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  #1  
Old 10-01-2005, 03:37 PM
SvXchica
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Exclamation Help... girl needs help!!!

**Excuse the spelling, I can NOT spell**

Ya'll I do NOT know what to do with my car!!! Ugh, it seems like its falling apart on my but I love it sooo much!!! Heres the story.

I wrecked my car in Febuary of 05, so I had to get a new one, so after looking everywhere I finally found a new one. It seemed perfect. A 95 Subaru SVX, 93,000 miles, "great condition" well the inside of it at least. The paint was a lil chipped and stratched here and there, the interior was in good shape for the most part, I saw that I would have to replace thing that holds the visor up b/c it kept falling down, but other than that I was excited, I really didn't like the color anyway and wanted to paint it black so I was like hell with it. I'm gunna get it.

After taking it to my dad's work and having him check it out and then me checking it out for things I found online to look for it looked in good shape.

A few weeks later is when the trouble started.

-my AC went out
-the whole front panel went out (w/ the defrost, air, heat, vents, clock, cig. lighter etc) it wouldn't even blow air, you could push the button as much as you wanted too and nothing would happen
-tire blew and as soon as I fixed it and turned on my car the check engine light came on and my speedometer, and odometer weren't working - it doesn't even show how many miles I've gone!
-belt broke
etc...

I finally took it into the shop after all that had happened and they fixed the AC, the front panel, and the belt - I was so excited, they were supposed to fix the speedometer and odometer and the check engine light but didn't. After they did that I talked to the guy in Subaru's service department and he told me "Look, I know you love your car, but when this car first came out it was a $35-40,000 car. The upkeep is expensive so you have to make sure you do it...and your car as some serious transmission issues. I know you love your car, but you need to trade it in" so instead of him saying he would fix it for this price he told me to trade it in. Is that weird to anyone else??

I dunno, I know I need a new trans and I want to get one, so does anyone know about how much it would cost me all together etc or any websites? I really love my car and I want to fix it, not only b/c I have no credit and can't get another car...but just b/c how many SVX's do you see on the road? Now seriously??

so please - reply or message me or something.

thx
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  #2  
Old 10-01-2005, 05:10 PM
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michael michael is offline
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Hi SvXchica and welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about your recent troubles. The SVX really is a commitment, it's all or nothing. If you really love it you have to be in for the long haul, they are expensive to keep up. Once you decide to keep it forever, spending money on it doesn't really bother you as much. Other people will call you crazy and your mechanic will hate you. As for the transmission a rebuilt automatic will run you between 2-3k. Some one here can point you to a place who might install a 5 speed for you for around 1.5-2k if you would be interested in a manual transmission. Your speedometer proably isn't working because your spedometer sensor broke, this requires removing the transmisssion. So get a new tranny before thinking of getting that fixed. That would also explain the check engine light, it knows the spedometer sensor is bad. These cars need a lot of love and patience. Once you get to a certain point the repairs will become further and further apart. Be patient, read up (the experienced members of this site can save you a ton of $$$ and regret) and welcome.
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  #3  
Old 10-01-2005, 05:46 PM
SvXchica
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How is it that installing a manual transmission is cheaper than getting a new automatic one...? Should go to go my subaru dealership for that or how do I go about that? I would love to have a manual. And thanks for the info about the sensor, once I figure out what to do with my transmission I'll def. get that fixed if I decide to keep the car, which I really want too...but being a college student and already working 2 jobs, its kinda hard to save up that money :-\ blah... thanks for all your help!!
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  #4  
Old 10-01-2005, 06:01 PM
Fuzz541 Fuzz541 is offline
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Welcome to SVX world (tranny woes, etc.). I'm a new owner and new to this site as well.

Search around here for a while and you'll come up with some really good information. You might consider doing a transmission swap from another Subaru model, such as a mid-90's Legacy L or Outback. I am in the process of getting one from an Outback. Either one will require you to get a new rear differential as well to match the tranny's final drive ratio*, but the whole total will still likely be less than a rebuilt SVX transmission. I'm looking at about $1500 installed for a 1997 Outback tranny with 25k miles and a 2001 Impreza 2.5RS diff with 84k miles.

5 speed swaps are more involved and require a little bit of custom fabrication. It could still end up being cheaper than a "new/rebuilt" SVX tranny because you will pay big $ for one from Subaru or another source. You can get used, low mileage auto and 5sp transmissions from junkyards for $400-800, and rear differentials from $100 - 300.

