'04 Forester - problems with engine flooding?

[onceuponawhim25]

My 2004 Forester has recently begun having what looks to be engine
flooding problems. Three times in less than a month, I have gone to
start the car - the engine cranks, so it's not a battery issue, but it
won't 'catch' or ignite.

All three were in cold weather (0 deg F), and the first two were after
fairly short drives when the car might not have warmed up completely -
understandable. Most recently, I made sure the car had warmed up to
normal operating temperature, but still no start the next time I
tried. New spark plugs were put in after the first non-start.

Was able to get it going after letting it sit overnight the first 2
times, still in the midst of event #3.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've recently heard it's common
for subarus to flood... It seems that it shouldn't be happening so
often. Anyone know of easy fixes, or if this is a common problem that
involves the malfunction of a certain part (that should be replaced)?

 

[Tony Hwang]

My 2004 Forester has recently begun having what looks to be engine
flooding problems. Three times in less than a month, I have gone to
start the car - the engine cranks, so it's not a battery issue, but it
won't 'catch' or ignite.

All three were in cold weather (0 deg F), and the first two were after
fairly short drives when the car might not have warmed up completely -
understandable. Most recently, I made sure the car had warmed up to
normal operating temperature, but still no start the next time I
tried. New spark plugs were put in after the first non-start.

Was able to get it going after letting it sit overnight the first 2
times, still in the midst of event #3.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've recently heard it's common
for subarus to flood... It seems that it shouldn't be happening so
often. Anyone know of easy fixes, or if this is a common problem that
involves the malfunction of a certain part (that should be replaced)?

Hi,
Put some gas line anti freeze in the tank? Maybe there is
moisture(condensation) in your gas tank. Don't let go near empty in cold
weather. It cause condensation build up in the tank. I fill tank
frequently in cold winter month.

 

[onceuponawhim25]

Hi,
Put some gas line anti freeze in the tank? Maybe there is
moisture(condensation) in your gas tank. Don't let go near empty in cold
weather. It cause condensation build up in the tank. I fill tank
frequently in cold winter month.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks, but I don't think that's the issue. I keep it near full at
all times in cold weather (never below 3/4s of a tank).

 

[S]

Hi Once!

My 2004 Forester has recently begun having what looks to be engine
flooding problems. Three times in less than a month, I have gone to
start the car - the engine cranks, so it's not a battery issue, but it
won't 'catch' or ignite.

All three were in cold weather (0 deg F), and the first two were after
fairly short drives when the car might not have warmed up completely -
understandable. Most recently, I made sure the car had warmed up to
normal operating temperature, but still no start the next time I
tried. New spark plugs were put in after the first non-start.

Was able to get it going after letting it sit overnight the first 2
times, still in the midst of event #3.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've recently heard it's common
for subarus to flood... It seems that it shouldn't be happening so
often. Anyone know of easy fixes, or if this is a common problem that
involves the malfunction of a certain part (that should be replaced)?

I've seen similar problems on other cars. Most likely candidate is
your coolant temperature sensor and/or the cold-start injector. Don't
think Subaru uses a _separate_ cold start injector (I could be wrong,
tho), so that narrows it down even more.

The car's ECU reads the coolant (engine) temperature from the sensor,
and determines how much enrichment the fuel circuit needs for starting
and cold drive-ability. If the sensor isn't doin' it's thing, it could
lead to difficulty starting when cold, or only partially warmed, and
quite possibly flooding when starting a warm engine.

I would think that the OBD system would report this; at the very least
you would see funny temperature readings (think it's termed ECT on the
diagnostic), ie reading cold when you know the engine is warm or vice
versa. Anyway, that's where I'd start.

I seem to recall a section in the manual that outlines a procedure for
checking the temperature sender. It involves removing it from the
engine, dropping it into a pot of water on the stove, and measuring
the resistance vs temperature as the water comes to a boil.

Far simpler IMO to simply install a new one, but if you're interested
drop me an email and I'll see if I can find that section for you.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Tom]

My 2004 Forester has recently begun having what looks to be engine
flooding problems. Three times in less than a month, I have gone to
start the car - the engine cranks, so it's not a battery issue, but it
won't 'catch' or ignite.

All three were in cold weather (0 deg F), and the first two were after
fairly short drives when the car might not have warmed up completely -
understandable. Most recently, I made sure the car had warmed up to
normal operating temperature, but still no start the next time I
tried. New spark plugs were put in after the first non-start.

Was able to get it going after letting it sit overnight the first 2
times, still in the midst of event #3.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've recently heard it's common
for subarus to flood... It seems that it shouldn't be happening so
often. Anyone know of easy fixes, or if this is a common problem that
involves the malfunction of a certain part (that should be replaced)?

You might have a bad crank position sensor. I had an Impreza that had
similar symptoms ( would crank but not start sometimes).

Tom

 

[Guest]

My 2004 Forester has recently begun having what looks to be engine
flooding problems. Three times in less than a month, I have gone to
start the car - the engine cranks, so it's not a battery issue, but it
won't 'catch' or ignite.

All three were in cold weather (0 deg F), and the first two were after
fairly short drives when the car might not have warmed up completely -
understandable. Most recently, I made sure the car had warmed up to
normal operating temperature, but still no start the next time I
tried. New spark plugs were put in after the first non-start.

Was able to get it going after letting it sit overnight the first 2
times, still in the midst of event #3.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've recently heard it's common
for subarus to flood... It seems that it shouldn't be happening so
often. Anyone know of easy fixes, or if this is a common problem that
involves the malfunction of a certain part (that should be replaced)?

One way to diagnose flooding is to crank it with the gas floored after
it won't start.

This clears a flooded fuel-injected car just as good as it does a car
with a carb.

Dave