My 1998 impreza sport wrx has always started. Battery fully charged, cranks over at very good speed, it's getting petrol as I can smell it out the tail pipe.

Just won't catch, always ran fine, a bit hesitant to start when cranking over, like it starts to catch then dies but always starts up on second attempt.

All fuses checked in bonnet and under instrument panel. Yes, has fuel. Last ran two weeks ago, nothing untoward or warning lights noted. Fuel filter in engine bay changed 6 months ago, ran fine afters. Air filter checked and still 'see through'.

Does disconnecting battery to charge, screw up the ecu settings or maybe something else? Immobiliser seems to be working just fine, ie. car locks/unlocks, allows engine to turn over when not on.

Any ideas on what I can check first myself (and how) before ringing for help??

 

Check for error codes using the self diagnostics.
Sounds like imobiliser or crank sensor.
Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you switch on the ignition?

 

Thanks, Ossett
I'll get on it, my first suspect is the immobiliser. Can it be disabled? Crank sensor, visible to get at?

 

Error codes??? This thing is so old, it only has basic dash lights.

 

Doubt it would be easy to disable immobilier,may be able to reprogram the key,depends on alarm model.
Faulty crank sensor will probably show up on your error codes when you run the diagnosics.

Crank sensor location:

 

Just count the flashes:

http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.p...eadingECUCodes

 

Thanks for that pic, very helpful. Can I short that sensor out to 'fool' the engine? Just went out now and it nearly coughed to life but just wouldn't keep firing to get started. Or is it maybe flooding?? I haven't any equipment to do diagnostics on it or are you referring to the dash lights?

 

Follow the instructions on the link I put up,you don't need anything to read codes on a GC8,it has self diagnostics.
No you can't short out the sensor.
Is the fuel pump defiantly priming??

 

I see now. I'm going to be a flash counter. God help me!

 

By the way,;the scoobynet site is having problems for a change!!!
Sometimes you will have to refresh the page a few times to see any replies to your thread!!!

 

Ok, Mr Ossett,
My hearing isn't the best these days so when I switch the ignition on without turning over, I 'hear' a kind of two step clicking coming from the area of the fuel pump. As I said previously, it's pumping fuel through because I can smell it out the exhaust, maybe it needs more on start up? Going to video my diagnostic test cause I don't trust my eyes.

Self Diagnosing..... that is just so cool!

 

You should hear a buzzing sound for a couple of seconds from the pump when you switch on the ignition,just because you can smell fuel it doesn't mean your pump is working properly,there will still be fuel in the system,fuel lines etc.
See how you get on with the diagnostics.

 

Well I ran the diagnostic and my flashing engine light just flashed regular as tick tock with no fluctuations pauses or anything but regularity. I've got it running now, so I guess the fuel pump is ok as it revs up nicely.

However, still difficult to start up, while warming up if you hit the throttle slightly, it wants to cut out. Beats me, take it out tonight and blast it I suppose and see what happens or not.

Thanks again for your help Mr Ossett

 

Constant flash so no errors logged which is a good start.
Could still be a failing fuel pump but that should be last on the list to change(although is advised to replace if it's the original 19 year old pump)

When did you last service the car? Could be something as simple as dirty air filter or old spark plugs.
Cleaning throttle body,boost solenoid and maf can all help with the smooth running of a car,if you do decide to clean the maf then be very careful.

 

Spark plugs. Plug leads. Coil pack.