sidekickin

Hey, thanks for your help. I love these cars, but the exhausts on them are so expensive. The problem I have with my exhaust right now is that the pipes have rotted off right at the flanges, and the pipe has rotted off right where it connects to the muffler. I have fixed it temporarily with some exhaust adapters, but I need it replaced before emissions inspection. The last exhaust that was put on it was only about 2 years ago. So it didn't last very long. Thanks again for your help!

Hey everyone, I need a new exhaust for my '87 4WD Hatchback and am having problems locating a place that carries it. Everyone I have talked to tells me that it is not available. I need the resonator pipe and the muffler assembly. I don't want to get it from Subaru unless I have no other choice since it will be high dollar. Does anyone have any suggestions on who may have an exhaust for this car? Thanks!

Still have the problem. Even though I recently replaced the vapor separator, i pulled the vapor line off the top of the separator to look inside it to see if it looked plugged up. When I removed the vapor line, there was a long hiss like there was a vacuum built up. I also heard some gurgling sounds coming from the gas tank when it was hissing. Is this normal. And should the separator have lots of liquid in it? Thanks. Bill

I will check that out too. The problem usually happens when the car has less than a half tank in it and it will do it intermittently when accelerating under load (going up a hill). Acts just like it is running out of gas or something. It recently has gotten a bit worse in that it will now start to do it when the car has 3/4 tank in it. I am completely baffled. Do fuel pumps have to work harder to draw out fuel when there is less fuel in the tank? Bill

Hey guys, Still trying to locate my problem with the fuel starvation on acceleration. Both fuel filters have been replaced, so now I am looking for the vent on the gas tank to see if it is plugged up or something. Does anyone know where the vent is on an EA-81 hatch and how to check it? Any common problems here? Thanks! Bill ________________ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters single range 4WD Hitachi 2BBL carb (stock) 133,000 miles

Thanks Ed. I will check into that. I appreciate it!

I have still not uncovered the source of my problem yet, but I have noticed that it ALWAYS happens when the car has less than a half tank in it. From FULL down to a half, it almost never has the fuel starvation symptoms. But after it gets below a half tank it starts doing it. I can drive over 100 miles on the last half tank of gas, so it obviously has gas in it and the gauge is working properly. Just wanted to add that in case that is a tell-tale symptom of a problem. Is there anything that can cause these symptoms when there is less than a half tank in the car? Any other possibilities? Original message is below. Thanks for any input. ORIGINAL MESSAGE: Hey guys, Got another problem that I am hoping you can help me with. This one just developed a few days ago. Occasionally when the car is accelerating or under a load (going up a hill), the engine will start sputtering and running rough....like it is not getting fuel or the car has run out of gas. It will do this intermittently from time to time. When it does this it will do it for 5-10 seconds and be done. Otherwise this car runs perfectly. It idles perfect and performs perfectly. But it only does this when it is under a load. When it is doing this and I floor the pedal to kick in the 2-barrel, it runs fine and takes off. So I don't think it is the fuel pump or the fuel filter. Because if either of those 2 were bad, the problem would be aggravated when kicking in the 2 barrel and needing more fuel. It typically does this at a higher RPM range also, like when you are winding out the gears when accelerating. At lower RPMs it does not have a problem. It acts as if it is starving for gas....not like it is misfiring or anything. It has steadily gotten worse over the past week. Fuel filter has been replaced, along with dist cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and a new catalytic converter about a year ago. Car has a Hitachi 2BBL carburetor. Could this be a symptom of a carburetor problem or something else? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks. Bill ______ 1987 Subaru STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters Hitachi 2BBL carb Single range 4WD 133,000 miles

Thanks Skip!

