Transfer Clutch Repairs in Oz

#1 01-14-2003, 11:12 PM

Hi Guys,

A while ago you guys helped me diagnose the AWD binding problem I was experiencing and also the infamous power steering 'O' ring fix.

I had the 'O' ring fix done whilst the car was in for a maintenance service at that time - and it was a great success. The difference in the handling was enormous. This cost about AUD$60 to have done by the Subaru mechanic (including the part). Which seemed reasonable to me.

Now it's time for the AWD binding problem to be repaired. (I asked the mechanic to diagnose the problem at the time of the previous service and they flushed it but the problem remained). They said the Duty Solenoid C needed replacement - in fact the replacement part needed was the whole Transfer Clutch Valve Assembly. They quoted this part for $175AUD and about $150AUD for labour.

Now, I finally took the car in for this job this week and I should mention that I did continue to drive the car all this time (a few months) and just in the last week or two the bumping of the car in tight turns became a lot less. Did I damage some parts hence lessening the friction?.

Anyway, to get to the point of this post - the mechanic rang me whilst the car was in for the transfer clutch valve assembly replacement and said the transfer clutch plates are completely worn and also need replacement. These are going to cost about AUD$250. Is this a reasonable price? (There's no additional labour charge they said).

So all up this job of a new Transfer Clutch Valve Assembly and new Transfer Clutch Plates is going to cost about AUD$575 including labour (about US$330). Sound ok?

Thanks,
Pete.

p.s. Harvey I noticed during my searches that you are interested in a postmortem analysis of the valve assembly? I asked the shop to keep all the replaced parts for me - I'd be happy to mail these to you of you like? (I have buckleys chance of drawing any conclusions from looking at a part

Jamsvx · #2 01-15-2003, 03:06 AM

hi!

Hmm.....sorry to hear about the $$ but in terms of car maintenance, I think that is reasonable....especially considering the cost of other things on the SVX!!

Cheers

james

#3 01-15-2003, 03:50 AM

Good to hear from you James! Any chance of a Sydney SVX meet this year? I'm keen to make the drive down.

Cheers,
Pete.

oab_au · #4 01-15-2003, 03:32 PM

Thanks for letting us know the results of the job. A lot of the time I wonder what the outcome is, of a lot of the problems, that we talk about, we rarely hear the end results of the problem.

The price seams ok Pete, and yes, I would like to see the faulty bits, to do a post mortem. It looks like the transfer valve is still going to be a problem on the center diff model.

I am for a run down south for a meet, any time except Queens Birthday in June.

Harvey.

#5 01-15-2003, 04:19 PM

Thanks Harvey. I should get the car back today so I'll make sure I get the old parts. I'll email you soon to get a shipping address, if that's cool?

Any opinions on what could have caused the binding to almost dissappear recently? I presume driving with the problem for too long caused further damage? The plates maybe?

Looking forward to meeting you guys at a meet hopefully not too long from now.

Cheers,
Pete.

#6 01-15-2003, 05:20 PM

Pete,

We have a different version of english in North America.

What is a "whilst"???? My guess is that its a kind of"during" for lack of a better word...

Correct????

Hotshoe

#7 01-15-2003, 07:19 PM

Correct - "whilst" is English:

Main Entry: whilst
Pronunciation: 'hwI(&)lst, 'wI(&)lst
Function: conjunction
Etymology: Middle English whilest, alteration of whiles
Date: 14th century
chiefly British : WHILE

Cheers,
Pete.

p.s. Harvey, not sure what you meant by "transfer valve is still going to be a problem on the center diff model." ? An ongoing discussion I'm not aware if maybe?

Ron Mummert · #8 01-15-2003, 08:16 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by amuse
[B]Correct - "whilst" is English:

Main Entry: whilst
Pronunciation: 'hwI(&)lst, 'wI(&)lst
Function: conjunction
Etymology: Middle English whilest, alteration of whiles
Date: 14th century
chiefly British : WHILE

Cheers,
Pete.

I, for one, find the king's English a refreshing throw-back to the era when grammer & speech were indicative of a quality upbringing.
Like, ya' know what I mean? Whatever.

Ron.

Jamsvx · #9 01-16-2003, 03:19 AM

Hi

Another meet sounds good! We had 8 at the last one including the tellow one so perhaps if we aim for something around Easter we should be able to get even more???

Would be great to meet up again and also to meet in person too!!

Cheers

James

LarryIII · #10 01-16-2003, 04:29 AM

Maybe all of us SVXers in the states could chip in and buy Randy an airline ticket to Australia (economy class of course). But that's only if you promise to have the YELLOW SVX your SVX Meet.

Also, you would have to take pictures of his facial expressions as he sees the YELLOW SVX for the first time, and then you would have to post them to this site.

Jamsvx · #11 01-17-2003, 05:14 PM

Photos......no way.....video!!!

I can see the shot now *adopts 1930's beret wearing, riding crop swinging movie director look*

Darkness....a dark garage(funny that!)......a door opens and a beam of light, X-files-ish in type, hits an object in the centre of the room.....a man, a statuesque man clad only in leopard-skin attire tied to a chair, a yellow banana serving as a gag.

Next shot.....camera follows a pair of shoes obviously walking in this darkened room, the sounds of Banana Man muffled in the background...the feet pass sets of wheels..the top section visible...SVX!

Pan to Banana Man....zoom to face....bead of sweat drops slowy from his brow....a spotlight flicks on...BananaMan looks right - a YELLOW SVX! Bananaman wrestles and mumblings increase...another spotlight, another yellow SVX!

More spotlights, more yellow SVX's.....increase in rapidty.

Zoom back to top corner of room....Bananaman sits in a circle of yellow SVX's, pointing towards him

Zoom to Bananaman's face...a scream................NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

END:

Hmmm.....sounds like a good SVX meet to me!!

#12 01-17-2003, 05:25 PM

a classic James, have you considered writing professionally?

Seriously!

Cheers,
Pete.

oab_au · #13 01-18-2003, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amuse
a classic James, have you considered writing professionally?

Seriously!

Cheers,
Pete.

Pete, You should know that all lawyers, have to be good at fiction writting.

A? James.

Harvey.

Trevor · #14 01-19-2003, 12:45 AM

Let's hope that at long last at least one problem is going to be properly diagnosed without reliance on the hearsay of suspect dealers and mechanics.

I hasten to add that it is a pity that Beav has not as yet had the opportunity to deal with and examine all the various reported faults. Sorry Beav that this is no doubt not a kind suggestion !

Jamsvx · #15 01-19-2003, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oab_au

Pete, You should know that all lawyers, have to be good at fiction writting.
A? James.

Harvey.

That was a classic call!!!

In a very un-lawlike encounter, a friend of mine driving the same coloured SVX as mine, same year, hmm...I wonder who that 'friend' was, just got home and was telling me how they managed to end up in a 3 way hoonfest with a Honda S2000 and a Toyota Soarer.....Soarer turned out to be a an SC300 (twin turbo) so did not really stand a chance...Mr S2000 was slow off the line then at about 80kph the VTEC kicked in and began to pull away...however, a rolling application of the throttle at 60kph saw both the SVX and S2000 neck and neck, the S2000 screaming at it howled up the rpm....next set of lights this "friend" commented to the S2000 driver that his car sounded magnificent - the reply was "What the hell is that - your car sounded amazing" - said friend grinned and said "Subaru SVX"

Now that made my *cough* my friend's night.