Our '02 H-6 Outback suddenly started running poorly tonight - it runs fine at idle and up to 1/8 to 1/4 throttle, but as soon as you ask for more power it just falls on its face. If you can get it to rev up to around 5K, it perks up some but still isn't running like it should. I at first suspected a plugged cat, but after driving it some I don't think this is it, as the break point between running OK and not is very distinct.
I haven't had a chance to connect a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel rail yet but I suspect that this may be a case of low fuel pressure, possibly caused by the O-ring popping out of the cap beside the fuel pump as I have seen in a couple of threads here. Most of the descriptions seem to indicate that the car just quit running, though, not running but at reduced power.
Has anybody seen the infamous O-ring cause symptoms such as the ones I'm seeing, or if not any ideas where to look next?
Also, what pressure should I be seeing on the fuel rail at idle? The manual I have isn't very complete as far as diagnosis but it does call out a pressure range from the pump of 54-98 psi.
to be clear, it isn't the 'normal' fuel filter for your car. It seems to be some type of strainer. I threw that part away and just used the cap with a new o-ring. I don't know that it would harm anything to leave it in but, you don't have it in there now so...
I'm new here and I just picked up a 2003 OBW that didn't run. Previous owner said a friend looked at it and that it had spark and had fuel, but still didn't run. I got it home and when I measured the fuel pressure with a gauge, it had almost no pressure. This seemed like the likely cause.
Sure enough, I pulled the fuel pump and found the cap cracked and the O'ring popped out. I was planning to buy the filter kit as others had, but tried one cheap alternative first. I went to a local "pull it yourself" junk yard and found a couple Subaru's. Pulled the pump, popped the cap and got a replacement for a few bucks.
Installed it today and the car fired right up. Thanks to all you guys for your research and ideas on this topic! You saved me $400-$500 a new pump would have cost!!!
2001 Outback 176K miles. Well, the dreaded O-Ring curse finally caught up with me. I scratched my head for a day looking for cures for the no start issue and when I concluded it was a fuel problem I "search engine" it an up came all the threads. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the split tab on the cap!
Thanks one and all for the research!
I did end up replacing the Oring with the one from Advance Auto and cleaned and sanded the cap and soldered the split in the cap.
Started right up after some spitting and sputtering. Also, keep those fuel filters under the hood changed. Thanks again!
My cap fix of 7/22/2013 didn't last, the solder repair split and back to ground zero. I ordered up the fuel filter, used the cap tossed the filter, and used the original OEM O ring. Will let you all know if this fails, I doubt it will though.
For the life of me I can't understand the thinking of having a removable cap anyway? Any thoughts on this?
I am having this same problem with my 2003 LLBean H6,what is the sure fix?I bought the car with almost a 100k had it for about 2500 miles had to have it towed,cap had poped off,I put it on drove car for another week it happened agian,had to repair with a hose clamp
to get it home.What is the sure fix?
Hi I have an outback 2.5, I replaced the fuel filter in the tank and since then the car will not start. It almost kicks over when I first turn the key then just winds over and over. There is no pressure in the tank as when I open the fuel cap there is no noise or anything, I did ave trouble getting the metal cap on and used the old seal. What do you think and advise..
more details on the car and original symptoms please.
In the first few seconds of turning the key from OFF to ON (but not start), do you hear the pump come on for 2-3 seconds? If not, the problem may be electrical.
If there's a problem with the in tank cap or o-ring, will it cause a continuous high-pitched sound to emanate from the fuel tank area when the car is on? My car ('04 Obk EJ259) still starts up, but the sound from the gas tank area makes me suspect a problem like this.
A high pitched squeal from the tank area is the sound of a normal pump running. On any car, turn the key to the first position (before starting) and listen. the pump will run for a few seconds to pressurize the fuel rail. it will sound like this-a high pitched squeal. once the car is running, the sound is overwhelmed by the running engine sounds and you never hear it.
2000 Legacy here, just got through dealing with the same issue. My mechanic tried to tig-weld the cap but it only lasted a week at best, so I had to replace it with the NPN kit that everyone here is referencing.
One thing: I decided to go with a 90A durometer o-ring (from Amazon... I have 9 left, sigh), which is quite hard. I figured if the problem is the o-ring blowing out, then the harder one will be better. When I got the assembly off it definitely seemed like the original part was a softer o-ring, of the typical 75A durometer rating. But the new cap went on (after a bit of an argument) with the harder o-ring just fine, and the car is working fine now.