Help w/ '91 Legacy Unsolved Mystery!!

[Guest Funkyboss]

Hi. I'm new to this board but I am thrilled to find it because I am a die hard Subaru fan like the rest of you. I own a '91 Legacy AWD wagon (2.2L) and have a long term problem that no mechanic in town can solve. I am getting desperate and hope some kind soul will help me out.

 

Upon reaching 50 mph or so after a hard acceleration up a hill or while carrying a heavy load, the engine will suddenly loose power, shake violently, and then cut off. Sometimes this problem can be averted by babying the gas and slowing down. If you push it past 60, though, it always dies, buts runs okay after a restart. This only happens from time to time in a random fashion, however. Runing the AC seems to make the problem worse, but it is not the cause. This has been going on for over a year.

 

I've switched out the coil, the spark plug wires, the mass air flow meter, and the alternator, to no avail. Engine diagnositic shows no codes. Tranny shows no codes.

 

Could it be a simple spark plug problem? Or, is it the ECU or maybe a fuel pressure problem? Perhaps a bad sensor that won't show a code? Any help would be great. Thanks a million. -BW

[Guest Legacy777]

I'd be suspicious of the ECU since you've replaced the main things that could cause that. If you haven't changed the plugs do that.....but like I said, I'd be suspicious of the ECU.

[Guest Funkyboss]

Thanks for the tip. It goes to the shop tomorrow and I'll ask the mechanic if he has another good ECU laying around. If not, where is a good place to order parts? -Bryan

 

PS-Nice website!

[Guest edrach]

Just a guess, fuel starvation? When's the last time you replaced the fuel filter?

[Guest TinyClark]

I am normally the last person in the world who thinks fuel filters are ever a problem. You don't say how many miles you have on the car, but I have to agree with edrach on the filter possibility, if the problem occurs as you describe it. Sounds like it is starved for fuel...

 

I have driven many cars toward and over the 150k miles mark, and haven't changed a filter. Maybe you got some gas at a station with a bunch of crap in the storage tanks.

[Guest Legacy777]

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www.superrupair.com