Indrid cold

O.K., this is what I have found out now that I am home. Starts up fine... idels at a nice easy speed, about 1,100 rpm...I believe. I put my foot on the accelerator and it shutters and wants to die... I have to kind of tap the accelerator and build the speed up so not running very good once I try to accelerate. EA-81 motor, Carberated (non-Turbo) all original. I took dist. off, cleaned (very dirty) it and rotor, pulled two plugs, looked good, wires old and all & should be replaced but later on that. Shot carb cleaner down carb, It is running smoother but still when ever I push on the accelerator....it shudders and wants to die.. so problem still exists. Your thoughts..

Hi Guys, (See up date below as this first post was via son on phone) My son is having problems with his Idle on his 84, Carberated Brat. He says if he can get it to 3rd it will run fine but when he slows to a stop it will shudder and die also very rough running in 2nd with no power. It has been running fine, just all of a sudden this happened. I will look at it tonight but always like giving you guys a shot at it first so when I get home from work it will give me a map so too speak of things to check. Thanks in advance and will give update later tonight.

Free.. how would that be. Alas, Maybe one day the Subaru Gods would smile upon me and do the same for me! Guy in our area wanted $400 for something like that with thunking in engine... reality finaly settled in when no one bought it... so I told him I would keep it from going to the compactor but that is all... so looking at possibly $50. if he delivers it... short of this is....NICE SCORE FOR YOU!!!

I think that is the problem. I shot everything down with W-D and drove it around for an hour and couldn't make it do it again so I think that is all it was. I let my son in on your recommendation next time. Thanks for the reply.

Hey, my son called up that when he stops at a light his idle begins to climb, and climb and up over 2,000 rpm plus as he describes. It was idling fine this morning. What would I begin too look at? 1984, Subaru Brat. Non-Turbo, Carberated 1800. 185,000 miles. He tried punching the gas pedel to step it down and that didn't help. Thanks in advance. Also: FYI: it is hot here, 90+ today

Hi legnjay, Welcome and see that you are from Walla Walla! Almost neighbors! I am in the same boat as you, just learning on these things. I currently have an 84 Brat and just got a 1988 wagon (200,000miles) over in Seattle as Sube's are hard to come by in this area... (that are in good condition) I wanted one for me as Brat was for my son. this is what I have learned so far.. don't be scared of the amount of miles on the car or engine... means nothing to these cars... (bullet proof) has been used many times when discussing these cars, a good clean well maintained Subaru (no wires dangling down, rust, beat up etc... ) has value too those who love a cheap, dependable car that a person can still work on, or like us learn to work on and important most mechanics don't ever work on these engines of this era and or they know they can get a car for $100, $100 parts and have good running cheap car. If you like your car, what more harm can you do then to learn from the posts how to fix it? I have been buying parts on e-bay and on parts page, got two repair manuals off ebay and putter on the car learning how it works and keeping it rolling, actually in the year I have owned it I have done very little, that's why I got me one, dependable things. I did have to find a new engine for the Wagon. In our neck of the woods there is a die hard Subaru guy in Prosser, think web name is (SubaruR-us) or something like that, got his number here somewhere... he know's these things in and out, I am too knew to be of much good to you. These guys on this group are excellent for info.... and if you didn't catch it there is a Subaru gathering in Shelton WA, the weekend of July 15th. Enjoy.

so strange... me too! I have had my 84 Brat for 1 year and hoping in 2 months to tear front apart, replace tie rods, ball joints etc... hoping to fix problem.. My Brat will track, I will turn corner and then it will pull hard right... no popping, all is tight? like it just waunders around? I do have bearings I think making noise on right side but that is new and it has been pulling like I said since I got it a year ago. No vibration and now new tires....seems to run balanced. No idea...

Interesting article on bearings... good info

Also: how much grease should be packed in the area... between spacer etc... load it up, a bit or just to cover the bearings is good? When I did mine I kind of added extra figuring the extra grease isn't going to hurt anything so a little is fine, more has got to be better right?

good thought on that.... don't tell my wife as she rolls her eyes everytime I talk about getting the wagon. I think I got a full size truck and trailer available... now the sales pitch that I will take that poor old Subaru off there hands .... I won't have to worry about breaking a perfectly good broken vehicle!

