Engine Stalls when shifting to D.. O/T 91 Legacy
 

Well it is sort of on SVX because the transmissions are similar.:)

This is strange. The engine runs fine but as soon as the shifter is moved to D, R or any other gears, the engine stalls. Runs great in P or N. I tried a search but I find nothing. Any ideas?

Re: Engine Stalls when shifting to D.. O/T 91 Legacy
 

It could be the Inhibitor switch on the box, John. It tells the ECU when the box is going into gear. This is so it can increase the idle speed, as the load on the motor is going to increase, with the drag of the converter.

The box signals when it is in P or N, so if there is no signal, then is must be in gear. Don't know where, probable at the switch plug ?.

Harvey. ;)

Oh I think it's a might more serious than the idle speed. It stalls even if I keep the rev's up to 2000 and shift into gear. I just tried it. The car doesn't move an inch.
I have a solenoid error "B" and "C".
I think something in the tranny has locked up.

Could also be the torque converter stuck in lockup.

Solenoid B is the lock-up control solenoid.
All I can say this is an electrical glitch, not a mechanical problem.
Most likely cheap to fix but hard to find...

my daughters svx exhibited the same symptoms. the converter locked up (mechanically) and sent debris through the transmission
(per the dealer) leading to a transmission replacement. hope that isnt true in your case...

Well this doesn't appear too good. In fact I think it's pretty bad. The lock-up solenoid is supposed to stay in the position that is not lock-up when the electric is off to solenoid "B". That would be the fail safe mode. Then again solenoid valve "B" may have failed electrically and then stuck in the wrong position so that the TC is locked-up.

Oh well I guess at 221,000 miles it time to let it go.......or maybe replace that solenoid pack.

Well I called my wife asked her to the run the Legacy for about 20 minutes and then see if would shift.

Yup it worked.:D

Next step is a fluid change and Lucas transmission treatment.