I have an 86 GL Wagon EA82 with Weber carb, and I have a few questions I am hoping someone can help me with.

 

My ECS light comes on after about 8 miles of driving and the code I get is 24.

 

24 - Vacuum switches stay on or off (1983 only)/coolant temperature sensor or circuit, or Idle-up solenoid or circuit (1984 to 1988 carbureted)

http://www.troublecodes.net/Subaru/

 

I know the problem is not the temp sensor as my temp gauge works just fine and I replaced the temp sensor yesterday but this code still comes up. I believe the issue to be related a solenoid. There is a group of solenoids on the driver's side of the engine near the distributor. The solenoid that connects to the distributor makes a loud "ticking," sound. When I unplug it the ticking goes away. Is this the solenoid that works the timing advance? Where is the idle-up solenoid? If I need to replace it, where can I buy this solenoid? In the pic below I am referring to the bottom solenoid connected to the distributor vacuum advance lines:

 

 

As a side note, I also noticed that the vacuum advance on my Weber carb is capped off. On an EA82, should the vacuum advance on the Weber be connected to anything or just capped off? Note that there is a vacuum plug at the base of the Weber:

 

 

 

Also, months back I removed all of the solenoids off of the passenger side of the engine since they don't connect to anything anymore:

 

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

~Bobby

Edited April 1, 200917 yr by bobs97c5

there are 2 temp sensors, one is a single wire, for the gauge only.

 

There is a 2 wire one for the ECS

 

Although, if you have a Weber on there, you might as well just yank that Computer out of there. It only was there to controll the *feedback* operation of the Hitachi.

 

You don't need it.

there are 2 temp sensors, one is a single wire, for the gauge only.

 

There is a 2 wire one for the ECS

 

Although, if you have a Weber on there, you might as well just yank that Computer out of there. It only was there to controll the *feedback* operation of the Hitachi.

 

You don't need it.

 

I just replaced the two prong temp sensor as you can see in the last picture. As for the sensor used for the temp gauge, I don't know where to find that one. I could only find one temp sensor. When I went to NAPA they also said there was a one prong temp sensor for the temp gauge, but still I don't see that anywhere on my EA82.

You've got a computer there doing nothing, you know htat right?

 

I believe you can just remove it, and the above metioned solenoids. you're disty has 2 vac advances, the one the solenoid goes to is the sub advance. you can just leave it off, and the main advance will operate off vacuum.

Edited April 2, 200917 yr by Gloyale

Okay, so it sounds like rather than dealing with the ECS code I should just unplug my ECU and call it good.

Okay, so it sounds like rather than dealing with the ECS code I should just unplug my ECU and call it good.

 

The ECU isn't doing anything with all the duty solenoids, pressure sensors and such all gone.

 

It was on;y there to control fuel ratio, and that is all done by you're Electro-free weber now.

 

There just isn't a point trying to fix it. 75% of the system is gone, it can't be *fixed* in that state.

So I only need to leave one of the vacuum advance lines hooked up for the disty? Which one? Can I get rid of the 3 solenoids pictured above or are they actually doing anything at this point? Thanks!