1997 legacy outback 2.5 will turn over but will not start. replaced timing belt, plugs, wires and crank sensor. has spark, new battery and fuel pump works. what's the next area to focus on.

Have you checked the fuel relay?

If you are saying it takes a long time to start the engine, have you checked fuel pressure before and after cranking ?

Access from top is better but you must remove battery/washer reservoir driver's side and intake piping on passenger's side to get to the plugs. If you have bad back, access from underneath is fine but I'd have a ramp instead of jack for safety reasons.

you have a ignition modulor in the distributor and the crank positon sensor. I have a 1997 grand cherokee and I go through a few crank position sensor

Try to start it with starting fluid. If it will run on it, then you will need to focus on what controls fuel delivery/timing... Pressure regulator, injectors. (was the filter replaced with the pump) MAF could be a factor. If starting fluid won't help, then you want to focus on the crank sensor as a possible culprit.

Hi and welcome to FixYa!

Looks like that you have a faulty fuel pump. If the fuel pump is faulty it won't supply fuel to the engine which may cause it not to start though you have a good spark. I strongly suggest that you have the fuel pump replaced to resolve the problem.

Hope you find this information helpful enough and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!

The battery to starter connection has power.the battery is ok.but there are many other possibilities related to battery and its other connections,the spark plugs,the fuel pump,the fuel itself,the sensors(o2 sensor,maf sensor)the valve(IAC valve,egr valve). Most probably the spark plug,the coil pack and crank shaft sensor.This 3 are not getting power to get the car start.

There are some possibilities which you will have to check in this case:--

1) First of all check the power and voltage to the battery. With meter it will show exact 12 volt if the battery is charged. If the voltage is less get the battery charged at local auto repair shop. If the battery is internally drained and not getting charged then its time to replace the battery.

2) When you crank the car do you see spark coming at the spark plug? If no then its time to check the spark plugs and coil pack. If the spark plugs are not worn out and looks new then its time to check coil pack. The spark plug gets power to spark from coil pack.

3) The other thing to check in this case is the starter solenoid of the car. If the battery is charged and you start the car then it gives power to the starter to start the car. But if starter is faulty or not connected properly then car will not start.

4) The other thing to check in this case is fuel in the car. If there is fuel in the car then check the blockages in the fuel pump if the fuel pump looks proper then check the fuel filter above the fuel pump.

5) If all the above possibilities mentioned above checked out OK/perfect then it's a electrical issue and the wiring's in the car needs to be checked. The car gets power from the battery to get started. so the wires from battery needs to be checked one by one.

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put a timing light on it. if in time then spray some ether in intake. if tries to run now its a fuel problem. make sure plugs are gapped properly. if you got timing,spark,gas at right pressure, and compression it should run.

Are your injectors firing into the engine? You can buy a test kit to double check that. Is there spark at the plugs?

I had the same problem sorta with my civic it turns out after doing timing belt water pump, and many gaskets i had a huge vaccum leak.

Also check your fuel lines to see if they are loosing pressure somewhere

Check to see if you are getting fire at the spark plugs first.