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  #1  
Old 08-24-2008, 10:42 AM
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K_Dub K_Dub is offline
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Well, I made it...

Just finished a 1000 mi drive in my new '92 LS-L from Los Angeles to Boulder, CO and I've got some good and some bad to report.

First the good:
28 miles per gallon over a 300 mile stretch from Beaver, Utah to Grand Junction, CO. I thought the pump had cut out early because I've been averaging between 19 and 25 miles per gallon since I got the car. But this stretch I just set the CC for about 87mph (see below for reasons) and the car must have loved it. This is better than my '92 Legacy got on the freeway with two fewer pistons cranking.

Also, what a great long distance car. First Subee that I've owned that didn't make me numb after 4 hours in the seat. I guess that's what made it a touring car. That and all the Infinity speakers I just installed made this a pretty cushy ride.

Now the bad:
My transmission is so screwed When I push it hard it drives like a dream, but when cruising at low throttle the car tries to downshift to 3rd slowly revving up, then slams back into 4th with a violent snap. The Cruise Control doesn't cause this as much, but it did happen periodically. I'm hoping to get it into Superrupair while I'm in town for a couple weeks, but they've already turned down the transmission swap job, so I'm not inclined to pour a bunch of money into a gearbox that I hope to swap this year. Perhaps a break band adj or flush would be a cheap way to get her back home without the drivetrain turning to confetti in the middle of the desert. Advice?

The AC is shot. I knew this going in, but I'd forgotten how hot the Mojave gets in the summer. I set the econ mode to 65 and let it pump 100+ degree air in the whole way, but when I got to the rockies it actually cut out. I'd reached 65 Then as I climbed the mountains it actually turned to heat. I couldn't believe it, after sweating for two days, the outside temp read 52. Time to open up all the windows and the sunroof and enjoy some clean, cool, mountain air. Which brings me to my next issue.

The drivers side window doesn't want to close all the way at speed. It seems to get caught right at the top (right at whistle level). Obnoxious, but livable. I've had this problem in other cars. I'm hoping to give it a wiggle, and see if it's still on track. But...

When I pulled off to try and shut the window without the wind resistance the security turned itself on with the engine running! I hit the button, and it turned off and on just like it was parked with the key out. So I turned off the car and security and restarted, and it worked normally, but now I'm scared to use it. I don't have the remote fob (couldn't get an aftermarket to program), so the only way I have to disable the alarm is to turn on the car, but if the security can run with the car on, then I could very well end up with an alarm that won't shut up.

In all, I'm still thrilled with my new ride. Even with my newly discovered issues, it's still the nicest car that I've ever owned. I'm looking forward to fixing everything and making it mint, but for everything I fix a couple new issues rear their ugly head. If anyone has a tip on any of the above problems please help me out. Particularly the ones that would prevent me from making it back to Cali in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for reading,
-Kit W.
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Old 08-24-2008, 11:05 AM
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Re: Well, I made it...

Quote:
Originally Posted by K_Dub View Post
Now the bad:
My transmission is so screwed When I push it hard it drives like a dream, but when cruising at low throttle the car tries to downshift to 3rd slowly revving up, then slams back into 4th with a violent snap. The Cruise Control doesn't cause this as much, but it did happen periodically.
-Kit W.
When I got it, my silver SVX couldn't make up its mind what gear it wanted (I think I've posted here before that the first time I set the cruise control, at a very modest highway speed, the tach needle swung to-and-fro like a metronome). Not jarring or violent, but annoying enough to make me avoid that RPM/speed range. Also had a very harsh 1-2 shift under hard throttle. A new throttle position sensor completely cured this. Might be worth a try before spending big $$$ on the transmission.

dcb
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  #3  
Old 08-24-2008, 12:54 PM
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Re: Well, I made it...

I agree to replace the TPS first. Before my 3.54 AWD transmission blew its center differential portion, it too was gear hunting on the freeway. I suspected and hope its the TPS. I put in a replacement transmission with 4.44 gears. Its does the same thing, just at a different speed. I am going to visit salvage yards for a TPS next weekend. Try that first.
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  #4  
Old 08-24-2008, 02:19 PM
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Re: Well, I made it...

