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#1
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Help: Engine QUIT dead while driving - most warning lights lit on dash - won't start
Any advice would be welcome. Man this vehicle is pressing me. I give it a clutch and a crash box and its been all headaches. I was driving the other day enjoying the sound of the magnaflows and the clutchplay; then the engine literally just quit. Most of the dash warning lights came on in full Christmas Light effect.
Electrical seems to work (stereo, lights, etc) however when I crank the engine it never turns over. I would normally think fuel supply however with all the dash lights coming on, perhaps its an electronic problem? Cheers
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96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
#2
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Alternator
Do a search for the word 'Alternator' and you'll find plenty of posts on the topic that will shed light (no pun intended) on your problem. At first blush, sounds like your alternator has failed, draining the battery. Even a dead battery has enough juice to power the dash lights and stereo and anything else that doesn't need amperage, but the battery is drained of the current it needs to turn over the starter. Replacing the battery may not be necessary (have it load tested) but if you JUST replace the battery without solving the charging issue, you'll drain the new one (or newly charged one).
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#3
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I bet you broke a timing belt.....
Pull on of the t-belt covers off and check it...
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Huck Subaru Ambassador 92 SVX LS-Tour Magnaflow Exhaust, 5-Spd-AWD 88 XT6 AWD 5-Speed "Bride of FrankenWedge" 15 Impreza Premium Sedan 15 Crosstrek XV 5-Speed My 5-Speed "How-To" Write-up 1976 Pontiac Firebird Formula Current Count of Subaru's Owned.... "70" |
#4
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The battery is good, it turns the starter, etc. Engine just doesn't actually fire. I get the normal 'starting' sound but just won't turn over. Could it still be the alt? As for the timing belt, I wouldn't have thought that would trigger all the dash lights, but I'll check it. Just replaced the belt 2K ago.
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96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
#5
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Just having the dash "lit up" doesn't mean the timing belt isn't broken. Does the dash look any different then if you just turned the ignition key "on" (versus all the way to "start")?
Anything else you can tell us about things you heard/saw when the engine died on you? -Bill
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Retired NASA Rocket Scientist Most famous NASA "Child" - OSIRIS-REx delivered samples from asteroid BENNU to Earth in Sept. 2023 Center Network Member #989 '92 Fully caged, 5 speed, waiting for its fully built EG33 '92 "Test Mule", 4:44 Auto, JDM 4:44 Rear Diff with Mech LSD, Tuned headers, Full one-off suspension '92(?) Laguna, 6 spd and other stuff (still at OT's place) My Locker |
#6
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Re: Help: Engine QUIT dead while driving - most warning lights lit on dash - won't start
Quote:
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#7
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OK, these are good points as I think all those lights do normally come up during that starter cycle, then they go off after it starts. I had substantial audio volume going when it quit, however I didn't feel anything at all. The tach literally just went from 3K while I was driving to zero in a very fast fashion...done. It didn't fight or wander to an off state, the engine just quit. Then consitently no starting, no 'almost starts' etc. Could it be fuel supply related? I'm just wanting to flesh out obvious stuff before I take it to the mechanic and he charges me money to point out something relatively straightforward. You guys are being very helpful in thinking it through.
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96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
#8
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Alternator or Timing Belt.
__________________
1993 25th Anniversary Edition # 156 of 301 ~ 121, 488 miles ( SOLD TO svxfiles 8/6/06) 2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i....5spd - My daily driver 2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i -7k miles..Mom's daily driver 2,543 Member of the SVX World Network |
#9
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Have someone watch the front of the engine while you try to start it to see what moves (or what doesn't). Also have someone watch the tail pipes to see if there is any evidence of exhaust (might actually want them to put there hands over the outlets to see if they can feel any pressure pulses at all)
There is gas in the tank, right? You might also want to check that you're getting gas to the engine (disconnect the line coming out of the fuel filter - be careful! - and put it into a large bucket/can while you try to start the car) -Bill
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Retired NASA Rocket Scientist Most famous NASA "Child" - OSIRIS-REx delivered samples from asteroid BENNU to Earth in Sept. 2023 Center Network Member #989 '92 Fully caged, 5 speed, waiting for its fully built EG33 '92 "Test Mule", 4:44 Auto, JDM 4:44 Rear Diff with Mech LSD, Tuned headers, Full one-off suspension '92(?) Laguna, 6 spd and other stuff (still at OT's place) My Locker |
#10
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Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to work on it this afternoon and I'll advise what I find out. Yeah, there's gas in the tank.
__________________
96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
#11
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Quote:
The crank position sensor pulse is used for ignition, fuel injection, and also to run the tach. If the sensor has died, the tach won't work. Turning it over on the starter, should have the tach showing some action. If it does not move, I would check the two crank sensors. Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
#12
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UPDATE: The belt is good, I'm getting exhaust flow upon cranking, but no tach movement at all..not even a twitch. Sounds like it could be the crank pulse sensor(s).
__________________
96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
#13
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Could be a well, "distributor" problem, even though it is distributorless, probably ahs something to do with the spark plugs not firing correctly.
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#14
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Wouldnt codes pop up for the sensor going out?
__________________
1993 25th Anniversary Edition # 156 of 301 ~ 121, 488 miles ( SOLD TO svxfiles 8/6/06) 2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i....5spd - My daily driver 2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i -7k miles..Mom's daily driver 2,543 Member of the SVX World Network |
#15
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Codes may normally pop out on the check engine light, however I still need to get my ODB II reader purchased. The check engine blinks aren't able to really get past the tranny related issues due to the crash box conversion and it being continually upset about that.
__________________
96 LSi - Hyper Blue, 5 Speed - Magnaflow - Murano take off wheels - 70K |
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