Expert: Sean Halliday - 12/29/2008

Question
My Subaru 2002 Legacy SW won't start. It'll grind and after trying a few times over an hour, it'll eventually start after sitting overnight. It will start if only sitting for a couple of hours. This month, I a new battery, alternator, fuel filter, cleaned fuel injection system, 60,000 service with all fluids replaced. Any ideas?

Answer
On this car,as it is a modern complex engine,you will need to determine which is at fault.The ignition system or fuel system.You will get no where guessing the cause.First see if it has a good spark.Then you must check the fuel pressure with a pressure gauge designed for this model.If both are ok,which i doubt,then we go from there and see where the fault could be.I am thinking you have little or no fuel pressure which could be a bad fuel pump which will cause these symptoms.So,check pressure and let me know.Best to check spark with a strobe light(timing light).