The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > SVX Main Forums > Technical Q & A

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 10-18-2009, 05:51 PM
daluvabull daluvabull is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 141
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Oct-18 Update

Had alternator rechecked at Oreilly's- passed

Did not know exactly how to check for AC through battery- my voltmeter leads got very hot when contact made with positive/negative posts.

Cleaned used dielectric grease on alternator contacts and gound under passenger side intake.

Replaced alternator 2-prong plastic female socket.
It was brittle and crumbled when removed
Sodered used socket to leads, wrapped with electric tape

Noticed that the plastic at the base of the alternator positive bolt is cracking away.

Went for a test drive
Shifted fine until hard acceleration
Stalled, had to crank and push accelerator multiple times to restart
Power light still does not illuminate at start up

Probable next steps:
Replace alternator with a new one
Test was not performed under hard acceleration
Leaning towards Trevor's suggestion- THANX
Is a 110 amp preferrable to, or worth the extra money as, a 95?

Again, your suggestions, time and knowledge is a appreciated.

Peace,

Jeff

Last edited by daluvabull; 10-18-2009 at 06:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-24-2009, 10:13 AM
daluvabull daluvabull is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 141
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Oct-24 Update:

Installed new alternator
Results
1. No more warning lights at hard acceleration
2. Still no power light at start up
3. Continued irratic shift behavior
a. Intermittant correct shifts
b. Intermittant start in 3rd from stop
c. Shift down to 3rd while on cruise control at 65 mph
4. Irratic engine stall on hard acceleration
5. Tach not working properly.

Any ideas...

TCU?

THANKS

Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-28-2009, 04:50 AM
daluvabull daluvabull is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 141
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Bump ******
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-28-2009, 07:06 AM
svxistentialist's Avatar
svxistentialist svxistentialist is offline
Jersey Girl
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ireland
Posts: 8,270
Send a message via Skype™ to svxistentialist
Registered SVX
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Quote:
Originally Posted by daluvabull View Post
Bump ******
Is this a '92 car Jeff? All SVXes are getting on.

I note you are on your third gearbox. You should get or borrow a multimeter that will measure for stray AC currents like Trevor suggested, even though you have replaced the alternator.

When tracking faults with the WSM one of the possible cures that comes up again and again is the TCU. Now it is generally last on the list, so don't go jumping in that direction just yet.

However, what can go wrong most easily is the wiring looms [you americans probably say "cord" ] feeding signals to and from the TCU. It is bloody difficult to get these connectors to extract from the TCU, and yours must have been taken out and refitted loads of times. You should have a look under your dash and make sure that no damage has happened to these block connectors or the wires feeding into them. Something damaged or loose there [maybe from using a pliers to extract] could be giving you this strange behaviour.

Worth a look

Joe
__________________
Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty
Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea
Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous
White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic

40,000 miles Jersey Girl
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-28-2009, 08:54 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Posts: 836
Send a message via AIM to NiftySVX
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Hey I know I'm late to the party here, but I've read over your thread here and I have the following suggestions for you. Everyone, including myself, likes to run in and go down for the kill before you think about the basics.

FIRST:
TAKE OFF YOUR FILTER IN THE COOLER CIRCUT AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH. it is not necessary and all it could possibly do is cause a problem. If you've had this filter all along through all these different transmissions, you could have the answer to why you keep burning them up right there. I'll assume you're replacing the element at each trans change, but still, GET RID OF IT. Cold shift issues can be caused by a restricted cooler circuit as the fluid is thicker when cold and it will be even more restricted at low temps.

Second, check the fluid level and condition. Ensure that with the engine running the fluid is very close to or just below the "low cold" level when the trans temp is below 75F and that it is somewhere between "full cold" and "full hot" at 176F. I like to keep mine a bit below the bottom tick of the "hot" range at 150 pan temp. Don't overfill! Error on the low side! An overfull 4EAT is a dead 4EAT!!

Okay now check your voltage to the TCU and make sure you're getting constant power to it and it's not loosing power while the car is going down the road. That would cause all kinds of odd problems, I think.

Third, check your solenoids. Duty B is lockup control, duty A line pressure, and solenoids 1 and 2 are shift solenoids. Check the resistance of each of these at connector T2 and again at the TCU harness by backprobing with a T-pin, which is a T shaped pin for quilting available at wal mart. If you find you've got a shift solenoid laying down on ya, this would explain alot of erratic shifting conditions. If the solenoids test okay, then you can go back and start thinkin more about a control side failure outside of the trans case.

Then, after that, I would really reccomend you check the base line at the pump pressure test port. heat the fluid up to operating temp (somewhere around 176f) and check your line pressure. If you don't know that you've got good base line then you're blind and deaf in a trans diagnosis.


