Calling Beav.....AWD Question.

[IwantaSVX]

Beav,
I recently bought a '94 LSI. The AWD is delayed. I have to get the front wheels to slip quite a bit before the back will engage with a "thud". I put the car up in the air with all the tires off of the ground and my results were less than pleasing. The front wheels spin and the ONLY way I get the rear wheels to engage is to floor it very quick but as soon as I let up so do they. I bought this off a dealer and brought this to their attention. Considering this dealer is 300 miles away we agreed I would take it to the local Subaru Dealer. I'm not very pleased with their results either. They charged me $184 to tell me that they would have to disassemble the extension housing to be sure of the cause.

The car is showing a TCU code #32 Speed Sensor #1. I realize the TCU uses both speed sensors to determine the split required for the AWD, however, I have gone through my Alldata manual and it does not show Speed Sensor 1 as a cause for front wheel slippage only Speed Sensor #2. My theory is the TCU is giving me this code because there is another problem causing the AWD to engage slow (Solenoid, Clutches, etc...) and this sensor is not reading correctly (indicating the AWD not working properly). I have cleared the codes and the #32 is coming back but only showing up under Previous problems not current. I am NOT getting a flashing power light.

I tried a variety of things while I had the car in the air. I tried to stop both front wheels seperately then together to see if I could get the rear wheels to engage and I was not sucessful.

The dealer wrote they performed a flow chart diagram and found NO AC voltage at the TCU for Speed Sensor 1. They called me to inform me they thought it may have been the problem but they needed to take pressure checks to cover all bases. I gave the OK and a few hours later they reported back that: they were getting odd pressure readings and they called SOA to try and figure out what would cause the pressure readings to be off. The Subaru tech line stated that the most likely cause is the tailshaft housing is grooved from the sealing rings and it is letting fluid pass by.

My car has 3 matching Dayton tires and a mismatch on the front right. I can't be certain how long it has been like this. I have the receipt for the tires (put on near 60K miles) and the car now has 115K miles. I asked the Subaru dealer if this could have worn the clutches but the Service guy stated that since they were the same size it should be OK. Said something about they have to be same circumference. I talked with the doctor who was the original and only owner. He traded the car in on a new Subaru in early December '02. He stated the AWD worked fine and he was telling me that with this car "Its always "4WD". So, by my conversation with him if the AWD had been slow to react on him, I think he would have noticed it.

I'm just looking to get a few other opinions. The dealer I bought the car off of did not like the local Subaru Dealer's $1200 estimate (inlcuding a flush) so it appears I will be taking it back to NY so his Subaru mechanic can look at it. Although I'm going to stand side by side with his mechanic and watch his every move....he will not be doing no mickey mouse fixing for his friend, the Dealer.

P.S. My transmission number is 695144. According to the information I have read on SubaruSVX.com this is the latest transmission with all the updates including the new seals in the tailshaft housing that are not supposed to wear the housing. So, if SOA is correct about the cause maybe I should go after them for the repair bill?!?!