Anyone ever experienced the following problems with a 1.8, hitachi carbed EA-81?

 

Engine looses power going up a hill and only when the gas pedal is pressed beyond about 80% to the floor.

 

Engine idles fine, gets good mileage and has plenty of power on level ground. A subaru mechanic suggested the accelerator pump was shot, but I see a nice stream of gas shoot into the carb when I floor it and the car accelerates fine on level ground. I even tried very slowly pressing the gas to accelerate up a hill and when I get to ~80% full throttle engine hesitates badly. The instant I back off, the power returns. Is it the power circuit/2nd barrel on the Hitachi. I was also thinking bad/weak fuel pump. Car is an 88 4WD hatchback with 150K. I appreciate any suggestions.

 

Scott

You should check the fuel pressure as it very well could be a weak pump. If you have a throttle position sensor it could be bad at that spot on the pot.

When were the fuel filter(s) changed last? There is one in the engine bay and also one located near the tank and fuel pump. The rear one gets forgotten all the time.

 

Depending on the hill this could be normal. Is this a hill you've travelled before? Has it always done this or is it a new problem?

 

Note; there is not a TPS on an EA81 powered hatch.

Thanks for the replies. I ordered both filters and a fuel pump yesterday. Should be here on Tuesday. I think the current pump was original. The rear filter was replaced about 40K miles ago. Not sure about the front filter. It still has the one from when I got the car. I've put 50K on it. I finally found a source for it. All Subaru dealers and parts stores never had a part for the front filter until the one I found yesterday.

 

I've gone up the hills before without the problem. It just started a few days ago.

 

I betting on the fuel pump/filters. I hope that does it. I want to go play in the New England blizzard Wednesday.

 

Scott

Just out of curiosity--3AT or stick shift? My (carbed) Justy sometimes hesitates, but all our other Soobs are fine on hills, with the exception of my mom's EA81-powered 3AT GLF.

It's a 4-Speed.

 

Scott

3 CT guys who all own vintage Subarus!!!! The trifecta baby!!!!!

 

You guys haven't met yet....lucky for Scott hahaha just kiddin' Andrew.

 

Scotty,good talking to you tonight.Good to see you here too.Check the Meet/Greet Forum and get in on the Carlisle post.Let me/us know if we're all going together.

 

By now the snow HAS to be hitting Norwich.It's all powder amd FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!! Had a great time after I hung up.Damn near wasted an alloy on a curb shot...EEEEEEK!Not bad though.Hopefully I wake up and there's 4 tires holding air.

 

Talk to you soon.

Hey Paul. Got about 6" of snow. Fixed the hatch too. It was the fuel filters. Zooming up hills now.

 

Thanks to Foreign Auto Parts in Groton. I was looking for that front filter for a month. Those guys have everything.

 

Scott

Paul, if you need tires I have a brand-new set of 185s, mounted on steelies, that I'll trade for a crappy set. They only have about 200 miles on them, but I don't want to see them dry rot. (They're on my project turbo wagon.)

 

Scott, we've met through email. I missed the Vermont JY run a couple months ago that you and Paul went on...hopefully I'll make the next one. And I'm not quite as bad as he says I am...at least one other person was planning on coming to his Xmas party after I said I'd go.