greenacarina

Problem solved!!! It was a crappy fuel pump. This was certainly a good exercise in getting familiar with the injection system, however. Now on to more mundane things- timing belts, oil pump seal, exhaust studs...the usual suspects! Chris

OK, will give that a go. Thanks. Chris

Sorry, should be "equation" and "marginal" ALSO- Is my notion of putting an earlier vacuum-advance distributor (from an '85) in my car ill-advised? Thanks. Chris

OK, got out today in the currently tolerable weather and played with this thing some more. Tested every aspect of the FI system to rule that stuff out of the euqation. Air mass meter is within specs, fuel pressure is correct while running and sitting for 10 minutes (fuel filter is new), throttle switch is adjusted correctly. So, the symptoms that I am dealing with- car starts and idles fine, acceleration is a bit sluggish when rolling gently into the throttle. Falls flat on it's face and backfires under hard acceleration and under load. Ignition timing is set to factory spec and appears to advance when using a timing light in the driveway. I am still totally unclear how the timing advance is controlled (ECU???) and how load is sensed (normally manifold or ported vacuum on most cars, but apparently not this one). Any insight??? The ol' Haynes book is maginal at best. Chris

So, my SPFI wagon has this horrible hesitation under load....like almost undriveable. Can't find the info in any of my manuals on how the advance works (electronic, yes....but is there some vacuum sensor involved? how does it compensate for load?). Anywho, I was thinking of plopping in a distributor from an '85 that has the vacuum advance. Good idea? Bad idea? Should I be focusing my attention on something else? Thanks! Chris

Yeah, I've got How to Keep your Subaru Alive...not much help in the wiring or fuel injection department. Maybe I will try the CD Rom manual and see what happens (they're only about 10 bucks). Will keep an eye open for the "FSM" in paper form. Thanks! Chris

So, after a few years hiatus from Subarus...I find myself with an '88 wagon. It seems to have a gremlin in or near the ignition switch as sometime it won't engage the "ON" position (key turns fine, engine will crank, but no power to the dash or elsewhere). Anyhow, I'd like to get my hands on a good repair manual. The Haynes book is OK, but somewhat lacking from what I remember. Can a real factory manual be had?? I notice CD Rom manuals being sold on Ebay but no mention of publisher. Are they worth a darn? Thanks in advance! Chris