I'm really new here but everyone here seems to really know their cars so I figured I'd get the best answer here.

I have a 96 subaru legacy L, I bought it two years ago and it was a lemon but have since attempted to fix it back up. Everything currently seems to run good except for bad alignment but with the potholes here there's nothing you can do.

Except, I cannot climb hills with much power. I had this problem before about a month or two ago and it was worse, I'd climb a hill and apply gas (Automatic) I wouldn't go anywhere fast, I'd be lucky to go past 30-40mph. If I would apply more gas the car would attempt to go faster but wouldn't and then the check engine light would blink and the car would die completely but turn back on after I shut it off for a minute.

Since that time there was an incident where my car was overheating, the water pump had a leak in it. I got that fixed, did the whole oil change/flush deal and now I can climb hills with more power and the check engine doesn't blink but you can tell the car is struggling to make it up the hill. It has good power any other time except for the hills. And I am at a loss at what is wrong.

Since feb a lot has been replaced on the car, Catalytic converters, crank shaft, new computer, new ignition coil pack, has had a couple tune-ups, completely re-did the electrical/wiring and more to the tune of 8k, on a car I paid 4k for.

I really want to start fixing this car up more but if I cannot get past this problem I cannot start anything else. So anyone have any idea what could be the problem?

 

does the engine rev up but the car doesnt move any more? may need a new torque converter

 

On occasion the engine will rev and it just keeps crawling. Most times though the gas pedal will become so stiff that I cannot even push for more power.

I'm not sure if it's a connected issue or not but the first mechanic that looked at my car was trying to blame all my issues on a crack on the top of an Air Intake manifold but after 2 other subaru dealers they never considered it a problem..

 

you have a hole in your intake manifold? problem solved.

 

It's not a hole, they say it's a thin hair line crack over the top of it, has been that way for 2 years since I bought it and has always been covered in tape. The problem with the hills has only started within the past few months.