EA81 backfiring

TheInterceptor · Post by **TheInterceptor** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:07 pm

This is really tickin me off, i had the carby rebuilt about 3000kms ago and now it left me stranded at the lights this arvo. It eventually started and got us home...took it very easy.
The car begins to jump, like its missing and then throttle response vanishes, engine basically dies (floods) then makes a gunshot like backfire. No burnouts, no crazy s..t, just happened out of nowhere going 60 with a full car.

I parked up for a few mins then went for a drive...doesnt seem to do it anymore. Gave it some shtick and still didnt do it. Only thing it did do was a very very small miss. The dizzy and leads were replaced 2000kms ago but spark plugs have not been replaced (could that be it?). Also i put in a lead replacement liquid when i fill up the tank, could it have not mixed, drank a whole lot of that then choked? But the miss?

What the hells the wrong with it, ive put so much money into it im beginning to think the kms have been rolled back. (apparently has 185xxx)
Any help is greatly appreciated. I dont want to sell it off

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:15 pm

What year model ea81 is it? Lead Replacement? Correct me if i am wrong but all EA81 i know of are unleaded?

Could be a few things, i would try the plugs first up for the whole of $20 they cost. Also maybe look at the fuel pump and wiring? Make sure the pump is getting a good 12 volts and has clean filters.

Post by **TOONGA** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:33 pm

if you own a car that was made for the Australian market before 1986, there is a 99% chance it was once run on leaded petrol.

with subaru EA81 engines it is as simple as looking at the rocker covers. if they are the subaru blue that the air cleaner is, the engine was made to run on super. if the rocker covers are black it was made to run on unleaded.

the problem you described sounds like either a blockage in the carby which was then blown free by "gunshot backfire" or an electrical fault which caused the fuel system to shut down.

check the idle solenoid ( on the carby) and or the fuel cut off solenoid (stops fuel pump unless the distributor is turning) depending on what year the car is it may not have have this.

I have found that fuel additives of any type can have a nasty habit of cleaning the fuel tank and pumping big lumps of gunk in to the filters.

TOONGA

TheInterceptor · Post by **TheInterceptor** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:21 pm

Thanks gents, rocker covers on mine are green though. As per sig mines an 83 MY wagon. Yeah it does sound like a blockage that was blown free, i just drove 45kms without a problem, it only hiccuped here n there but otherwise drove perfectly.
I might put in some 98 to help clear it out, if the problem hangs around ill change the plugs. Am planning on putting a Weber in in the coming months.

This is not good when this car is supposed to go on long road trips and treks...

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:49 pm

TheInterceptor wrote:Am planning on putting a Weber in in the coming months.

Would you mind please putting up a tutorial on how you do that?:eek: All the info I've found on how to do it wouldn't work with my car for one reason or another...

TheInterceptor · Post by **TheInterceptor** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:59 pm

Silverbullet wrote:Would you mind please putting up a tutorial on how you do that?:eek: All the info I've found on how to do it wouldn't work with my car for one reason or another...

If i have the time to do it myself yeah ill do a write up no worries

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:26 pm

It is easy as, just go find a redline performance parts adaptor or make one and match up the lines. Yes it will work and well worth the effort. Make sure you have the bigger of the two intakes to first.

Smash1911 · Post by **Smash1911** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:50 pm

Maybe you have a blockage of the fuel pick up in the tank? May also be the coil on it's way out.

coupe · Post by **coupe** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:33 pm

I ran my 82 leone coupe on unleaded for years with out any additives, i just retimed her and ran colder plugs. Never had a problem.
I miss the simplicity of those motors. They were almost indistructable.
Cheers Pete

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:29 pm

basics of unleaded OK to use without additives are the alloy head - all or most alloy heads use the hardened valve seats required for ULP as opposed to the leaded Super petrol phased out in recent years. NEVER heard anyone complain of car not running right on ULP in normal road use or carkin' it due to no super or lead supplement

TheInterceptor · Post by **TheInterceptor** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:14 pm

Well ill stick to my additive. There was a weber (for ea81) on ebay for bout 475, separate adapter plate for bout 90 odd, sounds fair?

I just filled up with 91 from the same place so will see if the car explodes again.
Been to work and back today (20kms) and it didnt misfire or anything, will probobly still get new plugs though.

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EA81 backfiring

EA81 backfiring

Unleaded