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  #1  
Old 01-29-2008, 02:13 PM
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Help!

1994 front wheel drive with 168K,

Well I think the transmission just bought the farm. I pulled into traffic rather fast to merge and then heard a clunk. Then the car wouldn't move at all. No forward gears of reverse. I made it to a side road and poped the hood. The transmission fluid looks normal and smells normal. After sitting for a while it drove ok again for another two miles and then started to act up. I pulled over and allowed it to cool off. Then it drove ok for another couple miles and did the same thing. I did this until I got home.

Im not sure what it is. Maybe the transmission is finally dead. Or maybe its just the torque converter isnt working? There is no fluid leaking at all and as mentioned above the fluid seems normal. I did hear some poping sound every so often over the past few days. Like a CV was getting ready to go out.

I really am unsure what to do right now and my wife isnt very pleased with the car.

anyway I need help.
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  #2  
Old 01-29-2008, 03:06 PM
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Anyone? I really need help with this.

I am already looking for a replacement transmission. I did find two , one is out of an 2001 STI and the other is from an 1998 Forester AWD. I would need to convert to AWD ofcourse. I havent heard from the STI guy as of yet. I am unsure if the forested transmission will work with the power of the EG33.
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  #3  
Old 01-29-2008, 03:19 PM
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The symptoms you describe could result from any intermittent break in the drive chain and not necessarily within the transmission as such. Further investigation is required before jumping to conclusions.

Please describe any noises or what you can notice when there is no drive, forwards or reverse.
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Old 01-29-2008, 04:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor View Post
The symptoms you describe could result from any intermittent break in the drive chain and not necessarily within the transmission as such. Further investigation is required before jumping to conclusions.

Please describe any noises or what you can notice when there is no drive, forwards or reverse.
Ok... it is cold here.... maybe not as cold as it might be in some parts of north america but its been between 0-28 F. When you first start the SVX it makes a noise like gears winding. (The PO said he replaced the timing belt just within the past few months.) The transmission is still in park and the car is warming up. Ok now I put the transmission in 3rd with manual button selected. The gear sound increases as I pull forward onto the street and drive to work. It continues to make that gear winding sound the entire time I drive the car. Reminds me of a 4x4 transfercase low with gear lube. If you have ever heard that sound then you know what I am trying to describe.

Sometimes I hear a pop sound when we pull forward. It reminds me of a CV joint going bad and getting ready to break. It is a front wheel drive but when the transmission started acting up it felt like the rear axle was jerking. Right after that it acted as if the torque converter was not engaging and I had zero gearing. Did not notice any noises at this time. But I did pull over and look under the hood and car. The transmission fluid is red and clear and smells normal. There is no leaking from the car at all. I looked behind the battery and that resistor was plugged in. At the time I couldnt remember what the resister did so I unplugged it. I started the car put it into 3rd and it drove fine for another 2 miles and then started to slip again. It also make a big clunk as I put it into gear. I pulled back over and let it sit for a few minutes. It did the same thing and then started to slip so I pull over again. This went on all the way home. It is now parked.

Prior to all this the transmission was not working very good. With the manual button out and in normal operation the rpm's go very high prior to shifting into gear. If you punch the gas pedal down it will go fast and shift into 4rth. but somethings it doesnt shift at all and the rpms rev up and the transmission will not go into any gear until I push and engage the manual button.

If I leave the manual button engaged and drive in 3rd gear it shifts almost normally. On the highway I then shift it into 4rth. If I punch it it will kick down and shift back into 4rth but sometimes it revs up and doesnt shift into any gear and slips.


Today after I pulled into traffic and had top punch it in order to merge the transmission slipped but contined to go and then not far down the road it just slipped as if it were not into gear. Reverse dose not work either.

What do I need to do next to find the problem?
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  #5  
Old 01-29-2008, 06:05 PM
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any loud noises or hard shocks??

Tom
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  #6  
Old 01-29-2008, 06:10 PM
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I'm going to go ahead and predict severe stripping of the front differential drive gear.


If I'm right, that would be 5 differential breaks on the network in the last 2 months.


Planned obsolescence, anyone?

