New to the boards, have a question.

seehecksdeeh · #1 11-02-2007, 03:08 PM

Okay, well, actually I have three. For starters, I've been an SVX enthusiast for a while and just recently bought one off eBay. I've known about the certain issues that are common within the car and bought the car with this mentality in mind.

It turns out, I managed to pick up my SVX and get it back into town from Virginia (I live in Texas). Not too long after that, my car developed some sort of rattling noise that was identified as something in my transmission by my mechanic. We're both searching for a replacement transmission, and I'm starting to wonder if a rebuild is better than getting a "new" transmission that I don't have too much knowledge about. Could anyone give me a general price estimate on how much a rebuild costs these days and which option is better. I'm not too familiar with the maintenance on this car, so once I have my car up and running again, what are the main things I should be checking regularly?

Also, and this one isn't really that big of a deal right now, does anyone know where I can get one of those "other" SVX emblems (not the typical Subaru badge, the one with the "wings" on it). My hood emblem is pretty much gone and I'd like to find one of those emblems if I could.

Thanks to everyone in advance. I hope I'm not asking for too much information at once.

NiftySVX · #2 11-02-2007, 03:22 PM

If the car is a 92 or a 93 get a reman transmission from subaru. That way, it will have the updated pump housing, the updated transfer sealing rings, and the updated high clutch parts. I believe they run about 1800 plus core. Make sure you ask for the reman.

seehecksdeeh · #3 11-02-2007, 03:24 PM

My SVX is a '94, so what should I do in that case? And what's a reman?

subarufamily · #4 11-02-2007, 03:25 PM

as for the JDM hood emblem look under parts for sale and a guy named mbtoloko( i think i am close ). he usually has some in stock , he is the one I got ALL my JDM parts from.

NiftySVX · #5 11-02-2007, 03:48 PM

A reman is one that has been rebuilt by subaru to correct the design flaws of the original that was used in the 92-93 models. I believe that you can still get one for a 94, which may still be your best option depending on what is wrong with it.

part numbers
92-94 AWD 31000AB860R1 $2,807.73 (this includes 1200$ core you get back when you give them your old one)
93-94 FWD 31000AB870R1 $2,831.86 (this includes 1200$ core you get back when you give them your old one)

So you end up paying about 1600 for a brand new transmission. that's a helluva deal.

Trevor · #6 11-02-2007, 07:13 PM

It would appear that your car is still running and the fault amounts only to a rattling noise. You must get a proper diagnosis before proceeding any further. The fault could involve the flexiplate or whatever, rather than the transmission proper.

There is a member here who is rebuilding specially improved transmissions. Spend some time searching and reading threads, and you will save yourself much heart ache and a great deal if money.

SVXRide · #7 11-02-2007, 07:29 PM

The "rattling noise" could very easily be a cracked flexplate (attached to the end of the crankshaft, which the torque converter, in turn, bolts to). Get the car up on a lift, start it up, and see if the sound isn't coming from right where the trans bolts to the engine. While replacing it will require pulling the trans, the flexplate is only a ~$30 part (new from Subaru). Make sure that the two alignment dowels are in place, as the lack of one - or both

- is a leading cause of cracked flexplates.
-Bill

Hondasucks · #8 11-03-2007, 12:54 AM

And make sure the torque converter is fully seated when re-installign the transmission. When it's fully seated, the threaded bosses on the TC that the flex plate bolts thred into, will sit about 1/4" or so above the mating surface of the bell housing... That's what killed the tranny in my SVX (And the reason I got it so cheap...) was the shop that replaced the flex plate forced it together with the bolts, crushing the pump.

seehecksdeeh · #9 11-04-2007, 08:13 PM

Thank you all for your input. Like I said, I'm not too familiar with which part is which and where said parts are located. I've honestly been into cars for a while, but I've never been too involved with the guts of it until now and I'm learning a bit slow.

Into a little more detail, the rattling noise is something reminiscent of a card stuck in a bike's spokes. The noise really only occurs when there is some sort of throttle involved, and when we had jacked the car up, the noise would be there in drive, though not as rapid. Basically, I should be checking for this noise at what part of the transmission? And if this is precisely where the noise is coming from, this problem is the flexiplate?

Trevor · #10 11-04-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVXRide

The "rattling noise" could very easily be a cracked flexplate (attached to the end of the crankshaft, which the torque converter, in turn, bolts to). Get the car up on a lift, start it up, and see if the sound isn't coming from right where the trans bolts to the engine. While replacing it will require pulling the trans, the flexplate is only a ~$30 part (new from Subaru). Make sure that the two alignment dowels are in place, as the lack of one - or both

- is a leading cause of cracked flexplates.
-Bill

Refer again to the previous post as above. N.B. "Get the car up on a lift, start it up, and see if the sound isn't coming from right where the trans bolts to the engine."

I would call it the bell housing.

seehecksdeeh · #11 11-05-2007, 09:26 AM

Could you be a bit more specific? When I lift the car up, should this sound be apparent while in drive or just when the car is started? I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to tell my mechanic, so any extra advice would be greatly appreciated.

SVeXy96 · #12 11-05-2007, 01:00 PM

http://svx-motorsport-accessories.st...jdmalhoem.html

here is the hood emblem you are looking for...

Trevor · #13 11-05-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seehecksdeeh

Could you be a bit more specific? When I lift the car up, should this sound be apparent while in drive or just when the car is started? I'm trying to figure out what exactly I need to tell my mechanic, so any extra advice would be greatly appreciated.

A cracked flex plate has been suggested by way of an educated guess, based what you have described. The noise can vary according to load and engine speed and the nature/degree of the fault.

It would appear strange that you have to tell a mechanic exactly what the problem is, and or how to fix it. A transmission and a flex plate are surely not confined to the SVX and as a result lie beyond his knowledge.

I would advise caution before using his services.

SubaSteevo · #14 11-05-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

A cracked flex plate has been suggested by way of an educated guess, based what you have described. The noise can vary according to load and engine speed and the nature/degree of the fault.

+1 for cracked flexplate

seehecksdeeh · #15 11-05-2007, 03:06 PM

My mechanic is a family mechanic we have been using regularly for quite some time now. The main issue was that he didn't really specify what was wrong with the transmission when he located the noise there. I'm just trying to get some extra information that could help him out when I call him tomorrow.

Also, does this flex plate go by any other name? Possibly a drive plate? Sorry if this is a dumb question, like I said, I'm pretty new to all this.