Engine back in -- FINALLY!

[Remco]

My daughter's 95 impreza had its drive plate bolts walk out so had to
pull the engine about a month ago.

I replaced the oil separator cover, the timing belts, water pump, some
hoses, etc. I had lifted the engine in two weeks ago, but that's when I
found out that the torque converter's mounting holes (the ones that
mount the drive plate) were buggered out torque.
So after that was remachined, I finally got a day off today to lift it
in.

The thing is that it runs rough. I lent out my timing light, so can't
tell whether the timing is correct. Can one adjust the timing on this
car, since it doesn't have a distributor?

I did not replace the exhaust header's gaskets - should they have been
replaced?
The car sounds loud and has the 'fweem' sound like a VW bug - it also
has very little pick up.

After an engine has been hoisted in, should something special need to
be adjusted or reset? With previously used exhaust gaskets, could there
be an exhaust leak so the problem really is the lack of backpressure?

Any suggestions are appreciated!
Remco

 

[johninKY]

Your problem most likely is something is not connected. Could be a hose or
ground strap or wiring connection. My bet is a hose somewhere in the
intake system was overlooked. Go over everything and check all the
hoses/clamps/wire conections before doing anything else.

 

[Remco]

Your problem most likely is something is not connected. Could be a hose or
ground strap or wiring connection. My bet is a hose somewhere in the
intake system was overlooked. Go over everything and check all the
hoses/clamps/wire conections before doing anything else.

I checked all the hoses, sprayed some starter fluid around to see what
changes - to no avail. They were all tight and on there properly, as
far as I could tell.
Then checked all plugs. One would not fire. It initially looked like a
bad coil module, but tracing it back, found that the Firestoners (when
they replaced the engine the first time) must have cut a wire to a
connector by mistake.
They sloppily patched it with a crimp on and some electrical tape.
Found that if I jiggled that wire, it started running normal again.
I soldered the wire ends together and put some shrink tubing on -- it
runs like a champ again!

Now I have to tell my daughter to drive carefully and keep an ear/eye
out for weird sounds and smells. Why is stressing the importance to do
that to women so hard?

Thanks for all the suggestions!
Remco

 

[johninKY]

Good to hear you have solved all the problems and have the car back on the
road.

 

[Remco]

Good to hear you have solved all the problems and have the car back on the
road.

Thanks for the help.
She drove it a couple of days and yesterday it left her stranded. This
time it is fuel related (see other post). Would you happen to know
where the fuel relay is located, John?

Thanks!
Remco