I had a similar experience with mileage. Last year I took my svx from Philadelphia to Dallas, 1600 miles, and got about 28mpg. This year I took my legacy wagon down and back, with about 25mpg tops, even if i babied it as much as humanly possible. The svx was also a much nicer, smoother, and more comfortable ride. However I will say the legacy is superior to the 2001 volvo wagon v70 cross country, in matters of ride quality and vibration. So the subaru's have got that vibration thing down, the horizontally opposed engines win over an inline 5 cylander they use in the volvo's.
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  #5  
Old 10-14-2008, 06:48 PM
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Long overdue update

I started this thread a couple of months ago, and thought I'd use it to give a little update to the project.

So I had a disappointing time at my old mechanic in Boulder, SuperRupair. I had them do the A/C and the TPS with an open ended budget. First off they totally FAILED on the AC: They replaced a couple of cracked O-rings in the compressor, and gave it a recharge. I picked it up the next day and it still didn't work. They went over it again, recharged, and then found the leak on the compressor up near the pully. No replacement part, as they'd sold their only other one the previous day (while I was picking mine up the first time). I ended up having to pay for the parts including recharges. Still no A/C

But I was thrilled with the TPS...Until. They had "saved me money" by just cleaning it and adjusting it as far back as possible. That worked for a couple of months. Smooth shifts at appropriate times. Life was good. I almost grew to tolerate the automatic. But now it's back to it's old self again, and I ran the tests in the how to docs, and low and behold I've got the same erratic readings at low throttle. So I've ordered a new part (ouch) and am looking forward to fixing this once and for all. Only wish the $85 they charged me for what I re-did today went to the new sensor.

Otherwise great things to report. I just got back from another long trip up to San Fransisco and back. I just can't get enough of this car, I'm driving the heck out of it. We took hwy 1 up through Big Sur, and I felt like I was in a commercial. That's what this car was built for. It was great.

Finally took the golden oldie's rims off, and got a set of 17x7.5 black 5 spokes with a chrome lip and hub. The ride is still smooth, but it hugs the turns better, and I didn't have to roll the fenders like on my Legacy(RIP) which I grew to regret for rust reasons. I'll get pics up soon, but on the black car with the tint it looks pretty mean.

Don't know if there's any correlation, but since upgrading to Kumo Ecstas my rear diff problems seem more pronounced. I think these are grabbing where the old ones would slip, but regardless those bushings are rotted through. I'm thinking while I do those would be a good time for the 15 and 20 min mods. I'm patting myself on the back for figuring out the TPS today, is all this rear end work gonna be over my head?

Lastly, I love this list. I surf it at work whenever I can, and really enjoy listening in on the tech talk. I've learned so much already, and I'm just breaking the surface as an SVX owner.

Thanks,
-Kit W.
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  #6  
Old 10-14-2008, 07:08 PM
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Re: Well, I made it...

Dude your like me fixing up the svx no matter what problems. I bought mine with it kinda wrecked. Kid hit a curb popped the air bag bent the a arm didn't have a front bumper had bad fenders. Needs a full paint job. And Tranny was shot. Its up on blocks now getting a wrx 5 speed! Then 17 or 18 stern warp rims. If your ever up in sac give a holler.
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  #7  
Old 10-14-2008, 07:39 PM
oab_au oab_au is offline
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Re: Long overdue update

Quote:
Originally Posted by K_Dub View Post
Otherwise great things to report. I just got back from another long trip up to San Fransisco and back. I just can't get enough of this car, I'm driving the heck out of it. We took hwy 1 up through Big Sur, and I felt like I was in a commercial. That's what this car was built for. It was great.

Lastly, I love this list. I surf it at work whenever I can, and really enjoy listening in on the tech talk. I've learned so much already, and I'm just breaking the surface as an SVX owner.

Thanks,
-Kit W.
Interstate driving was what the car was designed to do Kit, and it does it really well.
Doesn't like the city commuting.

Harvey.
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  #8  
Old 10-14-2008, 08:43 PM
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Re: Long overdue update

Quote:
Originally Posted by oab_au View Post
Interstate driving was what the car was designed to do Kit, and it does it really well.
Doesn't like the city commuting.

