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Hi all, I have a 1981 Subaru with just over 222,000 miles running strong AFTER a few problems... I got this car for free from a friend, who put around $3K into it, and I had to replace all the suspension parts (CV joints, bearings etc.) no biggie I do recall that the car was having very VERY minor troubles with idleing at 1000 RPM roughly, so I just turned the idle up. From then on the car started to have idle fluxuation, only + or - 200 RPM. A shop said I had a vacuume leak, and they turned the idle to 2000 RPM, and it started to idle from 1500-2200 RPM. It failed DEQ/Inspection, so I had the carb. rebuilt professionally, the car passed DEQ, but ran rough at around 1000 RPM. And slowly the fluxuation of the Idle became bigger. The Idle Is susposed to be set between around 1200, and it idles between 0-2100 RPM, the car dies whenever it feels like. At start up, I have to pump the gas fast because It seems to flood itself at startup, but after a small noise, the idle goes up, but I have to keep giving it gas... When Accelatating from 2800-3400 RPM, the car has massive hesitation problems, giving it more gas helps, but takes a while to kick in. Very strangly, when going around right hand turns, the car never idles, I have to leave the car in gear. Left turns, the idle seems to go up... ? The exhaust gives of a smell of burning when the car is having idle troubles. The cooling system is NOT leaking, although the coolant needs replacment. Distributor is new as of 20,000 miles ago, one shop says it needs replacment again Any suggestions? This problem blew a large hole in the muffler, sounds nice, but will fail the DEQ for me again...If this is an easy fix, this car would def. give another 222,000 miles... Thanks

I have my beloved 1981 Subaru that I bought for $5, yes $5 that had 209,000 miles and a new everything except for some suspension pieces. After those were replaced, it failed DEQ/Smog/inspection due to a overflowing carburator. That was professionally rebuilt. It now has major issues, they have been getting worse, and I believe some of the exsisted before the carb rebuilt. At around 2500 RPM, there is major accelatation hesitation, and I give it more gas to make it keep going. In cold mornings, the car seems to flood itself, as I have to pulse the gas to keep it alive. And large amounts of gray smoke that doesnt smell like oil comes out. The Idle is searching for a home. Sometimes it doesnt idle, sometimes its around 2000 rpm. When traveling around right hand turns, the car will die when not in gear. The distributor is around 30,000 miles old, and one shop said both the carb, distributor needed to be replaced. Temperature seems to be an issue, as the car will get warm (even on cold days) but the fan keeps the car at good temperature. Exhaust smells like maybe coolant...no water in the oil etc. This problem blew a major hole in the muffler. Anyone have Ideas? I dont want to see this car go! Maybe EGR value, thermostat, choke settings, or wireing to the choke? Other electrical errors, the car does have a small history of blown fuses. Thanks!