Link0demons Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 So, here we are again. Yet another plea for help for yet another old Subaru. The victim: 1986 Subaru GL wagon EA82 with it's stock Hitachi carburetor with a homer air filter. (Home made). Purchased it as a craigslist deluxe with 142K miles. I drove it 200 miles home and another fifty around Fairbanks that next day. As I was buying, PO told me that he has been having trouble with the "carb heater", and that it needs some help to become a daily driver again. He tossed in a spare rim and a blue tub of old carb parts. Brenda is dead now. when her heart stopped, it was while traveling at about 55mph. I downshifted in preparation for a turn and as I let the clutch out I heard a faint *pop!* and Brenda went zero on me. i had gravity on my side still, and tried to start her again, no Bueno. In gear? She wouldn't even try. So. I've gotten her home, and started assuming culprits: I've checked timing belts (worn out, but intact) Hard timing marks (still ok) Distributor cap & wiring (hardly scuffed, looks new) Spark plugs didn't look unusual I played with vacuum stuff, several parts are missing or plugged off (custom Air filter) but no obvious leaks or breaks were found. I went onto fuel- everything is working and clean from tank to carb, there's good flow. I removed the carb and disassembled it. Nothing noteworthy. All the orifices and jets are clear, float/needle is ok. The automatic choke electrics test ok, accelerator pump.....pumps, gaskets all look great. I went into the instrument panel. I checked for burnt bulbs, I checked every fuse and fusible link with my multimeter. Tachometer safety thing works too. I did notice the CEL bulb exists and is not burnt out, but does not illuminate when key is switched ON. Tried finding OBD 1 connections without success. The best method I've found is to listen to that starter crank. Hold pedal to floor and release after about third crank and the car sputters to life after the fourth or fifth. If I let everything go, Brenda will lug at around 100rpm for about two-three minutes before dying. I can repeat the procedure forever. But if I try to throttle any, Brenda dies. If I deviate from this awkward starting ritual, Brenda dies. What do I do next?! Try to put the stock filter assembly/vacuum together?! Compression test?.........shoot it? I'm more than willing and able to post pictures, provide info, and answer questions as needed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe5 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Did you get the timing belt covers all the way off and look at the idlers? I just ask cuz one time I had an issue where an idler fell apart. Since the covers are such a pain in the butt to get off, I took off a few and flexed the plastic back and saw belt was not broken and moved on looking at other things. However I mislead myself by not getting the cover all the way off to see the roasted idler, which effectively made the belt looser and was the source of my problems, which sound similar but not necessarily identical to yours. May be something else, but just thought I'd ask about that since I was once deceived myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee2 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Any computer codes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 I've got the cover off for the rest of its life. Everything is old and should be replaced, but is still functioning as intended, idler pulleys included Never did get to find the OBD connections to read codes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ed Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 On a 86' with the carb, there is no computer. So, no codes to read. My bet is the igniter in the distributor went. That's assuming that you have a Hitachi distributor that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Dawg Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I would look at thee distributor rotor again...screw could have backed out.. mine did.. sounded like a tottal misfiring episode when mine did.. I changed.the belts etc just find the screw laying on its side under the rotor.. I looked but failed to do the touchy Feely good luck on this amazing day of life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 That makes a lot of good sense, I'm glad I'm not crazy and there are no codes to look for in the first place. I'll have a thorough look at the distributor after work! also, Is there an easy way to post photos via iPhone? Or do I have to link them to a site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 If it will start and lug around 100 rpm as you say, then die, it could be a carb issue. If you didn't soak the carb or blow compressed air through all the passages, there could easily be something lodged in there. Quick check, use starting fluid. If it fires, runs, then dies, it's fuel related. If you get the same results, then I agree with the ignitor or the coil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 I get the same results no matter how much go dope I squirt down its throat. Right now the carb is clean and in pieces on my counter, assembly takes place this evening after work.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robm Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Have a good look a the timing belt. They can lose teeth, so they look OK, and the engine might run a bit until those teeth come around again, then it stops. Timting will be out, so use that as well for a check. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted August 2, 2016 Author Share Posted August 2, 2016 Alright. I've made my rounds again and have fallen back to Brenda. The carb was installed and I got it running, albeit the idle was nearly max. I took a look at the ignition via another thread on this site. I've set timing to the hood specification, and am now trying to get the vacuum/fuel sorted out. It's gutless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Does it still have the CAT? It's possible it's plugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l75eya Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Pretty sure there's no set screw on these distributor rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 Well, I got this one running for temporary use, but it's completely gutless. The CAT is probably not plugged, as it's running so rich that I burned the O2 away with a cherry red pipe. It only goes to work and back until the reliable one is repaired, but it can't pull its own weight. It will backfire under heavy acceleration of moderate load. I removed a rear CV axle and it keeps up in 4WD Low. There is no set screw for the distributor rotor, I dabbed a couple drops of super glue in there.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 I was going to drill out the plug for the mixture screw and try to turn it down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link0demons Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 Nope. Turning the screw full in/out changed nothing. It was set at seven turns out before I touched it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemamma Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 is it an electric fuel pump? maybe to much fuel pressure or the float is stuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 it's always the carb. lol spark plug wires are hooked up correctly, to the right disty connection? it's running rich so maybe there's a weak spark/no spark somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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