Hey guys, Looks like I will be doing an axle replacement here soon on my hatchback. This will be the first one I have done. Up until now I have gotten by just replacing the boots right when they go bad. Even though the boots are all good, the joints are making noise and I have a pretty bad highway vibration. So I have decided to throw a couple of new axles on it. My question is this: My Haynes manual says that when I get the axle/steering knuckle assembly off the car that I have to take it to the dealer to have the axle removed from the steering knuckle. Is this really necessary or is there a way around it? I'd like to do this entire job myself. How have you guys done it? Thanks for your help! Bill __________ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters Single Range 4WD Hitachi carb 133,000 miles

Went ahead and replaced both fuel filters again a few days ago. Tonight when going 65 mph up a slight grade, the car started sputtering and running rough again....acts just as if the car is running out of gas. Only does it intermittently when under a load. Some nights it will act up and some nights it will be fine. Car has plenty of gas in it at all times. Any other suggestions? Thanks! Bill ______ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters Single Range 4WD Hitachi 2BBL carburetor 133,000 miles

Still have my problem....some days it is worse than others. Let me know if you figure out what it is. I really don't want to end up on the side of the road because of it! Mine has one fuel filter too, in the rear near the fuel pump. I also have a vapor separator in the engine compartment. Replaced the fuel filter about 5K miles ago. Thanks for your help. Bill ______ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters Single Range 4WD 133,000 miles

Hey guys, Got another problem that I am hoping you can help me with. This one just developed a few days ago. Occasionally when the car is accelerating or under a load (going up a hill), the engine will start sputtering and running rough....like it is not getting fuel or the car has run out of gas. It will do this intermittently from time to time. When it does this it will do it for 5-10 seconds and be done. Otherwise this car runs perfectly. It idles perfect and performs perfectly. But it only does this when it is under a load. When it is doing this and I floor the pedal to kick in the 2-barrel, it runs fine and takes off. So I don't think it is the fuel pump or the fuel filter. Because if either of those 2 were bad, the problem would be aggravated when kicking in the 2 barrel and needing more fuel. It typically does this at a higher RPM range also, like when you are winding out the gears when accelerating. At lower RPMs it does not have a problem. It acts as if it is starving for gas....not like it is misfiring or anything. It has steadily gotten worse over the past week. Fuel filter has been replaced, along with dist cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and a new catalytic converter about a year ago. Car has a Hitachi 2BBL carburetor. Could this be a symptom of a carburetor problem or something else? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks. Bill ______ 1987 Subaru STD 4WD Hatchback EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters Hitachi 2BBL carb Single range 4WD 133,000 miles

Thanks everyone. I guess I am not alone in my obsession of Subarus. Everyone I know thinks I am insane for driving this Subaru more than my Accord. They just don't understand. I have been looking for years for an EA-81 style Subaru and finally came across this one about a year ago. The EA-81 style is virtually nonexistent in this area anymore. It is a rarity to see one. I guess the road salt got most of them. Heck, it is hard to find an EA-82 style around here anymore. But my first car was a 1980 4x4 GL wagon and I loved it.....until some idiot woman slammed into the back of it while it was parked and destroyed it. Talk about being upset. Only wish this one I have now was a GL (love that full instrumentation). But I was lucky to come across this one...only took me 5 years! Anyway, I think I will take the cotter pin out and check out those threads and then retighten it. I don't have a torque wrench though. Is there a possibility of doing damage by overtightening it? Or is that hard to do? Thanks. ________ 1987 STD 4WD hatchback (single range) EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters 132,000 miles

Yeah, I just checked the axle nuts and they are tight....plus they have a cotter pin in them to keep them from loosening...

Hey everyone, Got a minor problem that I am having a hard time diagnosing. I have what sounds like a rhythmic clicking CV joint that carries on intermittently when driving along at certain speeds....usually 35mph or more. it is coming from the front passenger side. And it typically happens when I am driving straight (i.e., not in turns). Replaced both axles about a year ago and checked the boots and everything is fine with them. There is no clicking at all whatsoever in turns....it is only when I am at cruising speeds. Although slightly turning the steering wheel to the left or right when on the highway (an inch or so) will sometimes change the pitch of the noise. And it will also make teh noise depending on the slope of the road...a slight slope to the right will usually aggravate it and make it show up. Also, when it is making this clicking noise, if i tap the brakes it stops and as soon as I let off the brakes it usually comes back. But as soon as I let off teh brakes it will start up again. I have had CV joint problems in the past and know what it sounds like. This sounds just like clicking CV joints. But there is no damage to the axles or boots at all. And I would think if it was a bad joint it would make noise in hard turns when accelerating. And it does not do that. I have checked the brakes and everything looks fine with them and everything is tight. Could this be a wheel bearing, differential problem, inner CV joint or something else? Any help is appreciated. Thanks! Bill _______ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback (single range) EA-81 w/hydraulic lifters 132,000 miles