Now, you should have a good idea of your transmission unit itself and its condition.
__________________
2007 GS 450h-Active Stabilizer/Radar cruise
1994 L Blue 3.70 VTD



ASE Master Automobile
ASE Advanced Level Specialist
Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician (former life)

Last edited by NiftySVX; 10-28-2009 at 08:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 10-28-2009, 09:08 PM
Trevor's Avatar
Trevor Trevor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 5,223
Registered SVX
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Quote:
Originally Posted by NiftySVX View Post
Hey I know I'm late to the party here, but I've read over your thread here and I have the following suggestions for you. Everyone, including myself, likes to run in and go down for the kill before you think about the basics.

FIRST:
TAKE OFF YOUR FILTER IN THE COOLER CIRCUT AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH. it is not necessary and all it could possibly do is cause a problem. If you've had this filter all along through all these different transmissions, you could have the answer to why you keep burning them up right there. I'll assume you're replacing the element at each trans change, but still, GET RID OF IT. Cold shift issues can be caused by a restricted cooler circuit as the fluid is thicker when cold and it will be even more restricted at low temps.

Second, check the fluid level and condition. Ensure that with the engine running the fluid is very close to or just below the "low cold" level when the trans temp is below 75F and that it is somewhere between "full cold" and "full hot" at 176F. I like to keep mine a bit below the bottom tick of the "hot" range at 150 pan temp. Don't overfill! Error on the low side! An overfull 4EAT is a dead 4EAT!!

Okay now check your voltage to the TCU and make sure you're getting constant power to it and it's not loosing power while the car is going down the road. That would cause all kinds of odd problems, I think.

Third, check your solenoids. Duty B is lockup control, duty A line pressure, and solenoids 1 and 2 are shift solenoids. Check the resistance of each of these at connector T2 and again at the TCU harness by backprobing with a T-pin, which is a T shaped pin for quilting available at wal mart. If you find you've got a shift solenoid laying down on ya, this would explain alot of erratic shifting conditions. If the solenoids test okay, then you can go back and start thinkin more about a control side failure outside of the trans case.

Then, after that, I would really reccomend you check the base line at the pump pressure test port. heat the fluid up to operating temp (somewhere around 176f) and check your line pressure. If you don't know that you've got good base line then you're blind and deaf in a trans diagnosis.


Now, you should have a good idea of your transmission unit itself and its condition.
Hooooray, at loooong last absolute logic.

"check your line pressure. check your line pressure. check your line pressure."

This essential basic and obvious requirement, has here been continually passed over for years.
__________________
Trevor, New Zealand.

As a child, on cold mornings I gladly stood in cowpats to warm my bare feet, but I detest bull$hit!
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 12-20-2009, 02:52 PM
major7venth's Avatar
major7venth major7venth is offline
M7
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hayden,Idaho
Posts: 68
Registered SVX
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Not sure what is/ or is no longer connected with your 4.44 so, Run a trans. diagnostic?, any codes?. Check battery with a carbon pile battery tester,(take battery to a battery shop/parts house,they can test it for you. (and be sure battery connections are good) if faulty battery, replace battery. Check impedence on the trans. resister (if its is still being used with your 4.44) (located behind the battery) ((15 ohms, (I think, check the book to be sure. any impedance is usually good) Check Alternator output. These things will be sure the electricals are keeping the TCU happy. Change Trans. filters and replace trans. fluid with Synthetic, if no improvment, Your 4th trans is probably next. Good luck,tell me how it goes, would be interested to know the final remedy.
M7
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 12-20-2009, 03:18 PM
b3lha's Avatar
b3lha b3lha is offline
Phil & Belha
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Alcyone Limited, Buckinghamshire UK
Posts: 2,671
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

Quote:
Originally Posted by daluvabull View Post
3. Continued irratic shift behavior
a. Intermittant correct shifts
b. Intermittant start in 3rd from stop
c. Shift down to 3rd while on cruise control at 65 mph
4. Irratic engine stall on hard acceleration
Please test your TPS and your ATF temperature sensor.
__________________
Subaru ECU and TCU Website
1992 Alcyone SVX Version L
1992 Alcyone SVX Version L
1994 Alcyone SVX S40-II
2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SE Sports Tourer
1996 Subaru Legacy 2.2 GX Wagon
1988 Subaru Justy J12 SL-II
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 12-20-2009, 05:26 PM
daluvabull daluvabull is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 141
Re: PLEASE Help Its the Transmission Again

THANKS to all who had positive input, my transmission troubles are gone- for now. There was a short at the TCU plug where a shift kit was added. The shift kit was removed and a new plug spliced onto the harness and a the TCU replaced by a used one. The 4.44 now shifts correctly. I now am in the process of identifying vacuum leak that is causing engine stall at high temps. At 17 years old and 187k miles the hoses are brittle.

Again THANKS,

Jeff
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:51 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122