I have an 1983 ea81 wagon. I daily drive it to work, but it has now broke down on me 2 different times at the same spot. Stuck in traffic up a steep hill and car dies when I let off clutch and won't restart. Both times I backed down hill to flat spot to get out of traffic and it still wont start for 3-5min and then eventually it will. I can hear that its trying to turn over but its almost as if its not getting fuel. I don't know to much about carbs, but is it possible that its getting flooded when I'm on a steep incline?

My first guess would be starving for fuel.   T in a pressure gauge so you can see what is going on.

Thanks for quick response. I'll have to pick up a pressure gauge later today. Where should I put it? Between fuel filter and motor? So your thinking that the fuel pump might be bad? What do you think about the part that it mostly happens on inclines?

There is a second small fuel filter back under the car by the gas tank. Have you changed it yet?

No I haven't. Car finally proved it needed to be looked at so today is my first opportunity to start looking at it. Is this it?

Put the gauge between any online filter and the carb.

This is to verify fuel pressure. 

If it turns out to drop too low when the problem occurs,  now you have a clue for troubleshooting.

Possible causes...  fuel pump, filter/s tank pickup, crud in the tank.

More likely flooded than starved.

You dont need a gauge to determine which.Just look at the fuel level in the carb sight glass.

It should be in the middle,yours is probably too high.

It is a little hard to see.Might need a mirror.Helps to bounce the car.

Next time it quits,try to start w/the throttle on the floor.If it starts more quickly,plugs were flooded/fouled.

I went by autozone, they didn't have any fuel filters and said they couldn't even order any . So i guess I gotta look elsewhere.

@DaveT I did loan out a fuel pressure gauge. See picture to make sure I did it right. Its connected between the indash fuel filter and the carb. With key in ON position, it increases from 0 to ~3-4 psi. Turning car on, it stays the same, whether idling or revved up high. I used a steep hill to try to recreate the problem and but was able to start up hill fine. Always tough to recreate an intermitent problem. But even over 4k RPM starting up hill psi stays at 3-4. Goes back down to zero when I cut motor off. I've attached some pictures to show how I had fuel guage set up, since I've not done it before to make sure I'm not doing it wrong. 3-4 psi seems pretty low to me.

@naru2 I couldn't see the carb sight glass, but I've not spent too much time messing with carbs so not sure exactly what to look for.

Edited December 5, 20187 yr by joe5
include related figures

3-4 lbs is perfect for carb'd ea81.     Find the sight glass on the carb and see what level it is at.  Pull the rear fuel filter and take it to parts store and get something similar (same fitting size).

Rockauto has a Fram G4167 that looks correct.  Check for the same # at autoparts store.

Looks good, sounds normal for psi.  Carbs don't use high pressure. 

I remeber my older Subarus had a sight glass, but I no longer remember which side it was on.  Obviously,  the bowel side where the float is.  Should be close to the fuel line goes in.

Driver’s side over there. Get down low to be able to see it. Have a torch or phone torch on hand to help out. 

There is a dot in the middle of the sight glass where the fuel level should be. 

Cheers 

Bennie

Subaru still has the filters.

Rip off that Hitachi junk and install a Weber. That will solve your problem.  Or bring it to my shop and I'll do it for you. 

GD

Edited December 7, 20187 yr by GeneralDisorder

I am trying to recall where the jets are in the bottom of the fuel float bowl on these hitachi carbs. If they are rear ward of the chamber and you are facing uphill AND you have junk in the float bowl the fuel suck can draw the crap towards the jets and block them but not usually at idle. Sounds like a good offer from GD