Seeking comments on AWD performance

[dcarrb]

There's a slight but noticable difference between my cars when it comes to how aggressively the all-wheel drive engages. For example, one recent rainy day, in the teal, pulling uphill onto a busy 4-lane from an asphalt drive, there was a blink-of-an-eye hesitation before the rear wheels bit. I even remarked to my buddy in the car, also a Suby driver, "Feel that all-wheel hook-up?" (He didn't, so we're talking about a driver's-seat-of-the-pants sensation; nothing obvious or alarming.)

The silver SVX appears opposite: Power to the rear wheels seems to engage more quickly and with a tad more authority. I almost always notice just the slightest hint of rear wheel spin, say, turning onto a hard surface from gravel, in places where this has never happened in the teal.

I'm simply curious about this difference and would appreciate input from you folks who know your stuff. Thanks.

dcb

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

There's a slight but noticable difference between my cars when it comes to how aggressively the all-wheel drive engages. For example, one recent rainy day, in the teal, pulling uphill onto a busy 4-lane from an asphalt drive, there was a blink-of-an-eye hesitation before the rear wheels bit. I even remarked to my buddy in the car, also a Suby driver, "Feel that all-wheel hook-up?" (He didn't, so we're talking about a driver's-seat-of-the-pants sensation; nothing obvious or alarming.)

The silver SVX appears opposite: Power to the rear wheels seems to engage more quickly and with a tad more authority. I almost always notice just the slightest hint of rear wheel spin, say, turning onto a hard surface from gravel, in places where this has never happened in the teal.

I'm simply curious about this difference and would appreciate input from you folks who know your stuff. Thanks.

dcb

I personally think that the difference you notice is directly related to the engagement of solenoid C. Based on what I know about the trans and what exactly the solenoid does, it's not a 100% electrical system (a little bit of pressure exchange for the AWD engagement). So, based on that assumption, the exact condition of each solenoid in each car is going to be different based on the history of the transmission itself (the amount of miles, how many times the solenoid has had to go to full 50-50 split, etc).

Now the transmission guys can tear me apart

[benebob]

Originally Posted by Manarius

I personally think that the difference you notice is directly related to the engagement of solenoid C. Based on what I know about the trans and what exactly the solenoid does, it's not a 100% electrical system (a little bit of pressure exchange for the AWD engagement). So, based on that assumption, the exact condition of each solenoid in each car is going to be different based on the history of the transmission itself (the amount of miles, how many times the solenoid has had to go to full 50-50 split, etc).

Now the transmission guys can tear me apart

Almost makes sense but here's a wrench in your theory... I know my red 95 is slow to engage (well slow in subaru terms not Ford Exploder terms) but my D.S. C only has about 20k on it, the tranny only about 45k from a ROCK solid rebuild at CVM. Everybody that's driven it is amazed at the shifting of her. If your theory was correct, I would figure that the solenoid would go in faster when new vs as it ages... I really don't put it in anything more than 90-10 but 1-2x a year to keep it working.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by benebob

Almost makes sense but here's a wrench in your theory... I know my red 95 is slow to engage (well slow in subaru terms not Ford Exploder terms) but my D.S. C only has about 20k on it, the tranny only about 45k from a ROCK solid rebuild at CVM. Everybody that's driven it is amazed at the shifting of her. If your theory was correct, I would figure that the solenoid would go in faster when new vs as it ages... I really don't put it in anything more than 90-10 but 1-2x a year to keep it working.

You went to CVM, there's your problem. CVM blows. $400 for a seat belt replacement? What do they think I am, stupid?

Well, take into account also that I said not just age has to do with it. I think that it's just part of it. Perhaps every Solenoid C is a little different...or in the earlier transmissions, they used a different company for building the solenoid C, or a bad batch got put in, or other things. Who knows. It'd be an interesting thing to check out....if all solenoid C's are exactly the same.

[benebob]

Actually CVM has been by far the best Subaru dealer I've dealt with out of the dozen or so I've done business with. I still drive the hour to go there when I need a dealer service or a part on short notice. Al is usually 90% a decent shooter. I don't even think I paid $300 for the duty sol c replacement. Like any dealer though, they're there to make money. Nothing more nothing less.

Since they are electric I'd suspect that they would be very very similar.

[Mr. Pockets]

Do you mean that the front wheels actually slipped before the rears took up the slack? Because that should never happen. If it did, either the solenoid or the transfer clutch itself are likely the source of the problem.