Okay, so you know I have a 1976 DL sitting in pieces. Well, with a baby daughter on the way (rah!) I needed to fast-track the historic project and get it out of the front yard. So I ran out and picked up a 1978 DL being sold out of Sequim (you may know the one I'm talking about) since it was already running. It's sporting an EA71 IIRC.

 

Anyhow, picked it up. Ran great. Took the ferry across to Edmonds, started and stopped the car several times. Each time it fired up without a single hesitation.

 

Then, I hit 405. Troddling along I didn't realize I was going over 60 (didn't even know it *could* go over 60) by a smidge. And, after what was several miles at this pace I realized that the engine was starting to loose power and there was a small amount of metallic clanking noises when i added throttle (piston slap?). When i let off, it went away. About a minute later it lost power completely and I rolled to the side of the road with lots of steam coming from the engine. No signs of cracked headgaskets, and the exhaust was clean before the issue.

 

There is no temp gauge so I couldn't be certain that was, indeed, overheating. Though i expect that was the case. Went back with another vehicle (three hours later) and attempted to both compression start and jump start. The starter cranks the motor, but there's clearly not even the slightest indication it wants to fire. Pulled the plugs and they were drenched with fuel. I didn't check for spark. Should have, but forgot at the time (it's been a long time since I had to trouble-shoot carbed car).

 

Things I noticed when i tried to start it the second time:

 

radiator was practically empty when i came back. I filled it.

 

There's some liquid dripping on the passenger side of the engine, over the back piston. I think it's radiator fluid, but not certain. Not sure if its relevant, but that's what I see.

 

Car started and drove very stong for 60 miles before this. Did I push the car too far and break something in the process? Think something broken from the get-go and it finally gave way?

 

Thoughts? Comments?

 

Oh, and where the HECK is the hazard signal switch? Somehow I managed to turn it on and cannot find it again for the life of me. Had to pull the fuse so it would stop draining the battery. Had two other people look and they can't find it either.

 

I see it now, "How to trouble-shoot your early-model subaru when stranded on the side of the road" -- might make a good tech feature for those less experience with these little beasts (like me!)

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Ryan Douthit

Subiesport Magazine

http://www.subiesport.com

Head gasket.I am pretty sure.

posted in wrong forum, mods please delete

Did you check the oil for coolant contamination? Sounds like a classic headgasket failure to me. Started to overheat, and that was the "pinging" noise that you described as slightly metallic. It will go away when you let off the gas since there is nothing to burn.

 

Other option would be a broken rod - but since it turns over without any noise I would think that unlikely.

 

GD

Did you check the air cleaner box/filter for oil? Could be that you sucked a lot of oil into the cleaner box (as a possibly secondary problem to overheating or jsut from blowby from runnign fast), soaked the air filter and restricted air passage through the filter, causing fuel mixture to go way rich.

Did you check the air cleaner box/filter for oil? Could be that you sucked a lot of oil into the cleaner box (as a possibly secondary problem to overheating or jsut from blowby from runnign fast), soaked the air filter and restricted air passage through the filter, causing fuel mixture to go way rich.

 

Yeah, checked that. Filter looked fine.

posted in wrong forum, mods please delete

I don't believe that it should've been deleted as you suggested. Merely moved(EDIT: I thought he posted in the new gen), as the mods did.

 

As for the problem...I'd start with a compression tester. This will tell you a lot about the engine and will help you diagnose the problem, as you probably know. Good compression? Check spark good spark, check for air. Simple engines require simple diagnostics.

For that matter - EA71's came in both gens.... and being that his problems isn't really EA71 specific it's probably actually better here where all us EA81 types will see the post. But I'm splitting hairs...

 

GD

Just wanting it where it will get the most valueable feedback. I guess I'll have to pick up a compression tester, er something. Any specific types or models recommended? (I havent actually *worked* on a car since.. oh, 1991?)

Harbor Freight sells some for like $10. That's what I would get if I didn't plan to use it much. Works just as well as any other. Just don't drop them - the solder joints inside the guage are weak.

 

GD

Ryan... I have a compression tester from Schucks. Its a nice little unit, I spent about $30 on it, which at the time was WAY too much. However, over the last year or so, i've needed it quite a bit.

 

Let me know if you want to borrow it.