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#1
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New here, have a few questions about my SVX
I just got a 1994 SVX LSi a few days ago. Over all its a very nice car. Few things need work like the CD player which is broken. I have 2 main concerns; first it shifts different form any car I’ve ever driven which kind of scares me as I don’t want my new car to fail. And second it kind of shudders when you give it gas or let off at around 40-70mph. If you give it gas or let go quickly or very slowly it does not do it very much. Could it have to do with the fact that the owner before the one I bought it from replaced 2 tires and not all 4 at once. 2 of them are older and more worn than the others, and they are a different brand. And the thing with the transmission that scares me is that it kind of shifts slow like a manual. I know it does not have a clutch but it feels like the clutch is being let out then the gear is changed then the clutch is re-engaged. It does it slow enough that I can tell. My moms Subaru Legacy L shifts a lot faster and I never notice it. It usually takes ¼ of a second to ½ to shift. But I can’t be sure. I don’t know a huge amount about cars. My dad knows a bit about them and seems to think it’s normal. I looked at other symptoms of a bad transmission like the engine reving while it’s shifting or a thud while going into reverse. I have none of those problems. Maybe a shift kit would help? I don’t know how hard that is to install. My dad may be able to help with that. The car has mostly highway miles on it. The last 2 owners only put on 20,000 combined. The first one was a woman who drove it mostly between Maine and Boston Mass. Is an oil cooler for the transmission hard to install? I really want this one to last as long as possible because I don’t have a ton of money for a new transmission.
Thanks |
#2
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First thing is raise the car up and measure all 4 tires curcumference - if the are not within 1/4 inch you will be in for trouble eventually.
The slow shifting is an svx trait which can be cured with either the shift kit from smallcar.com or by unplugging the resistor behind the battery. Welcome to the club and don't hesitate to ask about anything. We'll be glad to try to help out.
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Matt Locker Link 2015 BRZ Limited 6MT 92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting 92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles 19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !. 89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P. |
#3
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Thanks for the info on the tranny. I think you just saved me many sleepless nights involving that. I WILL buy the shift kit soon. I have to go on a trip for a few days tomorrow. But when I come back I'll do that. I'm also going to have my local Subaru dealer do some tranny work like fluid changes and differential fluid changes. I will also try and check the tires when I get back. Its only a 200-300 mile trip. The tires have been like that for 5000+ I think. Another few hundred won't hurt I guess. Someone else I talked to said it might also be balance and that they may need to be realigned. I put pictures in my locker too if any one is interested.
Oh, and this car is the best car I've ever driven in my entire life. I love it. Its a shame they stoped making them. Where I live mostly no one has ever heard of one. |
#4
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The shuddering is not normal. Definitely check out the tires. They should all be the same diameter. Make sure the front tires have about 4 psi more than the rears too. You may want to have the ATF fluid changed out and install an external cooler. The slow shifting I think is normal for the svx. The car shifts very smoothly, and you can feel each phase of the shift.
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Mychailo :: 2006 Silver Mitsubishi Evolution 9, E85, 34 psi peak, 425wtq/505whp DJ :: 1995 Laguna Blue SVX L AWD 5MT (sold) Visit my locker SVX Mods: ND iridium spark plugs, Impreza RS fpr, afr tuned to 13.2:1 using a custom MAF bypass, custom exhaust, WRX 5MT w/ STi RA 1st-4th gear & stock WRX 5th gear, Exedy 13 lb flywheel & Sport Clutch, STi Group N tranny & engine mounts, urethane spacers in rear subframe, rear diff mounts, and pitch stopper, SVX Sport Strut Springs (185f/150r), custom 19 mm rear swaybar, urethane swaybar mounts, Rota Torque 17x8", 225/45-17 Proxes 4 tires, Axxis Deluxe Plus organic brake pads. |
#5
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What cooler is best and where can I get one? I live in a at times very cold enviorment that can also be very hot. I need one that can handle a wide varitery of temps. I'm sure sometimes it gets 0F or lower in the winter and sometimes over 100F in the summer. I heard of some people having trouble with their tranny that has a cooler at low temps. http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...&threadid=2347 Last edited by Wiz; 10-12-2003 at 10:16 PM. |
#6
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I'll just chime in to give you a little more confidence that the shifting is an SVX trait. The reason being that, when the SVX was developed, they couldn't put in a five-speed (according to the engineers at the 10th Anniversary Meet, they didn't have one that would take the torque of the SVX at the time), so, they tuned the TCU to "fake" a more "manual transmission feel," as if (as you say) the clutch is being let out. So, sleep well and enjoy your car.