-Patrick
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  #7  
Old 01-29-2008, 06:16 PM
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its actually very common... Usual cause is the seals begin to leak and due to a lack of lubrication, things break down...

Tom
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  #8  
Old 01-29-2008, 06:35 PM
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Your description that the trouble started with a “clunk”, would indicate that something solid broke or became detached and you report a “popping”. Also ---”It also make a big clunk as I put it into gear.” This does not really tie in with a transmission failure. However you now refer to “slippage” which is rather ominous.

You now advise, “Prior to all this the transmission was not working very good.” Again not a good oman. “If I leave the manual button engaged and drive in 3rd gear it shifts almost normally.” indicates that the problem is confined to first and reverse. The fault may be confined to the low and reverse brake.

It appears to me that far to often, a complete transmission rebuild is undertaken at a high cost, before adequate testing sufficient to localise the fault, is carried out, e.g. checking line pressure. Solenoid “A“ is an overworked item and a worn seat can mean low line pressure, resulting inadequate friction pressures. This problem would well be confined to the valve body which is accessible without removing the transmission.

Try to identify from where the pop and clunk emanate from as your first step. The front diff and drive shaftes shoiuld most certainly be suspected. Whatever, be aware that a transmission specialist will have in mind $$$$$$$$, so that you could save money by at least being sure of the position.
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  #9  
Old 01-29-2008, 07:16 PM
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I can do all my own work. I think its time I find a good factory service manual. I will do more testing tomorrow.

Also I have found a couple transmissions. I am curious if either of these would work as a replacement.

1999 Forester AWD Automatic transmission. this means I need to now convert to awd which isnt a bad idea. But would this transmission work with my SVX?

The guy with the 2001 STI transmission wrote back... its a 6 speed manual.... I dont want to pay 5K for a transmission.
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  #10  
Old 01-30-2008, 02:11 PM
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Ok I checked some stuff out this morning.

I started the SVX and there is that very loud whining sound coming from the transmission. Im not sure where from the transmission but it definitely coming from the transmission. Maybe even just the torque converter area. Sounds like a loud mechanical pump getting ready to go out. There is a rattling sound that goes along with the whine... it sounds sorta like when the heat shield on an exhaust system is lose and rattles. The whine does get louder with the reving of the engine and goes up and down in sound frequency with the rising and falling of the engines rpm's.

I can put it in gear and drive it around. I was afraid it might break down on me so I didnt do much driving. Reverse works for now as well. I didnt allow the engine to warm up so I am unsure if it will lose gearing as the vehicle gets to normal operating temps.


The transmission mentioned above... will they work? And will the rear axle and suspension work with the SVX? Im not sure how much different they are.
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  #11  
Old 01-30-2008, 03:27 PM
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sounds like *Maybe* a flexplate issue. Maybe it has gotten so bad that it is able to turn. Does it tick like a couple really stuck lifters??

Tom
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  #12  
Old 01-30-2008, 04:08 PM
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A 1999 transmission most likely is the VTD style phase 2 4EAT, which breaks down to the one that has the 40f/60r split and spin on oil filters. It also has a different wiring harness than that of which our SVX would plug into.

Tom is going through the process of figuring out the wiring to hopefully one day allow us to use that type of transmission, but currently it's not possible.
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  #13  
Old 01-30-2008, 04:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsSVX View Post
sounds like *Maybe* a flexplate issue. Maybe it has gotten so bad that it is able to turn. Does it tick like a couple really stuck lifters??

Tom
Tom knows his stuff for sure and this a completely logical suggestion, based on all that has been reported.
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  #14  
Old 01-31-2008, 04:57 AM
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sometimes when I take off from a stop it makes a ticking sound.... thats what I though sounded like a CV going out. Also when the transmission makes the clunk sound it feels like maybe a transmission mount is gone and its hitting the tunnel?
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  #15  
Old 01-31-2008, 07:36 AM
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foward gear or reverse?? Or all gears?? Right now I am a little confused with the explanation. It sound like your low clutches are shot with an intermittent high clutch failre coupled with a front diff failure and a bad flexplate We have to eliminate some of these

Tom
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