I have a 92 DL wagon and occasionally when i accelerate,.. the engine stalls and shudders, usually when under load like going up a hill (but other times the engine runs beautifully, even under load) but it dosent happen when the engine is unloaded. this condition usually only lasts for a couple of minutes

 

Please help

1)92 subaru what wagon

2) Fuel filter

ignition components. plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. good, cheap maintenance that solves many driveability issues and helps performance/gas mileage. i'd start there and get back to us after that. check for spark - if it's weak you can usually tell with a visual spark check. check each wire. or pull the plugs and see how they look. personally i replace the all the ignition components quite often.

 

sometimes this problem could be timing belt related too. under load the timing tensioner could not be holding properly and artificially *changing* your timing when under higher loaded. this probably isn't the case, i'd start with easier things first. but if you pull the timing covers you might be able to check the tensioners and belt condition.

1)... Fuel filter

My first vote goes to fuel filter, also. Followed very closely by the maintenance items that grossgary mentioned.

yeah, start cheap and easy - fuel filter.

 

how's the air filter?

Thanks guys

 

I wont be able to get a new filter until next week

 

just out of curiousity,. it couldn't be choke or throttle valve related could it because it is only intemittent, as in in may go a few weeks without happening but sometimes happens a few times in a row

.,. it couldn't be choke or throttle valve related could it because it is only intemittent, as in in may go a few weeks without happening but sometimes happens a few times in a row

Hard to tell without more info on vehicle, as calebz requested. Does your car even have a carburetor, or is it fuel injected?

 

Possible problems are dependent on car specifications. And I assume that you are in Australia, so your vehicle may not be the same as cars imported to USA; specs are even more important then.

I have an Aussie 92 Dl wagon EA82 OHC naturally aspirated

I have an Aussie 92 Dl wagon EA82 OHC naturally aspirated

...Just a little more info, please: Carbureted, SPFI, MPFI?

 

Thanks!

yeah what Northwet said and might check your timing it might be off and that is one of the cheapest things you can do if you already have access to a timing light

yah

 

its carbed

 

U mentioned timing and it made me think... could i have an advance prob cos it is only intermittent and usually happens when under load

yah

 

its carbed

 

U mentioned timing and it made me think... could i have an advance prob cos it is only intermittent and usually happens when under load

Thanks for the info.

 

I doubt if it is improperly set timing. I would lean more towards something in ignition going bad under load. (Assuming it turns out not to be the fuel filter.) Marginal spark plugs/wires, distributor cap/rotor and/or coil.

 

I am not sure about Subarus, but on my Datsun when the ignition is misfiring the electric tachometer goes crazy (getting signal directly off coil line, it shows high/low primary current variations).

 

Does your tachometer (assuming AU DL's have a tach? :-\ ) behave differently when problem occurs?

could it also be the diaphram in the vac advance unit on the disty?

could it also be the diaphram in the vac advance unit on the disty?

If its only during WOT (or at least high load), I wouldn't expect vac advance unless linkage is binding. Ruptured diaphram should give low-end probs.

I shall explain the exact nature of the power loss

 

When accelerating or climbing a hill,.. occasionally (sometimes only once a day, sometimes several, sometimes not at all) the engine will shudder & stall, like die comlpetly for a few seconds then pick up then do it again. When it stalls, it deaccelerates quicker than just removing my foot from the acclerator, as if it is killed comlpetly.

This condition usualy lasts for less than 10 seconds but sometimes the car will be sluggish for a few minutes afterwards.

Thanks guys

Replace the coil. Trust me on this one.

I had the same situation on my 88GL turbo 4wd wagon

just before the timming belt broke and left me stuck. It turns

out the tensioner froze up and that tore the teeth off the

belt. If the easy stuff does not fix it I would suggest

checking the T-belt and associated parts so you do not get stuck somewhere.

 

-Brett

Replace the coil. Trust me on this one.

Trust him; I would. If it is a complete power cut, not likely fuel on a carb'd car. Coil heating up under load causing a fault, takes some time to cool back down.

Its a cheap part to replace (just dont buy an Accel), and will certainly improve runability. If it still acts up then the disty is going, but this usually goes out completely-not off and on.

 

Thanks NW

If it is any help,... the problem worsens for if i accelerate realy heavily, like pedal to the floor. I noticed this when it started to happen so i flattened her out in second gear and it accelerated normally for about 3 seconds then the problem set in realy bad, like realy BAD!!! It seemed to fire for a second, stall for a second about 8 times in a row then would start to improve if i eased off the accelerator. Hope this is of any help

I think i have fixed the Problem, Fuel Filter.

 

Im still thinkin of changin my coil for a performance boost though

 

Thanks to all you guys who added your 2 cents, its great to know there is somewhere i can ask questions about ONE OF THE BEST cars ever made:grin: