1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main C900 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
My biggest mystery in years Posted by Cmyles [Email]  (#1126) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Cmyles) on Tue, 5 May 2015 20:50:03
In Reply to: manual photo links lead to typos... sometimes, Siegfried, Tue, 5 May 2015 15:42:28 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Here's the weirdest thing I ever encountered (well, that I can remember anyway). I helped a friend install a model year 2000, 2.5 liter fuel injected Subaru engine in his 1974 Volkswagen van and it initially ran pretty good but as a few months passed it became harder and harder to start. It would easily and reliably pop-start every time by rolling it down a hill and once it was started it always ran perfectly and all the real-time data (via bluetooth) was excellent. When you cranked the starter motor it just didn't want to start although it would sometimes fire just once as the key was released (of course at that point it wouldn't start because the starter motor was no longer turning). Most of the time it would eventually start but over time it took longer and longer and eventually began popping through the exhaust system while cranking and would not start at all.
We tried all the logical stuff, day after day, week after week but nothing solved the problem. One day it backfired so violently that it actually exploded the muffler and the cops came because they got reports of loud gunfire. We sort of overlooked the fact that Subaru engines use a wasted spark ignition design so a plug is firing when the exhaust valve is open. Fuel was being injected while cranking and collecting in the exhaust system just waiting for one errant spark.
The van runs great now and starts like a new car every time and we can not figure this out but the thing that finally solved the problem: The owner had installed redundant ground cables from the chassis to the engine (who knows why?). He removed one of them and BINGO.......problem solved. He showed me what he did and it was just an ordinary ground cable bolted to bodywork and one of the engine to transaxle bolts. Never affected running, only starting. The smartest guys I know have been unable to explain that.
, Tue, 5 May 2015 20:50:03 <-- Viewing This Message
, Wed, 6 May 2015 11:49:54, Wed, 6 May 2015 15:57:50
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
