Recently purchased an '85 Subaru GL 2wd. There seem to be a few problems with the engine revs, namely:

 

1) On startup, I have to pump the gas to keep it from dying (if I don't, it will die every time on the first key turn but start ok on the second) and usually rev it at ~3K rpm for 1-2 minutes before I can drive. I know it's an old car but. . .

 

2) The idle seems high, although the previous owner may have just cranked it up due to the problem above. . .

 

3) I can be cruising the freeway in 5th gear and the revs will jump from 3K to 4.5K and stay that way for awhile, then jump back to 3K. I've seen it do it in other gears as well in other ranges (3-3.5K, then back, etc.)

 

Any thoughts? I checked the vaccuum lines and I know there are some minor problems there (i.e. - one of them has a golf tee plugging it) but I haven't been able to figure out where it should go yet from my Chilton's manual.

 

Thanks.

Recently purchased an '85 Subaru GL 2wd. There seem to be a few problems with the engine revs, namely:

 

1) On startup, I have to pump the gas to keep it from dying (if I don't, it will die every time on the first key turn but start ok on the second) and usually rev it at ~3K rpm for 1-2 minutes before I can drive. I know it's an old car but. . .

Are you pumping it before you try starting it? You need to pump it a couple of times to set the choke. If that dosen't help, the choke maybe out of adjustment or there there might be another problem.

 

2) The idle seems high, although the previous owner may have just cranked it up due to the problem above. . .

It should idle somewhere between 700 and 900 when warm

 

3) I can be cruising the freeway in 5th gear and the revs will jump from 3K to 4.5K and stay that way for awhile, then jump back to 3K. I've seen it do it in other gears as well in other ranges (3-3.5K, then back, etc.)

hmm, could be a tach malfunction, could be a slipping clutch

I would take some carb cleaner and clean it out real well. the inside and the outside. Then take some wd-40 and spray the linkage on the outside. It sounds like the throttle linkage is gummed up and sticking. Itcould also be a vaccume leak. You may want to replace all of the vaccume hoses anyway, 1 at a time so you know where they go.