MTSuby

I guess I'm resurrecting an old thread here, but since this seems like such a common problem...It helped me when I searched for the same issue, so I figured I'd put my experience in. I have a new to me 93 Loyale that had hesitation just every once in a while when I first bought it. Just sometimes in the morning when it was still cold. That was about a month ago. Just this week, all of a sudden one day, it got BAD. Every time I first started the car, the hesitation when I'd first accelerate was bad. To the point where the car was bucking, and yes, it was dangerous trying to pull out into traffic. The car sounded terrible even when it was driving ok, and there was a lot of popping coming out of the tailpipe. I bought plugs, rotor, disty cap, and wires. The wires weren't in, they'll be here in the morning, but I went ahead and changed out the plugs, cap and rotor anyways figuring I'll do the wires tomorrow. Problem solved. Was probably the plugs, since the rotor and cap looked fine to me, but the wires look pretty old, so I'm glad I got new ones anyways. But anyway, this happened suddenly, pretty much out of nowhere one day. Basic tuneup seems to have completely solved it. So there are probably a few different causes, but a simple tuneup may very well solve it for people. I spent just under $60 at the parts store (all NGK). Of course if it was just the plugs, that would have only cost me about $9....but I'm glad I did all the stuff, just because it's a new to me car so that's some peace of mind.

Well, I haven't done too much...oil change, fuel filter, seafoam, and replaced the failing alternator with the spare that came with the car (soon to be a spare again, thanks GD), but I did take it on a 500 mile road trip this weekend, and it did great. More power than any vehicle I've ever owned (which isn't saying much since I stick with old Toyotas and Subarus, but still..), easy to drive, 31mpg. I think I need new shocks, since it tends to be hard to keep in a straight line, and gets wobbly when I hit bumps, but otherwise it did great. I'm going to do the timing belt/oil pump/water pump/cam seals early next month, and then it should really be a pretty solid car. Just turned over 140,000 on that trip.

Don't know about replacing the lifter, but it seems like most of the discussion I've seen about noisy lifters talks more about your oil pump, seal, and cam seals. I have lifter noise that comes & goes, and occasional TOD right when I first start the car. It's due for timing belts anyways, so I'm going to do the belts, oil pump water pump cam seals and all that. I'll see if it helps my lifter noise..

I may be in contact with you. Thanks. I know there's a spare alternator that came with the car, but it's just another used Suby alt, so an upgrade would be nice.

Yeah, other than fuel filter, there can be a lot of things...The carb could need adjusting/rebuilding. If there are vacuum leaks, that sure won't help. Look around for open ports. Spray carb cleaner or starting fluid around the carb to see if hitting any area makes the idle speed up. That's always a sure sign of a vacuum leak. Check the timing. But if you smell gas, it's likely running rich. I don't have too much experience (yet) with Subarus, but I'm sure there's a float adjustment on the carb, and if you can, depending on where the car came from, find out if it's jetted correctly for your elevation. My car experience it with Toyota carbs so some of this might not relate, but that's the stuff I check on my truck when I have issues. If there's an idle cut solenoid on these carbs (anti-deiseling), sometimes if that goes out it will flood the carb and stall the vehicle.

A couple times I've noticed my charge and brake lights start flickering on. Haven't completely come on yet, but they're flickering. I know with Toyotas, you can just replace the brushes and a couple other things, for cheap, and you've essentially "rebuilt" the alternator. A guy has the part numbers up for it since apparently it's about impossible to get parts guys to give you the right parts unless you know exactly what you need. So my question...does someone have something like this for Subarus? A parts list for rebuilding the alternator? The pully/bearing seems fine, it's just not doing it's job right, so what would I need to replace? Here's the Toyota example http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/alternator_brushes/

Thaaank you

Screwdriver worked great. That thing was seriously tight. I had to punch one hole, move it as far as the space would allow, then punch another, same thing, then I could finally move it by hand. Thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll buy myself a wrench for the next oil change. I also replaced the fuel filter and did a seafoam treatment. All I got was white smoke, so I guess my intake was fairly clean anyways.

Sounds good. i didn't think to just do something that would destroy it, but there's no reason no to. I need to take a little aggression out anyways:lol: Thanks a lot!

Ok I feel seriously lame, but I canNOT get the oil filter off. I don't think it's that it's on too tight. I know I changed the oil on my last Subaru but seriously, I've never seen a car that was so set up in every way to NOT let you get any good angle for leverage on the filter. Anyone have advice? I know this is pathetic, but I've tried with my hands and the "belt" method, and it just slips around on the filter, doesn't help at all. I've been trying for the last half hour and there's just no way I can grab it that I can actually put any muscle behind. Will I need to actually buy one of those filter wrenches?

Thanks, I'll check that out.

Uh oh, we already have a rivalry going!

Hey, I'm back into a Subaru after a couple years. Had an 87 GL wagon but sold it after I got my old Toyota truck up & running. Just bought a 93 Loyale wagon. I might be doing a timing belt/oil pump/water pump/valve cover gasket job pretty soon. If anybody with experience has advice, or would be willing to help for some beer & pizza, let me know! I did this job on my 87, but I remember feeling pretty in the dark as to whether I was doing it right or not, and I think I got the timing off a tooth or two. Anyways, it's going to the shop to be checked out next week, so we'll see what they say. I considered just having the shop do the work since I don't really feel like it...but I really don't want to pay them to do it. I'm excited to have a Subaru again!

