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  #16  
Old 01-16-2004, 02:40 PM
tone tone is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Porto, Portugal
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Cool No time no see...

Hi Joe,

I have been around peeking at all of you in this wonderland.

I should have apologised a long ago to all of you who PM'd me on the factory manuals issue since I was the one that suggested to buil a list and ask James a few sets to distribute.
I am sorry for that.
I guess work took over and I simply did not have time to sit around here and also to enjoy my SVX.

Since you asked I guess the SVX is ok but I took a lot of time on the legalisation process which is a lot complicated and expensive around here (almost 10000 Euro) and so far only made 1.5k on it.

Did you know the original owner was a member of the German SVX Club?
I was in shock when I saw pictures of a car in one meet with my car's former plate on it.
It was in fact a very strange feeling as the owner passed away suddenly and that was the reason I managed to buy the car...

Check here (it's the car with the plate AW-GK943): http://www.svx-club.de/Unsere_Treffe...ffen_2001.html

And here http://www.svx-club.de/Unsere_Treffe...1/PA130090.JPG

I was surprised to see that the transmission does not have an ATF filter as I thought a 96 version should have it.

The ATF cooling pipes go to the front radiator, on the bottom and share with the engine cooling water a litle bit of dissipation surface.

I never drove before an automatic but this feels realy great.
If you ever come to these lands please pay me a visit so I can have the car tested by a svxpecialist.

BTW, can you tell me your opinion on the following matter?

When I drove it I always did highway, around 65km each way, and when I was about to stop the car the cooling fan was always on.
Since engine cooling water was at the normal temperature and TC seems to lock up as it should the only explanation I have is for the ATF section to be too hot which means transmission must be heating a lot.
Is this normal with ambient temperatures of average 12 degrees centigrades in these driving conditions.

I don't want to imagine the heat on a summer sunny day...

Tone
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  #17  
Old 01-17-2004, 04:14 AM
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svxistentialist svxistentialist is offline
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Cool Welcome back

Hi Tone

Lots of people read without posting, so you are not alone

They tend to describe themselves as "lurkers" and don't use the term peeking, which has other connotations we won't go into here

Sorry to hear you have had such trouble importing. Ireland is a high tax economy also, and I had trouble getting mine in at reasonable cost, but managed it. Your bonus is, at '96 vintage, you should have one of the best. We may in fact go to Portugal this year with the family. If we do, we'll have to meet.

Sad to hear your car's previous owner passed away, but he will be happy the car is in the hands of someone who appreciates it and cares for it.

Don't worry about the cooling fans. There are two big fans on the rad, and as far as I know, one of them works most of the time. The second, left one facing forward I think, comes on for extra cooling when pressing on or in hot weather, and will be permanently on when the aircon is working [A/C is trying to dump heat also, you see] These cars work in the hottest places in the US, Arizona etc without a murmur, and I have the utmost confidence in the cooling system. If you want to improve it a bit, you might consider putting in an additive to the coolant called a"water wetter". These improve the efficiency at low cost with no side effects.

The only thing you have to worry about is keeping your ATF from getting high -temp "spikes". This will happen in cities in hot weather, when driving uphill in hot weather, or when racing people anytime. In a beautiful warm country like yours, you should really, really have an additional cooler cooling the tranny oil. Until you do get the extra cooler, I would advise you strongly to always check your ATF smells fresh, is a clear pink colour, and will not leave a brown stain from the dipstick on a white tissue. Best advice would be to change your ATF every six months, but at your current low mileage, that would be madness.