I'll also say that the tires could very well be your problem. Change them ASAP or you might very well have some tranny problems in the near future. Get new ones all the way 'round. Welcome to the Network, and may you have many happy years with your SVX.
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#7
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#8
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I'd like to suggest another possible cause for your shudder. I think it's very possible that your tranny mount could be broken. The mount is two pieces of metal with rubber sandwiched between them. Here's a photo:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...ckets/9052.jpg And here's a photo of how the mount fits in the car: http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...ckets/9048.jpg When the rubber breaks, as has happened to the mount in the photos, the transmission can sometimes flop around just a little bit. Mine did. Your description of the shudder leads me to suspect that it happens when the torque converter is locked. With the driveline in such a rigid state, without the TC 'slippage' absorbing the shocks, I think that a broken mount could absolutely be the cause for your vibration. That being said, replace all four tires and rotate them often. It's important that you maintain the same circumference between the front and rear wheels. Anyway, the mount isn't that expensive. I would expent a couple hours of labor to install it, as you have to remove the exhaust system to get to it.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE |
#9
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Last edited by Wiz; 10-13-2003 at 04:26 PM. |
#10
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Well, I really don't have any technical advice other than: yeah, the tranny takes some gettin' used to. I've had my SVX for 4mos now, and I'm still not terribly fond of the tranny.
What I really wanted to do is welcome a fellow May-nah to the board. We really are a rare breed up this way. We really need to hook up some time.
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-Evil Jeff '03 WRX Wagon, World Rally Blue '94 SVX LSi, Barcelona Red '89 XT6 4WD, Grey & Rust (and legally, an '01 Outback VDC skankmobile) |
#11
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We definatly are a rare breed here. Almost everyone I showed it to said "cool, what is it?" And of those very few who knew what it was usually said "your so lucky, I've always wanted one". And since its such a rare car I'm paranoid about every thing it does that I'm not used to in other cars. I really don't want mine to break. Mostly cause I don't think I could afford any big jobs being stuck in highschool with insurance debts, cell phone debts, and paying my grandparents back for the loan to get this thing. A friend of mine said he saw one around here too. It had NOS, a supercharger and most importantly a new tranny. It was an auto that could make the car RWD too. Edit; Oh, I'm a comp tech too. LOL I work on the network and computers at my school. Last edited by Wiz; 10-13-2003 at 04:57 PM. |
#12
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Do not go by appearance or tyre size. This is avery important issue which can cost you big money in the long term. The centre clutch is continually in slip mode and there will be wear and tear.
Jack up your wheels and measure the circumference of the tyres at the centres using a dress makers tape measure, or carefully with a non stretch string, making sure this does not fall into a tread groove. If your measurements are within say a quarter inch you can rest in peace. If not you must do something about it. If you have shops dealing in second hand tyres as we do here they could sort it out for you at minimal expense by doing a swop.
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Trevor, New Zealand. As a child, on cold mornings I gladly stood in cowpats to warm my bare feet, but I detest bull$hit! |
#13
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#14
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Different tyre circumferences mean the front and back wheels are turning at a different speed (RPM) ! As both ends are connected to a common drive train the difference is adjusted by means of a clutch which slips in order adjust.
You only need to jack up one wheel at a time, no need to lift the whole car. The shuddering should be treated as a separate issue but could possibly be related.
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Trevor, New Zealand. As a child, on cold mornings I gladly stood in cowpats to warm my bare feet, but I detest bull$hit! |
#15
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