Harvey.
Yeah, I was getting ~16-17mpg driving back and forth to work (~4 miles) in mine, but I'd get 25ish on the highway...

I'm kinda surprised they charged you for the o-rings and such when the leak was something they missed (unless those o-rings were leaking as well) I know if you had come to my dealership, we would have worked something out differently... but that compressor seal is usually the first thing we check when a car comes in with inop AC!
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  #9  
Old 10-16-2008, 10:18 PM
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K_Dub K_Dub is offline
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Re: Long overdue update

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondasucks View Post
I know if you had come to my dealership, we would have worked something out differently...
I wish your dealership was about 700 miles farther south.

I called around today, and spoke with only one shop that can help me out. They're a Subaru independent about 40 miles away, and when I asked if they worked on many SVXs they replied; "Not if we can help it." I countered with "so you guys wouldn't be interested in a 5spd swap?" and the guy laughed at me. Why does this car scare every mechanic who sees it, they ought to be seeing dollar signs.

My rear is getting progressively worse, now shuddering any time I accelerate from a stop (not just in turns), and briefly on the freeway today resulting in a misfire in my chest (my heart stopped). I keep thinking that I'm just gonna leave the differential on the ground at a stop light one of these times. I've got to wait a whole week for my TPS to arrive, and I'm thinking I'll need to fix this differential problem before then. It's gotten remarkably worse since my last post; is it normal for the bushings to go from tolerably bad to violently horrible so quickly or is this yet another problem rearing it's head. I really thought I'd have more time to get this fixed.

In the past week this went from the greatest car I've owned to one of the hardest. I guess I'm just making up for 4 years of driving my Legacy without doing anything but oil changes. I've only had this SVX for 4 months, and I've already sunk tons of money into it, and it's only getting worse. All I have to keep me going is the brief memory of smooth/trouble free driving that I've had with it and telling myself that it's still worth all the repairs to get that back.

Sorry to vent, I'm just a little peeved. I've driven two EA82 turbos, so I know that not all Subarus are reliable work-horses and they can even break down from time to time, but so far this one takes the cake. I'll fix whatever she throws at me, but I've got my limits. My girlfriend suggested to me today that I get a Volvo, and I said I'd rather get a second SVX so I could drive one while the other's in the shop. She just groaned.

-Kit W.
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Old 10-18-2008, 05:47 PM
PaulDexler PaulDexler is offline
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Re: Well, I made it...

Hey Kdub,
where are you in the Los Angeles area? I don't have a decent Subaru mechanic near me, but I am educating a local shop with a high reputation about the car. If it needs something, I copy all the info from the net, then take it to them with the car. They've done my timing belt, water pump, etc., redone all the brakes, and are keeping an eye on the axles (no problems yet.) When the tranny went, they pointed me at a nearby specialist, also with a great reputation, who did the job and gave me a 2 year warranty on it.
Problem is, I have seen only one other local SVX in the 14 months I've had the car, and I'd just like to see another one just to check out things.
The dealer in Lancaster, where my car was first sold, chucked all their old service records, so I've got no real history. The dealer in Thousand Oaks has someone who supposedly knows the SVX, but they're so expensive I hesitate to go there. And I haven't contacted the only other local dealer, in Sherman Oaks.
It's much easier to get info/help on my Alfa Romeo, which is currently in the shop getting a new (no rebuilts available) AC compressor.
Paul
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Old 10-19-2008, 03:38 PM
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Re: Well, I made it...

Quote:
where are you in the Los Angeles area? I don't have a decent Subaru mechanic near me, but I am educating a local shop with a high reputation about the car. If it needs something, I copy all the info from the net, then take it to them with the car. They've done my timing belt, water pump, etc., redone all the brakes, and are keeping an eye on the axles (no problems yet.) When the tranny went, they pointed me at a nearby specialist, also with a great reputation, who did the job and gave me a 2 year warranty on it.
I'm currently living in Reseda, and commuting to work in Santa Monica. That makes the guys at Suby Specialties in Monrovia quite a long haul for me although they come highly recomended by some Impreza/Outback guys that I know. We're practically neighbors in the valley, so if you know a local guy that's interested in the car that would be a huge breakthrough. I've been out here in Cali for 8 years, but my previous subees have been so reliable that taking them back to Colorado for major work wasn't such a big deal. It's tough having one mechanic for over 10 years, then having them turn into a flailing putz on my new car. I'm only now fretting because this car seems to need a bit more TLC than I'm used to.

