rayban1

My wifes 86 gl Hatch is having a hard time starting. Not the battery and clutch works fine once car is running. Wondering if there is a switch or adjustment that let the car start once the clutch pedal is pushed in. Problem just started and is getting harder to start, have to pump clutch sometimes for it to start. Any ideas? thanks Ray...............

thanks GD, thought I was missing a step . Rayban1

Hey does anyone know if there is a trick to get the tail light lense off a 86 gl hatchback. Took out the two screws, still fills tight, don't know if I should just pull it off. Wondering if I am missing a step . Thanks Rayban1.........

thanks for the replies, never knew it had the hill holder. Always thought it looked like one was there. Have to look into trying to get it to work. Love the one on my brat..

Her hatch does not have a hill holder. But that's what I am thinking some o ring somewhere....

Hi, my wifes 86 hatch is leaking brake fluid. Light came on. Added more fluid. Can't tell where it coming from? It's not the master cyl, but seems to be the part below the master cyl where the brake lines tie in. any ideas

I have a cousin in ft worth. Hey would you be interested in selling the roll bar that came with your brat. let me know........thanks ray I have a 86 brat.......

GD, thanks for the quick and easy fix. No more exhaust smell.. a quarter was was the perfect price. Thanks again Ray in Seattle.......

thanks GD, blocking sounds like the way to go, I'll let you know how it goes. Ray in Seattle......

the rear window slider seal is good, has anyone else changed a air injection sytem valve or blocked it off, GD what repair manual are you talking about. I have a chiltons. Any tips how to do this....

Thanks JD and Tom for the replies, I will try the air injection sytem valve. Hope this is it. My tail pipe has a nice crome tip so it sticks out far enough from the bed. ......

Hi, my brat has a bad exhaust smell in the cab, I have no oil leaks and no oil on exhaust pipe. Had exhaust replaced new cats and pipe and muffler. Still smells. Especially bad when defrost or heater is used and when brat is first started. After it warms up seems to get a little better but usually have to have window cracked. Any ideas or similiar situations. Does not seem to have exhaust leak, but think it getting in cab from engine compartment threw firewall. Thanks Ray.......

I have a 1986 brat. When I go up a hill or incline on the road the motor starts to cut out. When I am on flat ground, the engine revs up fine. I have changed both fuel filters, they were rusty but look good now, and still does it. The fuel pump clicks and is sort of noisy. Wondering if it might be the fuel pump going out . Any ideas, thanks...........

Here we go again , it's the right tie rod end making the squeeking noise. Should I replace the jus the ends or the whole rod?

Your right it not the ball joint it's the lower control arm. The bushing seal is flat . Squeeks when you turn left . Are these hard to get off?

My 86 brat is squeeking from the right front ball joint. Getting ready to change, any info on best place to buy , Napa or online and any tricks to doing it. Should I replace both sides at same time? Thanks

Try Andy's auto repair on 80th and Aurora in Seattle. He does great work and is a Subaru guru......

I have a 86 brat, the volt meter, gas guage, oil pressure, work and don't work, same with the tach, but that is working now. Also the 4wd light on the panel does not light up. Any ideas where to check? The gas gauge goes to full , then drops to about 1/2 when tank is full. The volt meter reads 8 to 9 volts , when the battery is at 12. oil pressure is all over the place.

Yes, it was the front main seal, easy fix, my brat leaks no oil now. Thanks.......

My 86 brat has a oil leak from the top of the oil pump, I changed the gasket and it still leaked, I then changed the o rings in the oil pump and changed the gasket again and it still leaks. I thought it was fixed but after about 10 minutes it started leaking again. I was thinking maybe it has a crack in the block. It leaks right above the oil pump and runs down the left side not the right. Was thinking it might of a stress crack from over tightning of the top left bolt. Thought of appling some jb weld to the block, Thanks.....

Hey, have a oil leak from my oil pump, . Replaced oil pump gasket and o rings in oil pump. But it still leaks. The leak seems to be coming from the top of oil pump. It strarts leaking after engine warms up and reaches a certain temp, then it just starts flowing. Theres a bolt that just above the oil pump, I think it's the bolt that you remove split the engine, I don't think it leaking from there and I tighted it to make sure. Wondering if I should buy another gasket and try again or , just by a new oil pump and try again. I replaced O rings with O rings as close as I could, as the Napa store said they did not have O ring kit. Also used high temp gasket sealent. Should I put gasket sealent on both sides of gasket oil pump side and engine side. Thanks Ray in Seattle....

Hey, I have a 1986 brat , that came with jump seats installed by the previous owner. They are connected by u-bolts that he installed. Looks like he drilled the holes where the u bolts go. Was wondering how they were installed by the factory and if I should have them welded in . Also have some head rest , that I want to install but, there is no brackets on the 1986 BRAT for the headrest, any ideas how to make brackets. Also what are the two silver arms that mount behind the rear windshield for, thought they were for the head rest , but they do not line up. thanks Ray in Seattle.......

thanks , i will replace all O rings....

just got the gasket, thanks will replace o rings also.

There's one in Fremont, on Fremont St in Seattle and also one on aurora and 85th. What year subaru and model. If you need a great Subaru Mechanic go see Andy at the corner of 80th and Aurora. He worked on my wifes 86 gl and know's them in and out..........