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View Full Version : 98 ej25D +trans swap into 98 OBS now wont start



TopScoobLEGO
06-21-2014, 02:32 AM
i know, not really legacy related except for the fact that the engine is from an outback but you guys know these things pretty well...

ok so here is the shinny.

swapped a full 98 legacy outback engine and trans into my 98 outback sport. reason being my obs is going to be a slightly lifted DD with towing mountain bikes and snow sports as the secondary use.

so here we go

got the swap done with a few fitment issues but those arent the problem

the car ran fine for 2 days with the exception of a slightly rough idle and it died twice during long idling but at full operating temp and not overheating. i really didnt understand why it would have died on me but i didnt think it was a huge deal especially since it stopped doing it after the first two times. also. my buddy realized it had white smoke coming out of the tailpipe so possibly running lean or burning coolant, (its not burning coolant head gaskets are 10k miles old)

so on the third day the car drove fine to work, then after work it drove a block and died while idling. after this it wouldnt start. just nothing. we checked the fuel pump and now it had nothing. no priming nothing so today i went and got a new pump and strainer. wouldnt start so i went and got a new fuel filter and still nothing.

so hard facts
98 legacy outback ej25d 30k on full rebuild 10k on new head gaskets
98 impreza outback 225k
98 legacy outback ej25d ecu
new fuel pump 50gph
new strainer
new wix fuel filter
cosmo racing short ram intake
k&n cone filter
new plugs and wires less than 10k ago
right now it fully turns over as much as it needs to but wont fire

little more info on the ej25d
in the past i did have a cyl 4 misfire which after changing the plugs and the wires it got better but was still there at over 4k rpms for extended periods of time (anything more than about 20 seconds and it would happen) so i thought it might just be a bad coil pack or ignitor?

so basically where im at is i think it is spark.
its getting air (even removed the air filter to make sure its not restricting flow)
its getting fuel (relay activated, pump primes, brand new filter)
and it has newer plugs and wires but the coil pack had a possible issue in the past and the ignitor is from the obs with 225k miles so it could be done.

any constructive input is appreciated. really just want this thing running... so mad after my 6 days of work to swap the thing spread out over 2 weeks and using all stock parts/already proven parts that the thing isnt just working like all research pointed towards...

any ideas?

ctbrighton
07-14-2014, 03:36 PM
What do you mean its getting air? That doesnt refer to its ability to take IN air rather your engines ability to compress it, which i dont see any mention of.

TopScoobLEGO
07-15-2014, 11:38 PM
forgot to update this. car is fine and running now.
by getting air i mean it didnt have any blocked passages or plugged tubes, the maf was clean and it didnt have any intake leaks

the car was "trying to start" but wouldnt fire and maintain idle.

after a LOT of trouble shooting it boiled down to 2 problems
first and foremost the main harness plug between the engine and chassis wasnt seated FULLY. it was getting a connection a little bit but past the initial run it wouldnt maintain the connection im guessing due to vibration.
secondly the IACV was VERY gunked up. it was WAY too gunked up to be reading properly so that in addition to the low connection voltage, well, you get it. fixed it and the car is running great now!