Acceleration sluggish/pings when hot; FWD model
 

My car when engine is normal running temp (3:00 on temp guage), accelerates as if I put the cheapest regular unleaded gas in it! I always use name brand 93 octane, but it really struggles when accelerating up steep mountain highway grades. It's just like I had put cheap gas in it. It also does it on flat Florida roads, especially when AC is being used in hot summers, but even when off. Does anybody know a remedy? In mountains, should I downshift to 3rd or 2nd gear? Mine is a front-wheel drive '94 L. Service techs don't know, and I tried 90 octane too, no luck. Been happening for years and worried about mountains now.

Have you ever tried to pull the codes from it? it almost sounds like a bad knock sensor.


nipper

has regegular matanance been performed? fuel filter spark plugs ect...

Yes to the above, AFAIK. Early one I had the O2 sensors replaced, and it seems to behave that way again. Always have Subaru dealer service done, scheduled maint, and they said the computer says "nothings wrong." I tried 89 octane and it seemed better but then started again so I went back to 93 Shell V-power. But still not acceptable performance.

I take it that the car runs o.k. before the gauge gets to 3:00? Uh.. wild guess here... temperature sensor? Could also be bad fuel pressure regulator or a weak fuel pump.

Just because there aren't any codes in the computer doesn't mean there isn't anything wrong. It does mean you have some lazy techs working on your car though.

Pinging could be caused by a partially restricted EGR.