Suburu spasms when lugging

[brian_miller]

I have a 1999 Suburu Legacy, standard transmission, with about 130K
miles. It has been a very good car. But lately, when the engine starts
to lug, it goes berserk. Instead of the gentle lurching I've
experienced with every car I have owned, it lurches wildly at the onset
of lugging. It did not do this until recently. Has anyone experienced
this behavior. Better yet, does anyone know how to fix it?

 

[Edward Hayes]

Start with a good tune-up and if it does not help come back to us.
Spark plugs new, check ignition wires, air filter, gas filter,
charging voltage etc.

 

[dnoyeB]

I have a 1999 Suburu Legacy, standard transmission, with about 130K
miles. It has been a very good car. But lately, when the engine starts
to lug, it goes berserk. Instead of the gentle lurching I've
experienced with every car I have owned, it lurches wildly at the onset
of lugging. It did not do this until recently. Has anyone experienced
this behavior. Better yet, does anyone know how to fix it?

Sounds like its underpowered for the load. Could be due to a too heavy
load, or an out of tune powertrain.

--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

 

[Ragnar]

I have a 1999 Suburu Legacy, standard transmission, with about 130K
miles. It has been a very good car. But lately, when the engine starts
to lug, it goes berserk. Instead of the gentle lurching I've
experienced with every car I have owned, it lurches wildly at the onset
of lugging. It did not do this until recently. Has anyone experienced
this behavior. Better yet, does anyone know how to fix it?

I suggest stop lugging the engine.

 

[BD]

Not my words, but this seems pretty much to the point:

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Lugging an engine means putting the engine under an extremely stressful
load. Lugging causes extreme stress between the rear thrust faces of
each piston and the cylinder walls. Small bits of piston skirt can
break away causing the rear surface to scuff. The best prevention for
lugging an engine (either old or new) is to downshift to a lower gear
where the engine runs more freely, and the transmission assists the
engine in delivering peak power to the rear wheel.

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