Guest ScoobieNoobie Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 Hello all. I recently bought a 1989 Subaru GL Touring Edition with 53,000 original miles on it. It has a three speed auto as well as all of the other usual bells and whistles. It is 4wd. I have a couple of questions as it's been a while since I last owned a Subaru and when I did, all I cared was that it got me through a date without embarrassing me too much... 1. When on the highway (70 mph), it tachs around 4000 rpm. Is this normal? 2. It stumbles upon acceleration (sometimes) and is certainly no speed demon even when it doesn't. I have given it a good tune up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, set timing, fuel filter). What else should I look to to help with this problem. 3. I am averaging around 22mpg. It seems somewhat low to me considering it is only part time 4wd and it is always in 2wd. I seem to remember my old on (1984 GL-10 Coupe) getting much better mileage. That one was not 4wd though I can't imagine that the added weight from the mechanicals lowers the mileage that much. Is this (22 mpg) right? 4. Was there a CD option available for that model year? 5. Is there maintenance that you would recommend other than the things outlined in the owners manual? Any assistance would be appreciated. Great site by the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thesubarukid Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 I can't answer all of your questions, but the 70 at about4k seems right to me. Thats where I usually am around, a little lower (5spd tho ) You will want to change the timing belts soon. Those need to be replaced about once every 60k miles. As for the rest of it, not really sure. Someone will post with the answers though Good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Caboobaroo Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 check your O2 sensor seeing you've replaced everything else but that. Usually what happens is that it will go bad but the computer will substitute a number in to help make it run...usually it gets ****ty gas milage. So try that, it should help even if its not bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sweet82 Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 Whenever my Hatch runs bad (stumbles on acceleration) I just put on a new cap and rotor, and ocassionally wires, it's magic! I can't believe that didn't cure it? Do all your new plugs look good? I turn 3000 @ 55 mph, my wife turns 3000 @ 80 in her Honda, sounds like your right on. Don't feel bad my car has never been over 72 mph in 21 years of driving! They are just geared low. Your mpg sounds slightly low too. There was a thread a while ago about who gets what mileage? I get around 240 per tank. Bet your mileage drop and acceleration are connected...somehow? Gas related? Any new sludge in your new filter? For what it's worth, Glenn 82 Hatch, transforming....:evil: 01 Forester, wants a lift kit:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest calebz Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 My 88 wagon did 70@4000 rpms got an average of about 22 mpg was an 88 2wd turbowagon 3AT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hondasucks Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 my 82 automatic got like 23. Although yours is fuel injected, so it should get better than that, but it won't get as good as a manual. It's sluggish because it's an automatic. 91 HP with a 30% loss through the transmission leaves you with about 60 HP to the wheels, as compared to a manual which gets about 90% of the power to teh ground. Go get a bottle of the Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner, someone on here put that stuff in their wife's car, and the mileage jumped from 12 to 35MPG in one tankfull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Caboobaroo Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 well my wagon gets about 340 or so:lol: but of course, its not getting any right now cause of some idiot stripping out a sparkplug hole and tying to fix it a ****ty way so now I have to fix it:mad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tom63050 Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 I notice you didn't mention new air filter...and you might want to cut out the bottom of the airbox, or drill holes there, to get more power over 4000 rpm. The airbox intake is very restrictive. Also (though this shouldn't be your problem) when I put a new cat on my 86 Toyota MR2 (203K miles), my gas mileage went from 25 to 30. More power too of course. You could barely see daylight through the old one, even when holding it up to the sun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WagonsOnly Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 I second the timing belt recommendation...also repair the struts that hold up the rear gate if they're the least bit mushy, I got a nasty bump n the head from one I was parting out this weekend...as for the CD, so far as I know the following were the only audio options: Factory: AM/FM Monaural Receiver with Manual Tuning AM/FM Stereo Receiver with Electronic Tuning AM/FM, same as above, with trip computer, GL-10 only Dealer: AM/FM Stereo and Cass with Electronic Tuning AM/FM Cass, same as above w/trip computer, GL-10 only (The radios are the same for the ones with the trip computer, but the face plates are different--the GL-10 model has a cutout to accomodate the trip computer display) Finally, wash it often and check for rust frequently, and repair any as soon as you come across it, especially if you're in the Rust Belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ScoobieNoobie Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 I just forgot to mention that I did change the airfilter as well. The car only has 53000 miles on it so I can't believe that it would need a cat but I suppose you never know. Does anyone recommend removing the 3 speed and installing a 4 speed auto? Is this possible without many alterations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jcdenton Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 Did CDs even exist in 1989? I wouldn't know, I was about 4 at the time. <blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>My Brat is older than me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest calebz Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 :rollin: Yeah, cds existed in 89 as far as swapping the tranny out.. if your gonna doi it, go with a 5 speed. its not nearly as hard as it sounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dennis Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 the 3spd is a mechanical/hydraulic unit, the 4spd is electronic... would most likely be a wiring nightmare, and the 3spd isnt a bad transmission - just dont neglect it. they have a very accessable governor gear that i recommend pulling out and cleaning once a year, a 20 minute job tops. make it easier on yourself and service the whole trans every year - takes about 1 hour and includes trans fluid, gov. gear, vacuum mod., and filter... the trans is really easy to maintain - but they get a bad rap because people neglect them until they start losing gears... part of the reason the car gets 22mpg is the trans though...the engine screams at 80mph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest calebz Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 I personally have had very few problems with the 3AT.. my biggest complaint has always been the gas mileage and the 4000rpms @70 mph..my 5spd does 70 @3100 rpm.. much quieter that way BTW.. my 87 came equipped with the same tranny yours did.. its a 5 spd now.. so it CAN be done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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