How to check CEL on 94 Legacy L wagon?

[d1giPhux]

I was trying to help my dad out with his 94 Legacy L Wagon.. but where the HELL do you plug an ODB 2 scanner into this thing? It is obd 2 correct? I asked the guys at subaru, and they said the port is near the bottom of the streering column? I figured it was down there.. but WHERE? And what does it look like? Damn i feel like a n00b.. thank god my BD is so much easier to find the port on! hahaha :lol:

[Huffer]

OBD2 is only available post-95...

www.troublecodes.net (http://www.troublecodes.net) might be of some help.

[d1giPhux]

Damn, so do you know how i could check out the CEL then? Hmm.. pain in the ass =/ Come one.. someones gotta know something!?! That site didnt work btw..

edit : Basically the problem with the car seems to be that it just doesnt want to start up easily. Basically we keep having to turn the car over 4-5 times to get it started. When it starts up, it smells like gas sort of.. and some weird popping sound when it does start up. The check engine light used to go on when going up hill sometimes, and now its developed into this problem. I know this isn't much help.. but hopefully you can lead me in the right direction. Thanks! :-?

[Huffer]

Could be a crank sensor - or even bad sparks and wires.

[d1giPhux]

Can someone provide me more info on the crank sensor / its location? How much would a new one cost around? Let me know.. just trying to compile possible info. Thanks! :grin:

[jey]

Could be a failed cat converter. When's the last time that was replaced?

[d1giPhux]

Not really sure.. its my dads car.. but prolly not recently. How could i tell if its any of these things? Any suggestions?

[BryantPHS91]

Might be something to do with the fuel pump. Just had the same problem on my buddys neon. Just an idea. I havent got under the Legacy much so i dunno..


:arrow: Kyle

[Huffer]

Can someone provide me more info on the crank sensor / its location? How much would a new one cost around? Let me know.. just trying to compile possible info. Thanks! :grin:

Crank sensor should be near the same location on your Legacy...

Failed catalytic convertor can be checked by dropping the exhaust system and inspecting it with a flashlight - also with the cats off, if the car runs significantly better, then you know that's one problem.

How much regular maintenance has been done on the thing?

[d1giPhux]

A decent amount has been done on it.. its been checked every once in a while.. but never really had to up until now. Oil changes and all that standard stuff have been done. I guess my dad's gonna try replacing the plugs / wires and then see what happens from there. Hopefully its just something simple like that.. because we dont have the tools / time to be dropping the exhaust system. Plus.. i bet it would be real fun to drop a new england weathered exhaust system. hahaha.


edit : and oh yea.. back to the original question.. how the HELL DO you check the CEL on this? Is it some proprietary subaru bullshit? Is our only option shelling out mad cash so a subaru tech can check a stupid cel error for us? I hope not.. that would make me kinda angry =/ grr.

[PatH]

According to my Haynes manual, you'll find a test mode connector under the drivers side of the dash panel, there's two sides to it and it appears to be a T shaped connector. You will likely need to remove some of the trim panels in on the lower dash to gain access to it.

If the two connectors are connected you are suppose to disconnect them. if they are disconnected, connect them. After doing this, turn the ignition key to the on position (not start) and check to see if the CEL turns on (if it doesn't then the bulb is burned out). The CEL will then start to flash. it will give a certain number of long flashes for the first digit of the code, and then short flashes for the second digit. After you do this, come back here and post them and I'll tell you what the manual says they mean.

Hope this helps.

Edit:

Also the crank position sensor is located on the engine block directly behind the crank pulley, they're pretty easy to replace. If you think that;s the prob;em, I can go over the reccomended testing procedure for it.

Pat