(EDIT, realized I tagged my post on another thread, so I pulled the info and posted here)
Not sure whether to post this in drivetrain or engine, but figured here since it's the center diff (clutch pack/dutyC) that is really actiing up.
Car just came out of summer storage (winter beater), and was running fine, but doesn't seem to be transfering power to the rear wheels, lot's of Front wheel spin on take off even with moderate throttle. Then today I fueled up at the local AM/PM (BP) and within a couple of miles it seemed to bve running weak, not missiing or stumbling, just not making normal power unless I get the RPM's over 4k.
It was raining pretty hard today, and there were a few times I had to kick it down to 3rd to maintain 60-65 on hills and when it shifted down it would spin the front tires (RPM's jump to 4k and making power).
I did some searching and found that teh duty C solenoid may be an issue, and that others had found the TPS to be part of the problem.
Where do I start?
More Auto center Diff/clutch pack issues
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More Auto center Diff/clutch pack issues
Last edited by tahiti350 on Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Ericem posted:
Maybe time for a tranny oil change. Hopefully it is one of those problems that will fix themselves with some more driving. When you take off foot to the floor with the power light kicked on do you still have wheel spin? If not doubt its a TPS issue.
My reply:
I'll have to try that, but I think it just spins the fronts. I know if I stomp it while rolling and get the power light it spins and torque steers backand forth as power transfers from one side to the other...
Fluid is red, not burnt, and is just shy of the full line when hot and on level ground. I never have done a fluid and filter job on it, and I've beat the snot out of it for about 30K now. Currently at 204K miles.
Maybe time for a tranny oil change. Hopefully it is one of those problems that will fix themselves with some more driving. When you take off foot to the floor with the power light kicked on do you still have wheel spin? If not doubt its a TPS issue.
My reply:
I'll have to try that, but I think it just spins the fronts. I know if I stomp it while rolling and get the power light it spins and torque steers backand forth as power transfers from one side to the other...
Fluid is red, not burnt, and is just shy of the full line when hot and on level ground. I never have done a fluid and filter job on it, and I've beat the snot out of it for about 30K now. Currently at 204K miles.
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Ericem posted:
What is the longest you have tried driving it steady?
My reply:
Took it on a 100 mile round trip, mostly highway yesterday. Was still a dog when we got home.. runs okay just no power until over 4K.
What is the longest you have tried driving it steady?
My reply:
Took it on a 100 mile round trip, mostly highway yesterday. Was still a dog when we got home.. runs okay just no power until over 4K.
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
The low power and the trans problem will be two seperate things.
If the low power started after refueling then you may have got some water in the fuel or you may have stirred up water that had condensed in the fuel tank while it was sitting. That wouldn't really fit will with running better at higher revs symptom but it fits the circumstances. Perhaps a few more miles and it will settle down anyway since it's been in storage.
For both problms you should try to extract trouble codes. The engine you connect two wires under the dash and for the trans you move the trans lever in a certain sequence. Have a googe or look here... http://codes.rennacs.com/
The trans, it has slipping clutches in the rear drive clutch pack, which means it's unlikely to be the solenoid itself, well not the electrical part anyway. It could be that the solenoid's valve is stuck though or the other valve that the solenoids valve controls. If it was my car, and given that it's been sitting for a while, I'd give it a long run and hope that all the problems came right with a bit of use and warmth. If you really want to get the trans fixed though you need to take the tail-housing off and check for sticking valves. Before you did that the recommended thing would be to check the hydraulic pressure at the rear of the trans but it's unlikely that it will be the trouble since the rest of the trans seems fine.
If the low power started after refueling then you may have got some water in the fuel or you may have stirred up water that had condensed in the fuel tank while it was sitting. That wouldn't really fit will with running better at higher revs symptom but it fits the circumstances. Perhaps a few more miles and it will settle down anyway since it's been in storage.
For both problms you should try to extract trouble codes. The engine you connect two wires under the dash and for the trans you move the trans lever in a certain sequence. Have a googe or look here... http://codes.rennacs.com/
The trans, it has slipping clutches in the rear drive clutch pack, which means it's unlikely to be the solenoid itself, well not the electrical part anyway. It could be that the solenoid's valve is stuck though or the other valve that the solenoids valve controls. If it was my car, and given that it's been sitting for a while, I'd give it a long run and hope that all the problems came right with a bit of use and warmth. If you really want to get the trans fixed though you need to take the tail-housing off and check for sticking valves. Before you did that the recommended thing would be to check the hydraulic pressure at the rear of the trans but it's unlikely that it will be the trouble since the rest of the trans seems fine.
update:
Took the Subie to work last night and it's running normal again, powerwise, so would have to agree probably water. It was parked with about 1/2 tank of fuel, and topped off with BP 10% alcohol unleaded. I'll run it down to empty, put some goot Shell premium (no alky) in it, and run it for a while.
Pavement is dry today, so hard to tell on the center diff, but will watch it and see what it does. I may go ahead and do a fluid and filter change (inline and in pan filters). No telling how long that fluid has been in there...
Took the Subie to work last night and it's running normal again, powerwise, so would have to agree probably water. It was parked with about 1/2 tank of fuel, and topped off with BP 10% alcohol unleaded. I'll run it down to empty, put some goot Shell premium (no alky) in it, and run it for a while.
Pavement is dry today, so hard to tell on the center diff, but will watch it and see what it does. I may go ahead and do a fluid and filter change (inline and in pan filters). No telling how long that fluid has been in there...
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Well, since it rained the last couple of days I got to play with the wagon more. engine wise it's fine, so have to assume a lttle water in the fuel.
Still breaks the front tires loose pulling away from a stop or cornering in first gear at anything over moderate throttle. Basically like driving a FWD until it shift to second. Trans fluid look clean, but I've never changed it in the 30K I've put on it.
Still breaks the front tires loose pulling away from a stop or cornering in first gear at anything over moderate throttle. Basically like driving a FWD until it shift to second. Trans fluid look clean, but I've never changed it in the 30K I've put on it.
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Today (over a month later) I was pulling out of the neighborhood, and as I launched into traffic around the corner I heard a "creuancch" sound under the floor and now it seems the center diff is back again... I'll play with it more over the next couple of days to make sure, but it feels like it's pulling away better again.
2006K and counting!!!
2006K and counting!!!
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
After driving it more today I thing the "creunch"'ing sound may be a combination of the broken motor mount and a bad driver side front CV joint... Time to get it in the garage... Hopefully Thursday or Friday (after I get a fire going in the wood stove!!! It's between 7 & 25* today here...
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
2005 Outback, 2.5 AWD (wife's new daily)