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 > General SVX Babble

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-25-2010, 10:02 AM
mbrady mbrady is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Richmond, MN
Posts: 6
Registered SVX
Picked up our first SVX

My husband and I picked up a green '95 SVX L AWD for our 2nd winter car/DD. It has 168k on it. The hood has to be held up, the trunk doesn't open (might be frozen shut), the steering wheel tilt feature doesn't work (it won't lock into place), 3 of the struts are bad.

We are gonna do a service on it: t-belt, other belts, pullies, water pump, t-belt tensioner, tranny flush.

What brand transmission fluid is best? Where is the best place to find struts?

Melissa
__________________
Melissa

1995 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (1 of 553)
1996 Dodge Stealth R/T (1 of 115)
1995 Subaru SVX L AWD
1995 Subaru Legacy/Outback L

Last edited by mbrady; 02-25-2010 at 10:51 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-25-2010, 10:19 AM
dbarnblatt's Avatar
dbarnblatt dbarnblatt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Venice, CA
Posts: 401
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Congrats! A few quick fixes:

Hood:
new struts are available for the hood. A subaru dealer can get them... might be costly.

Trunk:
You might have the valet key. Will the key open or lock the glovebox? If not than have a regular key made and you can get into the trunk. The latch on the trunk also may be locked to prevent it from being opened from within the car... have you tried the trunk release to the left of the driver's seat? Once you get the trunk open make sure the latch lock is not set and you can open the trunk from within the car.

Steering Wheel:
There are 3 controls for the steering wheel adjustment. The one most people confuse with the up and down adjustment is called "lift"... just to the left of the steering column. That is used to get in and out of the car easier... pull it towards you and the wheel will lift up. Pull the wheel back down to lock it into place. That adjustment lever is located under the steering column.

Struts:
Not good news here. The options are few. Factory struts can be had, but the consensus is that they have been sitting at the Subaru parts warehouse for over a decade and are starting to go bad! One solution is Koni strut inserts, which I have done. Expensive... probably over $1000 after installation. Another solution is custom made coilovers... and you can more than double that $1000 figure.

The service is good... keep us posted!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mbrady View Post
My husband and I picked up a green '95 SVX L AWD for our 2nd winter car/DD. It has 168k on it. The hood has to be held up, the trunk doesn't open (might be frozen shut), the steering wheel tilt feature doesn't work (it won't lock into place), 3 of the struts are bad.

We are gonna do a service on it: t-belt, other belts, pullies, water pump, t-belt, tensioner, tranny flush.

What brand transmission fluid is best? Where is the best place to find struts?

Melissa

Last edited by dbarnblatt; 02-25-2010 at 10:26 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-25-2010, 10:59 AM
lhopp77's Avatar
lhopp77 lhopp77 is offline
Old Timer (age that is)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Posts: 3,514
Send a message via Yahoo to lhopp77
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

If you only want to make it driveable, you can buy used parts including struts. They need to be fairly local though or shipping will drive the costs up for heavy parts.

Lee
__________________
SVXx2
92 SVX LS-L Silver
92 SVX LS-L Burgundy (structurally challenged with 2792 miles)
96 SVX LSi Red
92 SVX LS Pearl (Parts)
01 F150 4X4 Red
(+6 with other members of the family)

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-25-2010, 11:05 AM
mbrady mbrady is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Richmond, MN
Posts: 6
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

AS far as the hood goes, my husband said he'd just use a broomstick to hold it up. The place we bought it from had the front left strut replaced earlier. The bad struts are just annoying and not really first on the list. We looked at the steering wheel really good. The telescoping part works, but the lever that should lock the wheel into place (up-down wise) doesn't lock. The trunk release by the seat doesn't open the trunk, and the key won't either. We'll keep looking into it though. The sunroof also doesn't work. It doesn't even make noise.

I know the front rims are on backwards, we'll fix that soon....

here is a pic:
__________________
Melissa

1995 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (1 of 553)
1996 Dodge Stealth R/T (1 of 115)
1995 Subaru SVX L AWD
1995 Subaru Legacy/Outback L
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-25-2010, 11:37 AM
Sean486's Avatar
Sean486 Sean486 is offline
Happy SVX
Subaru Silver Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Posts: 3,406
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

In that picture the sunroof looks like it may be aftermarket rather than factory.

Nice car!
__________________
1992 LSL ebony pearl 170k - Thank you Ron Mummert
Reading Box of Wine Car
-----------------------------------
1992 SVX LSL 5-Speed Sold at 180K 2019
1995 SVX Lsi Polo Sold at 118K 2007
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-25-2010, 11:59 AM
Mike621's Avatar
Mike621 Mike621 is offline
15th time is a charm?
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,062
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Melissa,

It looks like (especially for Minnesota) that you've picked up a fairly clean example.

OEM or aftermarket strut inserts (Koni) are your only real options for struts.

This car looks familiar, similar to one Ive seen in PA. Could you post the VIN in the registration thread?

