Hi,
When rebuilding an EJ25 SOHC engine, would it be possible to accidentally swap the left and right cams? If it is, what effect would it have?
I am asking because I rebuild this engine (first Subaru rebuild for me) and I have a non-starting engine - so I am wondering if this could be a possible cause? This is for a 2003 Forester 2.5X
I know there are many threads on non-staring engines.......so apologies if this is another one that has been answered already.
I did check for presence of spark and no engine warning lights are blinking.
Thanks!

 

On my recent ej25 rebuild I had a non start (no spark or fuelling) due to a bent pin on the crank position sensor when I pushed the connector on. Doh!

Worth a quick check...

 

Thanks Bazil - I did check that one. Will also recheck all connectors. I'm just a little worried that I might have made a simple mistake like swapping the cams - thus that question, as it involves some time and patience to correct - if indeed wrong. Timing belt was but on correctly. I double checked.


Do the fuel lines to up to the injectors need to be purged in some way after being stripped and standing for quite a while, including a fuel filter replacement? Or is it OK to just reconnect and be ready to start?

 

I didn't need to even after the manifold was standing for 4 months, just the cranking to get oil pressure up (and whilst figuring out the bent pin thing) seemed enough. With the bent pin it threw up the MIL straight away and didn't spark or inject, but as soon as I sorted that it fired right up, so I can assume the fuel system was pressurized ok.

I've no specific experience of misaligned cams etc, but I would't have thought it would prevent it from fueling or sparking, just make it run rough.

 

Bazil,
It is sparking - I checked that by disconnecting No.1 plug lead and connect it to a loose, spare plug. No spark issue. It is not even trying to start . . . . .

 

Could be a daft question, but did you plug the fuel pump back in? I disconnect it and run until it stalls to depressurize the lines before engine removal...... and came close to forgetting to plug it back in!

 

Think I was a little more reckless than you Bazil. I did not disconnect the fuel pump - just released line pressure when disconnecting the fuel pipes.

 

Bazil, I got it going. Running like a clock.
You will fall of your chair if I tell you what the issue was.
Thanks for your replies!

 

Good stuff!

Based on your comment, I'm guessing...... no fuel left in the tank!?

 

. . . . . had the two main fuel lines going into the manifold swapped...
Suppose the good side is it could have been something much worse.

 

I marked them with a paint pen for that exact reason!

Glad you got it sorted though

 

It was nothing but negligence from my side. I took pictures all along the disassembly process and traced the error when revisiting these.
Think one of the issues are that (in my case) I do this type of thing only once in every couple of years - and it seems there is a bit of a learning (or re-training maybe) involved in every time you do this type of thing - if not regularly. Still nice to do it though.
Thanks again for the messages and take care!