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85 GL EA82 Issues: Bogs down (and dies) over 3500 RPM


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Hi All, 

 

I've recently acquired my first Subaru, a 1985 GL Wagon (and I love it!), 77k original miles. 

 

Though, i've been stumped by a motor issue. As long as I stay under 3500 RPM the car runs PERFECT but if I budge over 3500 the car bogs down and dies. Or just bogs down and runs like junk, bad enough it doesn't have enough power to move the car. Then, if I stop the car after going over 3500 RPM and immediately try to go again, it just dies. But, if I leave it sit a few minutes it starts up and drives like nothing happened (but I still have to stay under 3500 RPM). 

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

post-47898-0-55108800-1367221418_thumb.jpg

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Welcome!

 

Sounds to me like if the car is somehow "Drowning" in Gasoline when it opens the Higher stage (Secondary) on the Carburator, and I am assuming that your model has Carburator, isn't it? ... Usually the common factor that could be causing this issue, is related to bad ignition timing; Sometimes when one of the Timin' Belts is one teeth out of timing, the EA82 tends to act like that.

 

So, I Kindly suggest you to start by Checking the Proper ignition Timing and cleaning the Carburator, if it is a Carb'd model.

 

Good Luck!

 

Kind Regards.

Edited by Loyale 2.7 Turbo
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If you are getting black smoke before it dies, that could be indicative of too much gas.  If the fuel filter is clogged, then you are starving the engine of gas at high rpm and you probably won't get any black smoke, but may act similar to as you describe.

 

Another question is how does it idle.  If it idles smoothly and without missing, then it is probably not an electrical issue. 

 

85's are also notorious for the distributors going out.  But when they go out, it may go suddenly without warning, or may temporarily kill and restart itself while cruising.  The distributors also wear out the vaccuum advance mechanism, which can obviously cause problems at higher rpms.  There are two plates that have three ball bearings between them.  They develop grooves in the plates and the ball bearings get either gunked up or become out of round.  You can clean the plates and easily replace the ball bearings, in order to give it some more life.  You would want to always keep a spare distributor around.

 

Also check your hot wire to your alternator.  They tend to get hot, brittle and break near the alternator.  But that would not be what causes your current problem.

Edited by scoobiedubie
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I agree, check the fuel and timing.  

 

first thing to check is that your distributor is on ported vacuum.  many common motors run on manifold vacuum, but subaru's aren't set up to do that.  if someone put a little chevy philosophy into it then it might be run wrong.  then make sure the rotor moves and springs back into place.  Then basics, check for vacuum leaks, fuel pressure, etc

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If carbed, your fuel float might be sticking not allowing the bowl to fill causing it to suck flat when under load running at speed

 

It's also possible that there is something in your gas tank that occasionally blocks fuel flow

Edited by TallonX
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So, maybe this is too simple. But I ordered the air filter and it finally came in (shipping takes forever to Alaska). Swapped it out, took the car out, took it up to 6 grand and back down to idle while driving around, did this a few times. No problems whatsoever. The old air filter was probably the dirtiest air filter that i've personally seen. As soon as I pulled it out, pine needles and other junk started falling out of it. 

 

Does this make sense? I plan on replacing the fuel filter this weekend, which I figure to be the culprit, I took a look the other day and it was pretty nasty. 

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So, a 1985 GL Wagon is 28 years old.  By judging the condition of the air filter, it would be safe to say that this car was not maintained very well.  If it were me, I would do ALL the fluid changes immediately, ALL the filters and ALL the belts and hoses.  Keep the old belts/hoses for spares/emergency.

Now for the electrical.  Get some NGK plugs... check the cap/rotor... ohm out the plug wires...

Everytime I get a 'new' Subie, I do all the maintenance asap.  Start fresh.  Get a log book... make your entries... and enjoy restoring your classic ride.

Oh... don't forget to wash and wax.   I mean... the car.

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...The old air filter was probably the dirtiest air filter that i've personally seen. As soon as I pulled it out, pine needles and other junk started falling out of it. ... 

 

So, it was in fact somehow "Drowning" in Gasoline, but due to Not Enough Air...

 

I'm glad that you found the Culprit, and I Kindly Suggest you to Follow the Good Advice posted by rdweninger adding that you must check the Timing Belts and Tensioners, if you don't know their age nor mileage, is better Idea to change those too.

 

Kind Regards.

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if the filter got that clogged, there is a good chance there is some crap in one of the carburetor air bleeds. if they get clogged, your carb jets start to siphon the fuel in liquid droplets instead of the atomization of the fuel it should be doing. 

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