What have you done to your SVX (or other Subaru) today?

[Sean486]

Originally Posted by Mike621

Pulled the instrument cluster from my car to troubleshoot. I found that the speedometer gauge is faulty after another used unit works just fine. I am going to have the capacitors on the speedometer circuit board checked. I’d like to maintain mileage accuracy.

I have also encountered bad capacitors in my tachometer and climate control unit, in 2021 I swapped the tach to resolve, and a friend helped me test and replace some capacitors in the climate unit. I was unable to find a replacement used JDM climate control.

My tachometer doesn’t go above 2000 rpm ever, when I purchased the car Ron told me it probably needed the capacitors replaced. Haven’t gotten around to working on it yet. How hard was it to swap in a replacement tach?

[Noriyasu]

To fix the tachometer, you need to replace two electrolytic capacitors.

See following page with using web translator. Sorry, it's written in Japanese. You will be able to locate the electrolytic capacitor that needs to be replaced.

https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid...0746/note.aspx

[SVX_MY_BABY]

If you are handy with a soldering iron it's quite easy to desolder and remove a capacitor, then replace it. Lots of videos on line. You just need some solder wick, vacuum bulb and soldering Iron.

I suspect the hardest part is removing the tach.

[Noriyasu]

Or, more easy way is replace whole meter cluster though it changs odd meter value.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18564665232...Bk9SR9zIo7yeYw

The nails may break when removing the cover around the meter cluster. This is because the plastic has deteriorated and hardened. be careful.

[wdb]

Capacitors do age out! Silicon is good for a very very long time assuming it doesn't get too hot, and resistors tend to be hunks of carbon which also last an eon or two. But capacitors die.

[Mike621]

Originally Posted by Sean486

My tachometer doesn’t go above 2000 rpm ever, when I purchased the car Ron told me it probably needed the capacitors replaced. Haven’t gotten around to working on it yet. How hard was it to swap in a replacement tach?

Sean, the disassembly of the cluster is not super challenging. For sake of longevity, may make the most sense to replace the capacitors. If you need some photos of the cluster disassembly, I can send them to you.

[Mike621]

Speedometer is with a friend to test and replace the capacitors.

If the weather clears up over here this week, I’ll bring the SVX to have the a/c discharged in prep for the heater core job.

[Mike621]

A capacitor in the speedometer had indeed failed. Two others were good, but my friend has ordered replacements for all and will solder them in once they arrive.

[Mike621]

Throttle body gasket (and a spare) arrived today. Maybe I’ll do the pcv and the valve cover gaskets this weekend.

I have been trying to psych myself up to do the heater core removal and steering rack swap.

[Mike621]

Tested my repaired cluster and speedometer is working again. Took the SVX out for a short drive before pulling it into the garage for a round of maintenance.

Replaced the PCV on my SVX. It and some coolant hoses were still original.

Tore a hose end and set down my wrenches for the evening.

Placed a hefty order from the dealer and partsgeek for heater hoses, timing belt, gaskets, water pump, etc.

[Mike621]

Put my SVX up on QuickJacks. I'll pull the valve covers off tomorrow.

[Noriyasu]

The painted floor is so beautiful and I envy it.

My garage floor was painted 10 years ago, but now it's peeling in places. I want to repaint it.

[huck369]

I wish I had that much open space in my garage....it's so packed, I can't hardly work on anything....

[Mike621]

Originally Posted by Noriyasu

The painted floor is so beautiful and I envy it.

My garage floor was painted 10 years ago, but now it's peeling in places. I want to repaint it.

Right about the time I moved in, I had an epoxy floor coating done. I knew it'd be difficult to empty the cars, parts and tools once I moved in. The floor was done by a professional, and I have slowly renovated the walls, roof, insulation.

Originally Posted by huck369

I wish I had that much open space in my garage....it's so packed, I can't hardly work on anything....

When I looked at this house, the garage was so packed and dirty, I had to climb over things in the garage. It has come a long way.


As for the SVX, since the last post, I have:

• pulled off the right valve cover
• received my timing tensioner and belt kit

This weekend, I hope to finish the valve cover gaskets and start on the next repair.

[Noriyasu]

Previously, a similar floor was being coating on a Discovery Channel program called Garage-Rehab.

The epoxy paint used to be sold on Amazon, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.

My 1st garage floor is also epoxy paint, but it's just green like many old type maintenance shops in Japan.

BTW, it looks like you're replacing the timing belt. As you may have experienced several times already, the bolts between the crank pulley and cam pulley are very tight.

You may need a crank pulley wrench and a cam pulley wrench for your Subaru Boxer Engine.

If you replace the camshaft oil seal (which is recommended), it's helpful to have a sprocket holder to keep the left bank cam from turning and crushing the pistons and valves.

When the engine is at #1 top dead center, the right cam is free, but the left camshaft is pressed by the valve spring and will move when the belt is removed.

Good Luck.