*SVX final drive = 3.545:1. Legacy L 2.2 or Impreza 2.2 auto final drive = 4.11:1. Outback, Forester and Impreza 2.5RS auto final drive = 4.444:1. The larger the number, the lower the gearing. The lower the gearing, the quicker your car will be from a start, but the more it will eat gas, the more it will rev on the highway, etc. svxfiles, one of the OG members here, has tons of experience with these swaps and has helped me quite a bit.

Search for things like "transmission swap" and you'll come up with some good info.

Also, your sig line is a little cheezy for the crowd here. Sorry, but I had to say it.
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  #5  
Old 10-01-2005, 06:13 PM
dwd1985 dwd1985 is offline
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other things to look for

As was previously stated, the SVX is a car in which almost every one has the same problems. The transmission is faulty on almost every SVX (especially the 1992 models, like mine) due to high heat output, poor coolant flow, and high overdrive. So when you do get your new transmission (if you still decide to), make sure to get a transmission cooler installed at the same time. You can get one for around $100. Also, if you decide to replace your old transmission with another 4-EAT (like you currently have), see about getting a Shift Kit put on it. You can get one of those for about $50. As for getting a manual tranny put into it, I wouldnt reccomend goign to a nearby Subaru dealer to get that done, as they will probably highly overcharge you. Look around this site for information on that, its in nearly every forum. Some of the other problems almost every SVX has are the wheel bearings fail, the rotors will warp under heavy braking (due to the weight of the car, and the fact that Subaru put in rotors that couldnt take the pressure), and then a few cosmetic things as well, such as the sun visors (which you have already found out the hard way), and some of the interior buttons. Parts for this car are not cheap by any means either. Please take all of these things into consideration before deciding whether or not you want to keep yours or not, because it might end up costing you alot more down the road. When I bought my SVX, I was really only aware of the transmission problems, but my transmission had just been rebuilt. But when other things started to go wrong, I found out the hard way how tough these things can be to maintain (I'm a college student too, and I understand what your going through). Think about all of this before making your descision.

Last edited by dwd1985; 10-02-2005 at 12:10 AM.
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  #6  
Old 10-01-2005, 06:13 PM
SvXchica
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I'm confused...

But, see I don't understand any of that, at all. I'm a 19 yr old female. None of my friends really know anything either. If Subaru is going to over charge me like mad how do I get the right one for the right price with the right mileage and how to I get it installed? Go to a local place in town with a good reputation and have them help me? I dunno...I'm so lost.

p.s. thx for your honesty ;-) I changed it now.
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  #7  
Old 10-01-2005, 07:08 PM
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svxfiles svxfiles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzz541
svxfiles, one of the OG members here, has tons of experience with these swaps and has helped me quite a bit.
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  #8  
Old 10-01-2005, 07:18 PM
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n00b on demand n00b on demand is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by svxfiles
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OG; troglodite?




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  #9  
Old 10-01-2005, 07:49 PM
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Yeah, get your SVX up to that gansta, SVXFiles....he'll fix you up for a price that can't be beat north or south of the Mason-Dixon
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  #10  
Old 10-01-2005, 07:52 PM
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Beav Beav is offline
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When it comes to parts search ebay. A lot more used parts available now. I've noticed a number of transmissions listed lately. Search: Subaru +svx
A local shop should be able to swap transmssions for you without having to resort to the dealer. Most dealer techs hate working on cars over 4-5 years old and will be sure to charge all the money.
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  #11  
Old 10-01-2005, 11:35 PM
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ensteele ensteele is offline
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Welcome to the site. I hope you can get things fixed so you can enjoy the car again. Good Luck.
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  #12  
Old 10-02-2005, 12:00 AM
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If you do ANYTHING at all, be nice to the throttle until the necessary work is done to keep it running reliably.
No mods or sound systems until you get it purring like a very large kitten (:
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  #13  
Old 10-02-2005, 12:55 AM
Fuzz541 Fuzz541 is offline
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Sheesh. My NASIOC is slipping.

OMGHI2UTITTYWOP!!!
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  #14  
Old 10-02-2005, 01:34 AM
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Sheesh. My NASIOC is slipping.

OMGHI2UTITTYWOP!!!
Yeah but on SVXN we got lockers, and she has pics in there.

<.<


>.>



*coughbabecoughhackweez*
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'92 Dark Teal SVX LS-L, >146,000m
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  #15  
Old 10-02-2005, 03:47 PM
SvXchica
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what? im so lost... lol isn't that what a locker is for?
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