No downshift, rumbling reverse

[Mr. Pockets]

My mom's SVX, a '92 with 56k miles on it, is behaving oddly. The first thing I noticed is that the car will not downshift. It doesn't matter what speed I'm traveling, if I mash the throttle (power light on) it it still won't downshift.

Second, when in reverse, if I give it a little throttle the whole car shakes.

The car has sat for the better part of the last year and a half, only being started and moved occasionally. It had a bad exhaust and the entire system was transplanted from the parts car.

My mom has a parts car for her SVX - does yours?

The power light does not blink. We have driven it at least three times this week, so I would think that an electrical fault would have shown up by now.

[n00b on demand]

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets


My mom has a parts car for her SVX - does yours?

haha how awesome is that

[lee]

First...disclaimer - this info was collected by me, but not verified...now on to the story

Possibly the kick-down solenoid

With the ignition on & engine off, press the accelerator pedal to it's stop. You should hear a click just as accelerator bottoms.

if no click, two avenues:

1) Loosen adjustment nut and adjust switch position for proper operation. Tighten nut.
2) The solenoid may be malfunctioning because of contamination. Remove and clean inside of solenoid while moving the push rod. After cleaning, carefully check solenoid operation. Install with a new O-ring.

[oab_au]

Well thats a new one Nick, I can't make any sense of the not kicking down. The reversing would likely be the reverse clutch or the low/reverse clutch slipping, or it could be high clutch or the band not releasing fully.

If it has sat for that long, it may be prudent to change the ATF and add a bottle of some slip additive.

Have to see if there are any more clues to come up as it goes.

Harvey.

ps. Lee I did not know there was a ' kick down' switch on the pedal?

[lee]

Originally posted by oab_au
...snip....

ps. Lee I did not know there was a ' kick down' switch on the pedal?

don't know that there is one either Harvey - that's why I put in the disclaimer. I found the info in the PDF service manual pages Reaper put up on his web site (he put up - for ftp - the whole CD that has been on EBay from time to time. I put the specific file in my locker if you want to give it a look.

[oab_au]

Originally posted by lee


don't know that there is one either Harvey - that's why I put in the disclaimer. I found the info in the PDF service manual pages Reaper put up on his web site (he put up - for ftp - the whole CD that has been on EBay from time to time. I put the specific file in my locker if you want to give it a look.

Yeh had a look, this may be for some other Subaru auto, I have only got the manual for the Euro model, and there is no kick down switch on this model. It uses the throttle sensor to give load readings to the TCU, that does the kick down. The 'rate of change' does the 'power mode' turn on.

Harvey.