Have to dive into this topic... I am in the same boat...er...Subaru, noob to this and love my brat, now I want a total re-doer and I found a station wagon that I will offer the guy $25. It has been rolled, proprlem with carb, heater broke etc.. etc.. problem is it is 200 miles away...soooo working on that. I am needing a Subaru fix, something to tear into so I can get it running then dive into the Brat. This web site is great and has been helpfull with my brat so I figure why not get another!

Thanks for the extra info. I need to hear about those basic things so appreciate the little extras. I found a couple of older Subarus in front of peoples homes as I was driving by and left them notes if interested in selling.... I want another Sube My son can have the Brat and I want me one! A year ago I drove to and from work, passing an older Brat sitting in a field with weeds and goats... didn't realized what I was missing! Someone came and got it this spring... gone.

I did that exact repair about 3 months ago. (bearings and axel-our first Subaru repair together....ahhh those father and son times) Dad... don't break my brat!.. any way, could only afford one side as your right, bearings, seals etc.. about $45. each side. Sounds just like my sons car was making, I thought it was the C.V. joint, got new axel, took off hub and half the bearings were gone... chewed up.. replaced bearings with new axel and doing great. If there was any damage too bearing you probably would have seen some metal filings in the grease?.. so if you saw none then possibly bearings o.k., I did notice on my sons Brat the Inside front break ram didn't return all the way, so the outside break looks great, inside is about wore out and big gouge in rotor,that makes a rubbing noise. (our next job.) Not sure if this helps as I am new to these. Oh, I also had to take it all apart again as the new-rebuilt axel they sold me was no good...., it clanked worse then the bearings.. so I replaced again and put it back together. 1st time, all day (first axel replacement I had done), 2nd time, 42 minutes and back on the road starting from when I pulled up into driveway with replacement axel. Loving the Brat.

YOU WIN!!!! As the kids are saying now, "LUCKY" Nice $250. car.

.............................. Thanks all for the warm welcomes! Not sure how too reply to posts so I am just going to try this out. Good info and probably yes to all the little leaks and the clutch pack replacement.... the stuff I have worked on the Brat it is not too bad.. tight but very forgiving! I replaced the clutch cable last month as it broke and not much adjustment left, leaks on engine, yes looks about in that area so may try your idea..I may have a project when it warms up! This is excellet starter info and thanks to all that replied!

Hi All, Wow, neat site didn't know it existed. I am posting for my son as he is busy doing nothing (teenagers).. I am sure this topic has been beat to death but please understand, first time posting, noob on the block! Any way, I bought this 84 Subaru brat last year for my 17 year old, it is all right shape but will be needing a new clutch, and it shifts a bit rough too, kind of grinds trying to put in reverse, engine drips oil and well... I may be looking for a rebuilt eng or tranny and curious how to come up with those? Any one in Pacific North West do anything with these Brats? I would like too keep it as original as possible, my son wanted to use this as a trash it/tear it up vehicle but I found that it is harder to find them and worth more working then in pieces, plus it is fun to drive! He will have to save some $ to get these but thought I would start finding contacts. Parts are hard to come by on the Eastern Side of Washinton State.. I buy most parts from E-Bay but no luck on these big items. Engine has 184 K, miles. Runs good, drips oil so probably last another 20 yrs.but? So I guess I am looking for a rebuilt EA-81 and tranny? It is a 84 Brat, 1.8 EA-81. Manual trans, 4 wheel drive. Been a great little car, cheap to run and runs all over for next to nill for him to run, exspecialy when dad is buying the gas and insurance! Lousy at navagating in these sites and sorry for no flashy stuff on screen, I will let my son take over as I logged him in and he can do all that! Sorry so wordy, Thx, Mike P.S., I paid $700. Been driving it a year, changed bearings in front left axel and new shaft. My son and I have bonded over, tinkered with, scratched our heads over this car.. but been worth every penney as he gets his hands dirty once in awhile and good experience for him!