The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

G'day,

I got a 84 touring wagon 1.8 4 speed. It's served me well but just gotta couple of questions I was hoping you guys help me out:

The engine was swapped with a recon ea 81 which has been great for over 12 months, specially after I got the original carby rebuilt by the carby shop on parramata rd near Concord inner west Sydney. They advised me against fitting the webber which I was quite keen on and rebuilding te original as its better on 4wding angles. Anyway it ran really well never missed a beat.

More recently though when it's cold it makes a terrible noise like grinding or a bad bearing noise? I go no idea what it is. Once it warms up after like 5 minutes with the choke on it runs great and noise is gone.

Also when I go home after work it seems to warm up quicker and the noise goes away then it runs great. What could this be??? I checked the oil and it's fine? Does this mean it's on it's last legs?

It starts fine 1st go everytime and with choke it never stalls. Actually it started first go after 4 weeks withou driving so I'm stuffed if I know what it could be.

I dont want to take it to the bloke down the servo and have them say oh we'll have to open it up to tell u what it is. I'm sure you guys on the forum will put me on the right track at least so I can at least try and have some clue before i take it in to the shop.


Another thing but it's minor just had a question about the back seat in a touring wagon, well i used to have a 83 wagon and i remember the back seats used to fold flat, but in the touring wagon doesnt seem this is possible just can lower the backrest but doesnt sit flat? cant find the mechanism to lift upthe bench bit and then fold the backrest down as it seems to be bolted in? am i mistaken? im sure on the 83 i used to lift up the bench first then lower the backpart.

Thanks for taking the time to read and thanks in advance to anyone with advice.

I'm just wondering if it's time to update from the 84, but I do like the shape and one day i'd love to do a full on resto. I read Australian classic cars and unique Cars and other Jap cars are getting reestoed but never seen an MY series restoed to original would be awesome.

Cheers

Have you checked the valve clearances? They could be it?

re back seat try to find the strap that has to release it so u can lift it up

Have you had a look under the bonnet when its making the noise ? Get a short piece of garden hose and put it to your ear and move the other end of the hose around in the engine bay and see were it gets loudest that will give you an idea if the noise is internal engine ,external such as pulleys ,gearbox etc .
Also is the noise apparent when the car is stationary or moving and does it change with engine revs or engine load or if it changes with it in gear or neutral with foot on or off the clutch?

Thanks for responses.

Mouse thanks for the tip will have a better listen. The noise is when the car is either stationary or moving, clutch in or out, s for engine revs well yes and no.

In order to get it started now that its cold in the morn, I pump the accelerator a few times turn the ignition on and pull choke straight away.

Not doing this will result in engine stall straight away and then might take me few goes and without choke need to keep revs up with accelerator othereise stalls at the normal rpm around 800-850rpm. Once it warms up sometimes 2 minutes it runs fine at 850 and no choke. So the

So yes the the noise is rpm related but rpms are high straight away because either choke is on on I'm pumping the gas.

I can pretty much drive away instantly as long as chokes on, but the noise is there. Even I realise this can't be good for it so I usually wait couple minutes till noise goes away.

Sometimes on start the digital rpm meter goes crazy like it shows 5000 rpm and alarm beeps. This is an incorrect reading and eventually she starts to settle down and the reading is accurate.

I'll have a good listen tommorow morn see if I can work out where its coming from, maybe just external like you said, maybe the aircon or power steer but they both been quite good so far no fluid loss and ac still runs cold, doubt its been serviced since the last 80s.

Cheers

I had a brumby that did exactly the same thing..i know the noise you mean its a deep down binding noise , sounds like its got an aluminium sound to it..kinda deep and hollow,i am a mechanic in one trade and i put it down to cam shaft/oil pump binding....it only ever happens on start up and does not last that long....just keep driving it and dont rev it to much when the noise is there..i used to turn it straight off and re-start the engine if i heard the noise and it usually did not return on the second start....cheers

Thanks Scobydoo, that's exactly the noise I mean, thats a damn good description. I'll try it tommorow see if it goes away on the 2nd start. I might get the oil pump replaced at the next service see if that does it, must be that as once it warms up it's all good. Cheers

If you love your MY touring wagon, don't upgrade, just go to the member's section and check out some of the subi boy's work... I'm sure you'll find a few done up MY's in there - and they're all blue!

Cheers

Bennie