bratgrl

Thanks guys. I talked to Roger the Subaru Genius (my mechanic) last night, and he said that if I can get new bushings, he knows what needs to be done to get it working again. I guess he has done the procedure many times during his career.. So I guess I will get the bushings and let him have at it. I don't have access to a timing light or anything anyway, so it will be best to let him do it all. At least this way if it doesn't work right, I have someone else to blame.... Thanks again for the help.. Bobby

Did some more checking on the things you guys suggested. Guess what I found? The shaft in the dusty has some play in it. So, I guess the question now is...where do I get new bushings, or a new distributor? I will do a search, but I thought I would ask here first. Thanks a bunch for the help, Bobby

I have checked the carb several times for this, and can't find anything unusual. As for the coil and such, I just got it back from the mechanics shop where they checked all that stuff and said it was okay. But I know that doesn't mean it isn't bad now. Does it have a CAT? Darn good question. I 've never actually looked under there myself to see. I'll have to ask the BF, he's the one that usually does the under car stuff. It's the original Hitachi. I had it rebuilt about 3 years ago by a carb shop, I was too chicken to try it myself. GD Could be igntion related - how's the distributor shaft play? Electronic or point/condensor inside? GD No play in the disty, electronic. GDCheck the coil resistance on primary/secondary windings? GD Not sure what this means, but I'm sure I can look it up in one of the books I have. Thanks guys, you've given me some things to look at, but I really am about a nano second away from selling it and letting someone with a little more knowledge and patience deal with it. Thanks again, Bobby

I stopped by around 12:30 and asked for you, but no one seemed to know where you were. I didn't stay for long. I was a little intimidated by all the new shiny fast cars that were there. I was in my little old clunky Brat.. Anyway, looked like everyone was having a good time. Hope it went well.

I know this is not the correct forum, but this one get a lot more traffic than the Historic one. And I really need some help.... This car is really getting on my nerves. Driving to work this morning, rolling along the freeway at 70 mph, everything is fine, then blehhh! All of the sudden the car acts like it has no power. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It just kinda bogs down really bad. So anyway, I get off the freeway and into a hotel parking lot, and it is just running like crap. Doesn't want to idle by itself, have to keep feathering the gas pedal to keep it running. Goes on like this for about 5 minutes. Then it starts running okay but not great, but good enough so that I can get back on the road and to the parking lot at work which was only about a mile and a half away. WTF?!?!?!?!? Any ideas what I should check?

Okay, this car is really getting on my nerves. Driving to work this morning, rolling along the freeway at 70 mph, everything is fine, then blehhh! All of the sudden the car acts like it has no power. I don't know exactly how to describe it. It just kinda bogs down really bad. So anyway, I get off the freeway and into a hotel parking lot, and it is just running like crap. Doesn't want to idle by itself, have to keep feathering the gas pedal to keep it running. Goes on like this for about 5 minutes. Then it starts running okay but not great, but good enough so that I can get back on the road and to the parking lot at work which was only about a mile and a half away. WTF?!?!?!?!? Any ideas what I should check?

I take it all back. The little beast is just trying my patience. Ran great for a couple of days, and now it doesn't want to idle smoothly. I am 'bout ready to say "uncle" and throw in the towel. I really must be getting old, because it's just no fun to work on this car anymore. All it does is give me a headache. Maybe it's time to pass it along to someone with more patience and energy than I have.

My toy...

I fixed my headlight issues I was having, but the little beast still didn't want to run correctly or charge the battery. I drove myself nearly insane truing to figure it out. So i gave up and took it to the repair shop. Roger (the subaru genius mechanic) found my electrical demon. An exorcism was performed, and....."this car is clean"...LOL (google "Poltergeist" for those of you that don't get it). It was hiding in the wiring that runs from the driver side to the passenger side under the radiator. The wire insulation had gotten damaged and water had gotten in and corroded the wire completely until it split in two. That may explain why she ran so crappy when the roads were wet. Also the brand new V/R that I had put on thinking that was the problem was bad out of the box. So he put my original old V/R that was on the car when I bought it back on, and it works just fine. Anywho, she is up and running like a champ.

Okay guys, bad new... The cool easy fix part will not work. The headlight switch end will fit, but the fuse box connectors are different sizes. The connectors on the new part are smaller than the old ones so they won't plug together. : Guess I'll just run a new wire with an inline fuse and be done with it. Sorry to get you guys all excited and then throw cold water on you. Matt and Ed I will still send you the copies of that service bulletin so you can have it for future reference. Bobby

I haven't tried the part yet. So I am still only hoping at this point that it will fix it. I am camping and sending this from my iPad. Isn't technology wonderful? So I won't be picking up the part until Monday. I also wanted to let everyone know that I read the part number wrong. Should have put on my glasses I guess. It is SPS 801 650 not 630. I will get that bulletin scanned and posted in the USRM and e-mailed to those that requested it. Should be able to do that on Monday also. Uncle Ed; Thanks for reminding me about that trick. My dad used to do that. I had completely forgotten about it. I am getting all the bugs out one at a time. Hopefully she'll be up and running soon. Thanks everyone for the support and advice. Bobby

Welcome to the neighborhood. Lots of good people and good info on here.

Pm'd you back...