I know there's some around here somewhere...can someone point me to a link for some timing belt replacement instructions? I don't want to rely on the Haynes manual..

Great, thanks. Yeah, the leak I've got now is bigger than I'm willing to put up with, so I'll do something about. Thanks a lot!

Great, thanks. Yeah, I remember some of this stuff from my 87 Subaru, and some stuff is universal...I've learned a lot with my Toyota, But some stuff I don't know or don't remember. One last thing before I start actually doing this stuff...I really looked under the engine today. Seems like some of the leak may be stopped by just tightening the oil filter, but it's hard to say. I will say that it seems like the leak is coming from under the timing cover...but I know how oil tends to move around, so it's hard to tell. I think I was looking at what were the valve covers, and I'm not sure they're the source of my leak...but it's a cheap fairly easy job that it won't hurt to do anyways, so I'll do it, clean the bottom of the engine pretty well, and see what happens from there I guess. Thanks for the help. I bought my Toyota (1983 4x4) and it became a serious project...like me pulling the engine, tranny, and eventually rebuilding the t-case, replacing differentials, rebuilding carb etc. etc. etc..... I was buying this Subaru to get away from projects..though I know it could turn into one. Anyway I was looking for something I wouldn't have to do too much work on, that would be a reliable road trip vehicle. Hopefully this is what I was looking for...

Thanks! Yeah, I know about Fram. I use Napa Gold in my Toyota. I'll get the NGK stuff. I usually don't even go in Autozone, but I think maybe they have NGK, and Napa doesn't? I'll find out. Yeah, my friend's Subaru of the same vintage had the tick of death for years. I could always tell when he drove by my house, but otherwise, the car seemed to do fine. I've got some Seafoam in the fuel, I'll run it through the brake booster, too. Slow, right? I'm used to carbed vehicles where you really can just pour it in the carb, but I read something about hydrolocking the engine? That would suck. Now, do you mean just top off the oil with ATF a couple hundred miles before I plan on changing it, or drain the oil, fill with ATF, then run a couple hundred and change again? I bought a new fuel filter. Going to do the valve cover gaskets. It's leaking more oil than is even acceptable for a Subaru Otherwise it seems to be in good shape. I think my turning-noise is the power steering pump. Only happens at a certain point in the turn (left or right), and I think it only happens when it's hot out. Other than that stuff and a slightly rough idle and some hesitation, it has a lot of power (way more than my 87), and it's getting good gas mileage so far.

Thanks, that's a start.

Anyone at least have some advice for me on this year/model Subaru in general? Common issues, nice features I might miss, basic maintenance specific to Subarus... Actually one thing I'm really wanting to know is what type of tune-up stuff people regularly do. If I get plugs, wires, cap & rotor, should I go Subaru, or get something (good) aftermarket?

Any advice? It's pretty young: just 139K. Has some oil leaks...I was told valve cover gaskets but possibly also oil pan gasket. I know this is common on the EA82. I did the valve cover gaskets on my 87 when I had it, and I remember it being tight, but not too hard? Someone want to refresh my memory? Not sure about the oil pan. Otherwise, I'm just curious what to look out for on this model. I know Subarus are a bit quirky, so any advice would help. The guy before me was running a really thick oil. What do people here recommend? It doesn't have the owners manual. There's a "door lock" or something light that stays on all the time. Otherwise...a rough idle (maybe idling too low), and a slight hesitation. When I'm steady at one speed on the gas, I feel like something is holding it back a bit, it kind of "pulses", like I'm tapping the brakes on & off. Also just heard a noise today...when I turn either direction, at a certain angle, something is rubbing. Kind of higher pitched rubbing noise. I don't know if it's brakes or axle shaft or just power steering pump or what. Also, I do a lot of work on my Toyota truck. The factory service manual for Toyotas is really really good. Is the Subaru FSM worth it? Otherwise I'll just get a Haynes or Chilton. Also, what's the normal operating temp for these? My 87 ran a bit on the warm side. I know it could be the gauge that's being weird, but I've never seen this one get past the very low end of the temp range. It raises up a bit above cold, and never moves any higher. Nowhere near halfway. A lot of questions!

Alright, thanks. I'm trying to get the 94, it's just hard since it's a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive one way...finding someone to possibly take me there & back in one day isn't easy. It's even hard for me to justify since it's not even a sure thing that I'll buy it...that's a long trip. But I'm trying to get over there.

Oh, ok. Thanks for the info.

Ah! Thanks.

Don't see that...sorry I tried browsing the archives and searching and I don't see it. I'm not sure that I'll make it to see the 94 before it sells. It's just too far. There's also a 93 Loyale with 138,000 an hour away...

Ok great, sounds like it's nothing to be concerned with necessarily. Yes, it does have the air suspension. I'm having a little trouble researching the package, so I didn't realize till just a bit ago that Ti doesn't necessarily mean air-lift suspension. This one does have the air-lift though.