Well, guys, the job is completed....at least temporarily. Didn't have the time to do it real well, so I rigged up a solution and it worked really good. First, I disconnected the rubber hoses for the ASVs where they connect to the air cleaner assembly. Then I cut out small pieces of aluminum from a pop can and covered the metal "male" end on the air cleaner side with the piece of aluminum and then reconnected the rubber hoses with the aluminum piece inside. This way it blocks the flow of exhaust gas from the bad ASV. My car has 2 ASVs, so I did this with the other side as well (even though it wasn't bad yet). At least by doing that it will prevent any plastic pieces of the ASV from getting sucked into the carburetor when it does decide to go bad. Anyway, after doing this I fired the car up and it was whisper quiet. No rumbly exhaust noise or anything. When I do have time I may do a more permanent solution such as buying a new ASV or removing the entire Air Injection system from the car. But for now this will work. Thanks everybody for your help!!! Billy ____________ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA81 w/hydraulic lifters and S/R 4WD

From the southwest part of the state....Hamilton, Ohio. My first car was an '80 GL 4WD wagon with the infamous 3rd headlight. I always thought that was the coolest thing. Drove that car for 5 years until I was 21 and some lady rear ended it and destroyed it. I was crushed. Last year I acquired the '87 STD 4WD Hatchback. Absolutely love it, but not as much as the '80 GL since the '87 it lacks a lot of the neat features of the '80 GL. I was always a big fan of the full set of gauges on the GLs. Wish I had access to an old GL so I could swap the dashboards. But around here most of the '80-'84 bodystyle Subarus are gone. By far my favorite bodystyle....and that durable, reliable motor with no timing belt. Gotta love that. It still amazes me that Subaru would go to a timing belt design with the EA82 just for a very modest increase in HP over the EA81. _______________ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback w/ hydraulic lifters and S/R 4WD

Hey guys, Thanks for the replies. After taking a look at it, it does appear that I have a bad Air Suction Valve. If I cover the hose when I pull it off the ASV, the noise disappears and it is quiet. Now the new question is how do I bypass this thing so I don't have to buy a new one? Any suggestions on what to use to plug the pipe that comes up from the exhaust manifold? And could a malfunctioning Air Suction Valve cause a power loss or a miss, or is that another problem? Thanks again for all your help! Billy ________ 1987 STD 4WD Hatchback EA81 w/hydraulic lifters

Hey everyone, Got a problem with my '87 4WD STD Hatchback with EA81 engine and hydraulic lifters. Engine runs great and smooth at idle with no noise at idle or startup. However, when the engine is under a load...such a revving the engine or accelerating...the car almost acts like one of the cylinders is not hitting real well. It is very hard to describe the noise it makes, but it sounds like a low pitched exhaust leak sound (almost a rumble...but not bearing rumble!) from the right side of the engine. And when it makes this sound, it is like the car is not hitting on all 4 cylinders. And it only does it when the engine is under a load. Since it has started doing this, I have noticed that the engine has lost some of its power also. I haven't read any posts addressing this problem, but it seems to be a common noise from this engine because I hear quite a few older Subes going down the road making this noise. The engine has a very slight valve train tap on the right side of the engine, but it is only noticeable with the hood up and my ear at the valve cover. And it doesn't make any valve noise on startup and any loud clacking valve noise when under a load. The engine does not lose coolant or burn any oil. I had read about the cylinder heads cracking between the valve seats, allowing the compression to seep past the exhaust valve during combustion, but have only heard about that problem on EA82s. Was this a problem with EA81s, or is there another cause for my problem? Any help is greatly appreciated.