Well, let's not celebrate too soon. I haven't got the part yet, but I am hopeful. After that, I am still trouble shooting the "I don't want to idle after I'm warmed up" thing. It went away for quite a while, but now it is back. I am going to take off the EGR valve and clean that up and see how it goes from there. The anti-dieseling solenoid is working so I know it's not that. And then,,,,from there I need to figure out why she's making this strange growly/grindy noise from the engine. Back when she would idle, it all of a sudden would start making a noise like it was trying to grind up something through an auger. Kinda like the ice maker in your fridge when you are getting crushed ice out of the door. It only does is for like 30 to 40 seconds and then it stops. Doesn't do it all the time, it is a very random kind of thing. Very strange..

Usefull info about headlight issue in this link.. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=113815

I talked to a local Subaru wizard (Roger) about my problem with the headlight fuse thing. He's an older guy that is VERY knowledgable about these older Subies. Roger told me that he recalled that "back in the day" there was a recall for this exact problem. And that Subaru had a part to fix it. He actually thought he still had one in his toolbox!! But he looked and said he must have used it on another car at some point. He then suggested I talk to a Subaru dealer Parts person and have them check and see if the part was available. So when I went to order my new fusible link, (none of the junkyards had the right one), I asked the gal about this. She called Subaru of America's Tech line, and to make a long story short, yes there was a recall, and yes the part to fix it was available. But, (always a but isn't there?), it did not apply to Brats. Only 2 door hardtops. Is a Brat not a 2 door hardtop... Sooo, I had to pay for the part myself. It cost me a whopping $3.50 and another $1.50 to have it sent 2 day delivery, and she faxed me a copy of the service bulletin with instructions to repair it. Pretty cool huh? She told me that the guys in the Tech shop, especially the older guys, were wondering how I found out about it, and were totally amazed that there was someone out there that even remembered it. Roger's my all time hero now. For you local people, Roger works at GT Automotive on 10600 south in South Jordan. Really nice people there, and very, very helpful. For any of you that are interested, the part number is SPS 801 630, and I can get you a copy of the bulletin if you would like it. Just let me know. Bobby

A great big Yes to that! Rust free Brats are a thing of beauty..and more rare than hen's teeth.

Thanks guys! That is exactly what I was thinking would be fair. I had a hatchback once and loved it. Been kicking myself ever since for getting rid of it, I don't know what I will do with it, but I want it anyway. It will only be my third Subie that I presently own...that's not even close to being too many. GD ( or anyone else that will help) while I have you " on the line" let me ask you a quick question. I am having issues with my headlight fuse in my 80 Brat. It keeps getting REALLY hot and frying the fuse. I would like to bypass the fuse box all together. Soooo, my question is what gauge wire and amperage on an inline fuse, and from where to where would I run it. Caboobaroo said that he thought he ran one from the headlight switch to the battery. But he could not remember for sure. What say you? Bobby.

I am looking at a 1988 GL 4X4 Hatchback with 170K. The good: It has a halfway decent "new" paint job. No body damage and no major rust issues that I could see. Motor runs really well. The bad: The inside is borderline disgusting. I'm not just talking dirty, but everything felt "sticky" , usual sun damage on the top of the back seat. Fronts are not damaged, just need cleaned. The left front CV is clicking pretty good, and the clutch needs adjusting, more likely needs replaced. You have to almost push it through the firewall to get it in gear and when you let it out, it engages about an inch off the floor. Reverse was a nightmare grind fest. The kid reached through the passenger door and just jammed, and I mean JAMMED it into reverse so I could get out of the driveway to test drive it. They are asking $800. What would be a fair price to offer without offending them?

So, I went and talked to the people that worked on this car last year when I gave the motor a bath and fried the alternator (and a bunch of other stuff, DOH!), and they said something about a fuse that is under the dash, not by the fuse box and all those other wires, but over towards the passenger side. Is this true? If it is, any clues as to where I start looking for this "elusive" fuse? Behind the radio, or what? I won't have them work on it again, because when I got the car back last time, they had pulled vent hoses and stuff under the dash loose, and didn't put them back together, and just grabbed and pulled the plastic vent for the passenger side out and tore the screw holes so they zip tied the damn thing back in. Real professional right? And the owner tried to tell me that the car was torn apart when I brought it in. Yeah, whatever.. (It was not by the way.) Anyway, rant over....can someone give me an idea? Or the first person with $1000 can have the car and all the stuff that goes with it, including the electrical demon

Okay, I will admit it, I am a typical female when it comes to electrical stuff. Not a clue how to even start looking for a short. Mechanical I can do, electrical, I am totally . Good idea to check the alternator connections though. Thanks.

Car died on the way to work this morning, charge light is on. Car starts but will not stay running. Just recently have been having issues with headlights flickering on and off, but if you touched the fuse box, they would come back on and work just fine. Checked today and the plastic part of the bottom terminal on the bottom connector on the fuse box is melted and brown looking. I hate electrical issues:mad:!! I would appreciate any suggestions or help anyone can give. Thanks in advance, Bobby.

I Would be interested in the backup light issue also. Mine quit working last year.

So sorry I haven't gotten you that picture yet. Thought I had lost my camera, but found out that my boyfriend had borrowed it and didn't tell me. Trouble is, he's in Montana until tomorrow. I looked at the sticker under my hood also, but mine has way more vacuum lines than that picture shows. I don't know if it's because my Brat has A/C or not. Either way I will take a picture as soon as I get my camera and hopefully it will help. Bobby