not have a "Test Port" on Fuel Line.
I understand I need to "Tee In" to Fuel Line, but I do not know where to put Tee.
Here are images of left and right fuel rail where do I Tee in for Pressure Test? Pressure Regulator is circled in Red.
As you probably know, the fuel filter is integrated into Fuel Pump Module.
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Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
Fuel Pump Assembly.
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Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
You are correct about the T. There should be a quick connect between the fuel rail and the full supply line. That is where I normally do it. I disconnect the two and install the T at that point.
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Monday, September 23rd, 2019 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
I just hooked up pressure gauge and get 0 PSI.
Could it be my Fuel Filter or air in line?
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Friday, September 27th, 2019 AT 9:07 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Welcome back:

The filter could be totally plugged, but that usually isn't the issue. Also, air wouldn't cause this. It wouldn't cause a blockage. I thought the fuel filter was new. Is that correct? Also, are you sure you got everything connected properly as far as the supply and return lines? See the pic below. Also, some filters can be installed backwards.

Let me know.
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Friday, September 27th, 2019 AT 4:53 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
I bought a fuel filter from Amazon and it was open box. Looked okay, but I will put a new one in and check that it is in correctly.
And double-check connections for pressure gauge.
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Saturday, September 28th, 2019 AT 4:52 AM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
I am waiting on new filter.
All my connections are correct.
I still get 0 PSI pressure.
I even replaced relay.
Could the Pressure Regulator be reason for 0 PSI?
This car sat for 10 years and when I got car I changed pump and strainer and filter
and added gas.
I never drained old gas and never cleaned tank.
Maybe because of this the new filter clogged up rapidly?
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
Also, what do you think of a leaking vacuum hose as cause of 0 pressure?
Being that this car sat for 10 years. Possibly rotted hose, pin holes?
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 1:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Welcome back:

Sorry about the delay in getting back with you. A vacuum leak wouldn't cause the pump issue. I didn't realize it sat for 10 years. There is a chance something plugged the pump. I realize it's new, but if there is enough dirt in the tank, anything is possible.

You still hear the pump prime, correct? If that is the case, we need to take the pump put and check what is happening or you may have gotten a bad pump. Something doesn't add up.

Let me know.

Joe
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
Yes, I just pulled assembly put a new pump and strainer in.
I hear new pump priming and still 0 pressure.
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Sunday, September 29th, 2019 AT 8:26 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
I removed fuel filter and retested.
0 PSI
Will get new pump and filter and strainer and retest.
Here is image of pressure test setup.
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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
It looks correct. If nothing is plugged, the pump is running, you have everything connected correctly, and you have no pressure, the pump must be bad.

Let me know the results with a new pump.

Joe
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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
GREGORY MICHAEL YATES
  • MEMBER
  • 89 POSTS
Hi, sorry about delay in replying. I put a fuel pump assembly in. One that does not have integrated filter - was made for 2003 Baja and other models. And so I put a inline filter under hood. Engine starts. Still have problem of engine "stumbling" or "missing", when I accelerate. Does not happen all the time but seems to occur when I have been driving a while. If I stop and turn off engine and restart. Engine runs fine for a few miles then starts stumbling/missing again. Also, if I fill tank, engine runs fine, but when tank gets to 3/4 full, engine seems to start stumbling/missing, again. I brought car to mechanic. Will let you know what he finds. Thanks!
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Saturday, October 19th, 2019 AT 4:44 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Welcome back:

That is odd. The only other thing I can think of that could cause this when warm is the crankshaft position sensor. Since the pump is new, it makes no sense that it happens below 3/4 of a tank of fuel. Does it only happen when the engine is at operating temp or does it also happen when it is cold?

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, October 19th, 2019 AT 4:39 PM

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