klindstedt Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 My daughter's wagon has developed a hard start problem. Most times the engine will start right up with no issues. But sometimes it will just crank and crank and not fire at all. One of these times, I discovered if I pumped the gas pedal once it would startup. It finally threw a code this weekend. I don't have a code reader so I went to Autozone to have them read it. After arguing with them that the car DOES have an OBD2 connector, they hooked up their reader. It would only go back to 1996 so they read it as a 1996 Legacy. Oh, EJ22E engine if that makes a difference to anyone. All they could pull out of it is a mis-fire on cylinder 1...2...3...4. They suggested plugs, wires and/or coil pack. The coil does seem like a possiblity given all 4 cylinders reporting problems, but what's with the gas pedal starting trick? And, when it is running it runs great - no hesitation or stumble, no rough idle... One other thing that would seem to be totally unrelated but I will mention it given the timing of this problem. We recently had the transmission rear shaft seal replaced beacuse it was leaking like a sieve. The same day we picked up the car this starting issue began. Shouldn't be any connection, but strong coincidence...? Thanks! Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snederhiser Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hello Kevin; I am assuming that you are talking about a P0300 to a P0304 code? Check you plugs, wires, and coilpack with a ohm meter. Check fuel pump and filters. Could also be the engine managment and or fuel pump relays, Steven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 also could be knock sensor, cam sensor or the ignitor that feeds the coil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klindstedt Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks guys. I need to clean out a bay in the garage to get her car inside this weekend and do some troubleshooting based on your suggestions. A little cold outside right now, only 4°F this morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klindstedt Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 OK, I checked the coil pack and found the primary resistance value out of spec. So we replaced the coil, spark plugs and wires, and the fuel filter. Cleared the codes (and yes, they were the P0300 through P0304 codes). All seemed well for three days and then today my daughter tells me "it did it again". How do I test the fuel pump? Any other thoughts... especially considering that whenever it won't start all that we have to do is pump the accelerator once - like you had to before fuel injection came along - and then it will start. I am inclined to think it is fuel-related, but not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fast4by Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Check codes again. Are there any other than p0300-p0304? What are the miles? Pumping the pedal before start wont do anything on modern fuel injection set-ups, not on the fuel side anyways, it just opens the throttle more. Have you done a timing belt? How long? Id also check ICM, & crank keyway.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headtrauma89 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hmmmm? The things that come to mind would be a dirty/sticky throttle body, a dirty/sticky Idle Air Control valve or bad fuel pressure regulators. If you have to open the throttle during crank, then maybe you are either not getting enough air into the cylinders or you are having to up the vacuum psi to activate the fuel pressure regulators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 if you have a fuel pressure regulator, you should be able to pull the vacuum tube off and see if it has fuel in it. if it does, id replace the regulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klindstedt Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 Thanks for the additional suggestions, I'll be working on it this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengt Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 It's probably the coolant temp sensor. Happens all the time on those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klindstedt Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 I didn't have much time to work on the wagon this weekend, but can answer a few of the questions posed so far: Mileage - around 120,000 No new codes set... no codes at all right now. I did the timing belt early last fall when I changed the cam seals and water pump. Her car has run fine since that time until this started just a few weeks ago. I did pull off the vacuum hose to the fuel pressure regulator and the inside of the hose looks shiny... possibly wet, but did not smell strongly of fuel. However, the hose was very hard and brittle and *may* have been leaking. I need to pick up some replacement hose before I go much further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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