I've had a problem with some hesitation for a few months when accelerating, I bought a new fuel filter to see if that would help but haven't installed it yet. Today we got some rain/snow, colder temps than we've had for the last few weeks. Anyway, it started fine, I drove away, pulled onto the main street, it started to hesitate, then stalled out.

When I try to start it, it turns over, but kind of gives me a couple quick turns then long, slow turns...Not the typical dying battery sound or anything..

It's an '87 GL wagon, carbed. Any ideas? Could it be as easy as a finally clogged filter?

I'm going to try it again later today, but for now, it won't start.Thanks.

... When I try to start it, it turns over, but kind of gives me a couple quick turns then long, slow turns...Not the typical dying battery sound or anything ...

 

Check the Main Fussible Links, The ones on a Black Box, near the Battery... Maybe those are Loose / Rusted \ False Contact...

Alright, I'm about to go try it again, so I'll check that out. Thanks

Ok, so... It started up just fine. Drove as fine as it usually does..

I checked the fuse box. It goes, from top to bottom Black, Green, Red, Green, I think. The botton Green, closest to the battery didn't have a wire or anything..that's from an option I don't have on this car I'm guessing, not a missing link ( ), right? They looked ok otherwise.

It could have been the cold and moisture, but why? Plugs and wires are new.

It would suck if this started to be a recurring problem. Could the fuse links be the cause of stalling, or just the not starting part??

I cant tell you for sure on your starting problem, but I'd put another fusible link in that empty spot, who knows, it might help.

 

Either way, always good to have a spare

For the starting trouble I recommend you clean the battery contacts. If that doesn't fix things then you either have battery trouble, the solenoid contacts are bad, or the starter is going bad.

 

The hesitation may be due to the filter so replace that first. Then suspect the fuel pump if the filter doesn't fix things.

Alright,thanks. The new fuel filter's been sitting in the back seat for over a month, I figure I can probably get around to this weekend finally..

I have the exact same problem on my 1998 legacy 2.2 very frustrating I dont want to change ecerything under the hood! what was the cause of this? was it really fuel filter? i just bought that car and the filter looks new.

For the starting trouble I recommend you clean the battery contacts. If that doesn't fix things then you either have battery trouble, the solenoid contacts are bad, or the starter is going bad.

 

The hesitation may be due to the filter so replace that first. Then suspect the fuel pump if the filter doesn't fix things.

 

+1

 

It's rarer maybe because Subaru puts the starter up higher and isn't as subject to road debris/water/snow, but the connections at the starter/solenoid might be corroded even if the battery and it's connectors are pristine.

 

A friend of mine in the past had a old ford courier pu that always ran like crap, and stranded him once, and all I did was clean up the contacts beyond the battery going to the solenoid and starter motor and it started right up.

 

Also since you mention it being cold and wet, did the car sit for any length of time? Even a week or 2 of sitting can affect a battery if the temperature changes considerably.

mine was doing it also and it was the fusable links I cannot remember which one I just ttok them out and jambed them back in and it works fine for a while and then we have issues again.. Mine also has the shift up light come on and off whenever I have this problem. we replaced the fuel pump all fileters and worked on the carb for hours before we found the problem

check to make sure your choke is closing/opening as it should, before you start it, floor it once to set the choke closed, start it, and once it warms up it should open all the way. If it doesn't open all the way, it will cause studders and such. also change that fuel filter