Code 21 and 33 help

[subjfd]

Hi, I have a 93 Legacy L Wagon 4WD non turbo, and am getting code 21 and 33 by connecting the 2 black connectors underneath the steering column.

Now I am wondering if I am correct:

Code 21 = coolant temperature sensor so changing it should fix the issue right ? (as well as bad milleage).


Code 33 = Vehicule speed sensor....My odometer does not work.. Cable os ok though, as I changed it. However I thought my speed sensor was mechanical, not electronic...How can this be ?

Also, maybe I interpreted the codes wrong...Any help would be appreciated,

Cheers

JF

[Legacy777]

Do you have a blinking/steady check engine light?

The coolant temp sensor may be bad...it may not be bad. However if you have some miles on the car, it's probably not a bad idea to change the coolant temp sensor just because.

As for the speed sensor. Does your speedometer work?

The way the speedometer & speed sensor work is that the cable drives the speed sensor which is in the dash. I don't recall whether the speedometer is directly connected to the cable or if there is a stepper motor that drives the speedometer from the speed sensor signal.

If your speedometer works, but your odometer doesn't work, I'd think something is screwy/broken inside the combination meter.

[subjfd]

Neither my speedometer nor my odometer work.

As far as my coolant temp sensor, I have around 225000 km on the car. My temp gauge works though, and so does the fan. I thought the coolant temp sensor would prevent the gauge from working if it was defective.

[Legacy777]

You said you checked the cable, and it's good. Disconnect the cable from the transmission, stick the end in a drill, and see if you can get the speedo to register. Remember the ignition needs to be in the ON position.

If that works, the speedo gear inside the transmission is possibly broken. If the drill doesn't work, then the combination meter/speed sensor could be broken.

There are two sensors for the coolant temp. One for the gauge, and one for the ECU. Despite the gauge working, and even if the ECU sensor tests ok, it could not be optimal. There's been a lot of people that have had cold starting issues and so forth, and replacing the coolant temp sensor fixed them.

It's a $20 part from www.subarugenuineparts.com so if you're in doubt of it's condition, it's good to replace it.