[jps]

I recently purchased a 96 legacy outback 2.5 auto 140k miles, very good shape for its age. My wife just drove it for her first time. It died on her driving home. I drove to where she was, the engine cranks over fine but only fires once in a while and will sometimes idle very roughly to about 500 rpm for a few seconds. Where do I start?

 

[cardoc]

Fuel filter or pump.

Timing belt jumped/loose.

Loose ground cable.

Bad battery.

Ignition coil.

Bad ignition cables.

 

[jps]

had a little time

checked a few things this afternoon.
getting fire at plugs.
engine cranks over with what seems to be normal compression.
no fuel going into fuel filter.
took fuel filter off blew through not clogged.
Where is fuel pump, pump relay and pump fuse?

 

[RobLog]

Fuel pump relay fuse is SBF-2 in the drawing below (not the one outlined in red). This is the fuse box under the hood.

Fuel pump relay is a real PITA to get to under the driver's side dash ... for one thing, you have to remove the under dash fuse box to get to it ... save it for last after you've checked everything else.

Assuming you have a wagon, the fuel pump is in the front of the rear cargo area on the passenger side. You'll have to remove a few layers to get to it. Sedan pump is under the rear seat, also on the passenger side.

 

[jps]

thanks rob

just read your post.
I will get on that after work tomorrow.

 

[jps]

fuel pump

I checked the fuse under the hood, then went to the fuel pump.
Removed plug, checked voltage which was good.
Then applied voltage to pump nothing happened.
Removed pump assembly applied voltage, it would run intermittently.
Plan to replace next chance I get.
With 144k miles I plan to do the timing set replace before that crashes.
Thanks for the help.