Anther Duty-C question

[dac252]

I have been reading about the infamous duty-c solenoid and i have made the self diagnosis that this is my problem. The problem is the proof to back up my diagnosis. I first noticed it when the car shuddered at slow speeds. I also noticed it shifting VERY hard from 3rd to 4th gear (mainly) at higher RPM's. The questions i have are these:

1. I own a 99 Legacy Outback. No one ever talks about a duty-c problem with these it seems. Is it the same idea as the earlier models or is there something different? Most posts seem to be about pre-95 models.

2. I read this article (http://www.legacycentral.org/library/torquebind.htm) and noticed that a new steel liner was added in the 97+ models. Does this mean that that liner is shot and i should replace the whole housing?

I have not changed the tranny fluid but have added lucas oil tranny additive. I have put a fuse in the receptical marked FWD under the hood. The shudder has stopped and the shifting isn't nearly as hard. I don't understand what the TCU/"power light flashing" business is all about. Is it a pre-ODB system or can i still check the codes?

thanks

[wtdash]

I have been reading about the infamous duty-c solenoid and i have made the self diagnosis that this is my problem. The problem is the proof to back up my diagnosis. I first noticed it when the car shuddered at slow speeds. I also noticed it shifting VERY hard from 3rd to 4th gear (mainly) at higher RPM's. The questions i have are these:

1. I own a 99 Legacy Outback. No one ever talks about a duty-c problem with these it seems. Is it the same idea as the earlier models or is there something different? Most posts seem to be about pre-95 models.

2. I read this article (http://www.legacycentral.org/library/torquebind.htm) and noticed that a new steel liner was added in the 97+ models. Does this mean that that liner is shot and i should replace the whole housing?

I have not changed the tranny fluid but have added lucas oil tranny additive. I have put a fuse in the receptical marked FWD under the hood. The shudder has stopped and the shifting isn't nearly as hard. I don't understand what the TCU/"power light flashing" business is all about. Is it a pre-ODB system or can i still check the codes?

thanks

Welcome to the board.

1. Most/all of your questions are answered on http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/. They deal way more w/the '95+ stuff; this site deals w/'89-94 Legacys, for the most part, but most of the torque bind stuff applies to both generations.


2 & 3. Not sure about the liner. The TCU codes are OBDII, but I'm not sure whether they can be checked w/a scanner or not - as I think there are Engine codes that a scanner can read and Tranny codes that may require going to a shop.

Putting in the FWD fuse AND it making a difference implies the issue is mechanical (clutches) not electrical (duty C). If it were the Duty C the FWD fuse would have no effect. So i'd suggest drain and replace the tranny fluid (not flush*) @ least 3x to get most of the old fluid out. And don't use the Lucas - it made things worse on my '98 Outback.

* A flush can cause issues w/old seals in the auto tranny - I lost my reverse after flushing a tranny w/less than 110K miles. That's why I suggest just drain/replace.

Just to make sure, the tranny is original, including the rear differential?

Good luck,
Td

[dac252]

From what i know the tranny and whole drive train are original. I have only owned it since christmas last year and i don't remember anything about a new tranny.

Also, what i was told by a friend was that if the fuse in the FWD made a difference for the good it meant it was electrical and it proved that the physical parts still worked fine. Interesting.

BTW, thanks for the welcome.

[wtdash]

Plz see THIS RE: clutches vs. Duty C.

Td