TPS internals investigation and repair

[gwynethh]

We have spent some time looking for a way to replace or repair the SVX TPS as Subaru no longer makes it. If anyone would like to comment on our preliminary report and repair options it would be appreciated.

[wdb]

For some reason my feeble brain registered that as "TPMS".

Very nice writeup! I'd be tempted to go with the Impreza piece but I see where hacking the wiring harness might detract from originality etc. The refurbbed original seems to satisfy the need in that regard but it's a bit of work. Oh the trials and tribulations of owning old cars...

[gwynethh]

Updated TPS info based on comments from a former member.

[Martyn]

Gwynethh and all that contributed to this article.
As an update, I reside in NZ, and have owned my SVX for 18 years now. My TPS has been "playing up" for some while, and I first delved into the internals probably 3 years ago. Initially, I found one of the wipers had splayed, so I soldered and filed it flat! This resolved my issues for a while till I realised the track had loss of continuity in places. I overcame this for a while by carefully adjusting the "location" of the wiper slightly. Eventually however, I again started to get error code 31 and came to the conclusion a replacement TPS or Contact plate were my only choices. As you point out, even if you can obtain a "genuine" TPS, they are ludicrously expensive. I was also not as fortunate as yourself, as Alibaba no longer has stock of the SVX (nor Impreza) TPS units. SO, to get to the point of writing... I ordered and carefully dismantled the Sentra A71-000 B50 TPS. Snag is that (because it's all "upside-down") the soldered contacts are somewhat longer than the SVX connects, so you have to very carefully straighten, cut and re-bend the contacts in order to solder these to the SVX TPS posts. On the positive side, if you manage to get everything back together, I can confirm it works a treat! As I knew my challenge was finding a suitable contact plate, I cannot thank you guys enough for your article, by identifying a suitable donor unit. I've managed to get the old girl back in action for a mere $46.
By the way, I would have also liked to have also been able to use the new wipers from the Sentra unit, but due to its design, the locating rivet holes are spaced too far apart to use on the SVX spindle. Whether this could also be modded for use can wait for the next time I have take the TPS apart, which I hope may be some time off.