If you want to give me a referral to your shop I'd appreciate it. I'm also talking to a friend who rebuilds Toyota FJs as a hobby, and he says that the bushing work I need would be a cinch at his house, but I'm sure that at some point I'll be needing professional assistance keeping this beast on the road.

Quote:
Problem is, I have seen only one other local SVX in the 14 months I've had the car, and I'd just like to see another one just to check out things
If you want to get together sometime to talk shop, I'd be in. We could even take some pics of the only 2 SVXs in the basin, and post them for all these east coasters to envy.
-Kit W.
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Old 10-20-2008, 02:19 PM
PaulDexler PaulDexler is offline
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Re: Well, I made it...

Hi Kit,
I'm in Chatsworth, only a few miles from you. I've been hoping that Young Tom will swing by here on his round-the-country dash, but so far no reply. I'd love to see your car and compare. I'm listed in the local phone book. Give a call.
Paul
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Old 10-22-2008, 02:29 PM
SorelyVeXed SorelyVeXed is offline
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Re: Well, I made it...

Paul and Kit -

Another SoCal SVXer here. Kit, I've spoken with Steve Courtice at Suby Specialties on a few occasions. He's a nice guy, and, if reputation serves, an outstanding Subaru mechanic. There was a time when he readily worked on SVXs, but no more. They are an unbelievably busy shop (do a search on their name on the NASIOC forums), and Steve has basically said that working on the SVX is too time consuming. In our last conversation, I told him that I had a bunch of parts already that the shop could just install on the car (no interminable waiting for parts), and he reluctantly said he would do it. But, after thinking about, do I want someone who really isn't interested in working on my car to "have at it?". Then again, I may have no choice.

Paul, how good is the shop that you are working with, and where are they?

We are right in the middle of major house remodeling - it looks like a war zone around here. But, I really need to get my SVX back up and running. Gotta get it out of the carport, because the carport is being redone as well.

Tom....?? Help??

Update: Looks like I'll be getting a visit from Tom! I'm really looking forward to meeting him, and having him revitalize my car! Thanks, Tom.

Last edited by SorelyVeXed; 10-23-2008 at 03:14 PM.
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  #14  
Old 10-25-2008, 07:46 PM
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K_Dub K_Dub is offline
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Re: Well, I made it...work!

Installed my new TPS today! Turns out, there's only so much an adjustment can do for a bad unit, my car runs great now. Thanks to everyone here especially svx_commuter, and Trevor R. Sheffield for their writeups found in the How To Docs. That really is an invaluable resource. This forum is a bastion of information on an otherwise very obscure car. Now I hear that one of the foremost SVX scholars is headed to LA? This is without doubt grounds for a "Tom's in LA Mini-Meet."

Found some interesting stuff in replacing the TPS, that some here may find useful. Turns out it does have a lot to do with the AWD system as well as the trani. I mentioned before thinking that my rear-diff bushings went bad suddenly in conjunction with the TPS slipping out again: Well, the clunking and slowing in turns is gone with the new TPS installed. It used to feel a lot like my Full Time 4WD XT when she was about to break another CV joint. Now my SVX accelerates from stop with the wheel locked in turn with nary a shuffle. Bringing the total of symptoms cured to:

1. Hard shifting from 1st to 2nd, often at unusually high RPM for the amount of gas applied.
2. Downshifting frequently during hwy cruzing (45-75mph). Problem not apparent when pushing throttle harder.
3. Slowing in tight turns, even coming to a stop at idle in hard turns such as parking. Lurching feeling to car at low speeds at hard turn.
4. Stutter when accelerating to about 15mph from stop, especially while turning (making right turns in intersections was worst).

My car feels better than ever. Now if only they'd get around to shipping my HID's I'd be thrilled (that's a one eyed smiley). Good call on the TPS folks, and thanks again.

-Kit W.
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