Congratulations, and Good Luck with your new purchase.
__________________
1991 SVX L JDM
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-25-2010, 12:14 PM
mbrady mbrady is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Richmond, MN
Posts: 6
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

It was a Texas car for 8+ years then it was in Wisconsin for 5+ years.
VIN JF1CX3358SH100410

The sunroof seems to be factory. It has a built it control for it and has a sliding cover.
__________________
Melissa

1995 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (1 of 553)
1996 Dodge Stealth R/T (1 of 115)
1995 Subaru SVX L AWD
1995 Subaru Legacy/Outback L

Last edited by mbrady; 02-25-2010 at 12:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-25-2010, 12:44 PM
Mike621's Avatar
Mike621 Mike621 is offline
15th time is a charm?
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,062
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Melissa,

This particular sunroof seemed to be a popular dealer add-on. I had seen it before on other SVXs. It's a practical addition to the L-AWD offering. Note: All factory installed SVX sunroofs are sheetmetal and not glass.

Also, I highly recommend AMSOIL Automatic Trans Fluid.
__________________
1991 SVX L JDM
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-25-2010, 12:58 PM
mbrady mbrady is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Richmond, MN
Posts: 6
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Quote:
All factory installed SVX sunroofs are sheetmetal and not glass.
I didn't know that............good point.

We'll go with the AMSOIL fluid also....
__________________
Melissa

1995 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (1 of 553)
1996 Dodge Stealth R/T (1 of 115)
1995 Subaru SVX L AWD
1995 Subaru Legacy/Outback L
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-25-2010, 01:01 PM
1986nate 1986nate is offline
Senior Member
Subaru Silver Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Meadville, PA-but I'll still travel
Posts: 4,672
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

+1 for all Amsoil fluids
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-25-2010, 01:31 PM
lhopp77's Avatar
lhopp77 lhopp77 is offline
Old Timer (age that is)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Posts: 3,514
Send a message via Yahoo to lhopp77
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Mobile 1 synthetic is fine. Amsoil is over priced. Just make sure you get the right type. Powersteering uses the same fluid as the tranny.

Lee
__________________
SVXx2
92 SVX LS-L Silver
92 SVX LS-L Burgundy (structurally challenged with 2792 miles)
96 SVX LSi Red
92 SVX LS Pearl (Parts)
01 F150 4X4 Red
(+6 with other members of the family)

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-25-2010, 03:17 PM
NeedForSpeed NeedForSpeed is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SoCal / Texas
Posts: 1,738
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Quote:
Originally Posted by mbrady View Post
My husband and I picked up a green '95 SVX L AWD for our 2nd winter car/DD. It has 168k on it. The hood has to be held up, the trunk doesn't open (might be frozen shut), the steering wheel tilt feature doesn't work (it won't lock into place), 3 of the struts are bad.

We are gonna do a service on it: t-belt, other belts, pullies, water pump, t-belt tensioner, tranny flush.

What brand transmission fluid is best? Where is the best place to find struts?

Melissa
Hi,
If the trunk doesn't open when release by driver seat is pulled, it is due to the lock switch on the latch. Open trunk with key, then flip switch on latch, then you can open with floor release lever.

Same goes with the rear seat. The interior release is under back passenger headrest. If the seat will not fold down, it is due to another lever on the seat back that can be accessed from trunk. Let me know if that helps
__________________
Special Thanks to Our Friends and Sponsors:
*
http://www.alcyone.org.uk/ssm http://www.PhenixWheels.com http://www.dba.com.au/
http://www.ClassicSoftTrim.com http://ToyoTires.com/tire/pattern/versado-lx Gillman Subaru of Houston
"QuickChange" http://www.TransGo.com/ http://www.PlanetSVX.com Bontrager Works,

'92 Subaru SVX LS-L Claret ORIGINAL OWNER
'92 LS-L Pearl~ '92 LS Pearl~ '92 LS-L Teal~ '92 LS-L Silver~ '95 LSi Polo~
'92 JDM Alcyone SVX Version-L 4WS Pearl~ http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54143
'92 JDM Alcyone SVX Version-L 4WS Ebony~ http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54117

Last edited by NeedForSpeed; 02-25-2010 at 04:46 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-25-2010, 03:53 PM
Gamesy's Avatar
Gamesy Gamesy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,677
Registered SVX
Re: Picked up our first SVX

maybe there's something hidden in the trunk if you havnt looked inside yet :P
__________________
Tranny goes in, tranny comes out, tranny goes in.....AW ****, tranny comes out....
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-25-2010, 04:36 PM
b3lha's Avatar
b3lha b3lha is offline
Phil & Belha
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Alcyone Limited, Buckinghamshire UK
Posts: 2,671
Re: Picked up our first SVX

Quote:
Originally Posted by mbrady View Post
AWe looked at the steering wheel really good. The telescoping part works, but the lever that should lock the wheel into place (up-down wise) doesn't lock.
Did you find the other lever? In the middle underneath. You have to feel for it.
__________________
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
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 06:10 AM.


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