Relax and enjoy the car and thanks for the link. Great to see two yellow cars together, totally

See ya

Joe
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  #18  
Old 01-17-2004, 08:42 AM
Bobb Bobb is offline
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Exhaust

Hi everyone across the pond, I have a '92 SVX . A couple of years ago I started hearing some exhaust noise coming from in front of me, the driver. Some of the spring loaded joints where the manifold connects to the rest of the exhaust system and where the Cats connect etc. were wearing out . They are not stainless steel. I replaced all the springs, bolts, nuts, washers and I believe the gaskets in the thinking that if one is going, soon all will go. Since that time I have replaced the oem system with a Stebro system, made in Canada. They have a sales branch in Switzerland. Try [url]www.stebro.net/stct.htm . By the way, don't go into shock when you see the prices on the exhaust hardware. Or the stebro exhaust. Take care, BOBB
P/S On the website at stebro they have posted the telephone number and web address in Switzerland. "B"

Last edited by Bobb; 01-20-2004 at 06:34 PM.
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  #19  
Old 01-19-2004, 07:58 AM
tone tone is offline
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Wink I guess peeking is more exciting...

Hi Joe,

Your explanation on the cooling system functioning procedure got me a lot more relaxed on what might be going bad with the car.

Even though the transmission tunnel seems to be transmiting heat inside the cockpit on those conditions I described to you: 65km highway with low ambient temperatures.

It starts by a hot feeling on the bottom of the shift lever and after it comes slowly as a warming feeling all over the transmission tunnel.

When I made my first inspection underneath the car I found the two upper part of the heat shields from the cats literally on top of the cats (the bottom ones were missing) because of corrosion.
They use a lot salt on the roads in northern Germany I guess...
This could also lead to heat from the cats radiating directly to the gearbox and to the inner part of the transmission tunnel.

Anyway I will be checking the ATF on a monthly basis.
The guys at Subaru reps checked it and told me it was perfect.
On a white piece of cloth it shows a light pink and no odour.

Let me know in advance when you'll come and where.
I'd really like to have an expert taking a drive and checking its behaviour
If I can be of any assistance don't hesitate in leaving me a message.
As you know I am in Porto, in the northern part of the country and most of the people coming here prefer the hotter southern part but I can assure you this country is great from top to bottom specially if you want to travel without a schedule.
You'll will never miss a bed or a meal wherever you go.

See ya.

Tone
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  #20  
Old 01-19-2004, 08:18 AM
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Hi Tone

Glad I put your mind at ease. I drive mine, and don't worry too much, except for the sickening feeling every too often, when the tranny starts to do something funny or unusual

Tony will know what I am talking about.

Add an extra cooler is my best advice, and keep a check as you are doing.

The tranny runs hot. Mine is always warm as you describe. This is caused by a combination of two things; the TCU is programmed to make the shifts between gears imperceptible, which means a lot of slippage and friction; and the engine puts out much more torque than anything other than a powerful turbodiesel, so even at low revs, the tranny is doing a lot of work via the torque converter, and so needs to lose a lot of heat. All you can do is use good fully synthetic oil in it, and keep it cool.

We love Portugal and its people and may come over in the summer. Ann says however that there is football or something on this year. This may mean that accommodation may be scarce, and it certainly will be pushed up in price. It may also mean large numbers of beerswilling types around, making it less attractive for us. Will check it out further, and if we go, would love to meet up.

Cheers

Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty
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Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous
White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic

40,000 miles Jersey Girl
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  #21  
Old 01-20-2004, 05:50 PM
tone tone is offline
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Hi Joe,

Thanks again for the peace of mind.

Your wise, experienced pieces of advice will lead me to enjoy my SVX from the inside as much as I enjoy it from the outside.
I must say that the colour was just a matter of opportunity and price.
If I could choose I'd probably go for a pearly.

I don't think you will have to worry about the Euro 2004 as it will be long gone before summer.

Check this link for the matches schedule.

http://www.euro2004.com/Competitions...lts/index.html

Last game is on the 4th of July so you'll have the reminder, August and September to enjoy this small paradise if you're looking for sun and warm temperatures.

Temperature still absorbs beer though.

I'm quite sure some tourists will stay for say two to three weeks after the Euro 2004 event but I think because of it we'll have less people around in August and September.

Again, tell me if I can be of any help and at least let's meet up for a meal.
...the excuses we find to talk about Subarus's (or is it the other way round?).

Come and enjoy.

Tone
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