FinnDave

Hi,

Just signed up as I found the site while looking for an answer to a problem my car is experiencing. The vehicle is a '96 model 1.6 LX Impreza, I have had it for 6½ years now, always been a very reliable car, has full service history and has been well-treated. Total mileage is just over 200 000 km.

In the last 2 or 3 weeks, it has become unhappy to run at less than half throttle, with the engine cutting in and out below that, not fun on the snow and ice I have to drive on here in Finland. The usual suspects (water/ice in the petrol) have been checked for and treated, no change. The engine runs fine when cold, but after a few km starts to play up. The cuts are quite violent, the only way I can drive is to accelerate in a high-ish gear (to avoid slipping on the ice) and then de-clutch and coast for a while, then repeat. Not the ideal way to drive!

My local dealer is a little baffled, they propose removing the tank and checking it this week, but they seem unsure of the cause.

Has anyone experienced this before, and what was the cure?

Thanks,
Dave in Finland