Anyone got any ideas on whats wrong?

halistan · #1 08-21-2005, 07:04 PM

Ok, my SVX has some issues that no one seems be able to diagnose. When i make a turn (left or right) I am getting a shutter that i can feel throughout my car (feels like its in the middle to the rear of the car) along with a loud rattling noise that i am pretty sure is the drive shaft hitting against the heat sheilds.
Its been doing this for a while. The first time it started i took it to the shop and they said it could have been one of two things. The carrier bearing going bad or the rear engine mount going bad. We looked at it and the mount was shot. I replaced the mount and it seemed to be fine. Recently its started doing it again and i had the mount replaced again. My car had a really nasty oil leak and the oil seemed to have eaten through the rubber of the mount so i went ahead and replaced it. It helped a little but its still doing it. I have fixed the leaks but the shutter is getting worse. It used to just do it when going around corners but now it sometimes doing it even when i'm going straight. I had another shop look and see if the carrier bearing might be bad. It does have some play in it but they seemed to think it was fine. I saw it and there was quite a bit of play. I didn't measure it but its very noticable. Does anyone know how much play the drive shaft should have in the carrier bearing?
Now, just to test things i put it into FWD mode and it is back to running like a dream. Drives perfectly again. Granted i don't have AWD but its nice and smooth again. So, its gotta be something with either the drive shaft, or even worse the rear diff.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what i could check on? If you are in Dallas does anyone know a good shop that i could have it checked out at? I had a shop here but they have gone under new mgmt and now they are ignorant @$$holes and i don't plan on taking my car to them anymore.
I have done the figure eight fix in the parking lot and it doesn't help a bit, so any other thoughts?

~Ray

dcarrb · #2 08-22-2005, 06:16 AM

Your AWD is definitely binding, but that probably wouldn't have anything to do with the drive shaft or rear differential, because these are turning even when the car is being driven only by the front wheels. That's about all I can offer, except to suggest you do a search on "binding" to see what pops-up.

dcb

TomsSVX · #3 08-22-2005, 11:56 AM

do a search on Solenoid c. That is probobly where your problems reside

Tom

Motorsport-SVX · #4 08-22-2005, 03:13 PM

could also be your front diff taking a dump... maybe
check the fluid level in the front diff, cant hurt.

halistan · #5 08-22-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorsport-SVX

could also be your front diff taking a dump... maybe
check the fluid level in the front diff, cant hurt.

Maybe, but right now i'm running in FWD mode and it is running great. It only seems to happen when its in AWD mode when i'm going around corners. The more i read the more i am thinking it might actually be the soleniod C but i am still investigating. There is one case that sounds exactly like what is going on with my SVX. Here is the thread, which i'm reading through now

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...hlight=binding

Anyone else got any suggestions and maybe the part number for the Solenoid C?

Earthworm · #6 08-22-2005, 05:25 PM

Have you rotated your tires recently? Perhaps one is low on pressure or wearing at a different rate causing the TCU to think you're spinning and engaging thr AWD clutch.

Other than that possibly the "C" solenoid or the AWD clutches themselves.

Worst case scenario is the TCU is bad but not likely.

halistan · #7 08-22-2005, 05:45 PM

Yeah, I saw a post mentioning that too. I regularly rotate them every 4K miles so they are all pretty even. The only difference is the outside edge of the front drivers side is worn badly from the ball joint that is going bad on that side. But honestly, all my tires are worn down so much that the additional little bit of wear on that tire doesn't make much difference. New tires are the next thing on the list after i find out what is causing this binding issue. Thanks for the suggestion though mi amigo.

~Ray

JonathanS · #8 08-22-2005, 06:39 PM

There's a FWD mode for AWD SVXes?

oab_au · #9 08-22-2005, 08:10 PM

I reckon the Transfer valve is sticking to hold some pressure on the Transfer clutch. This will cause the drive line to buck and move the center bearing around, as it trys to unwind.
Need to pull the back off the box, and replace the "C solenoid, transfer valve ass"(all one unit), might as well replace the clutch plates as well, while it is down.
If the C solenoid is 'electricaly faulty' the TCU will post a code. But if it is mechanical defective, the TCU won't know, so no code.

Harvey.

P.S. Don't spin the front wheels with the fuse in, it can cause the front diff to break.

Aredubjay · #10 08-22-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oab_au

I reckon the Transfer valve is sticking to hold some pressure on the Transfer clutch. This will cause the drive line to buck and move the center bearing around, as it trys to unwind.
Need to pull the back off the box, and replace the "C solenoid, transfer valve ass"(all one unit), might as well replace the clutch plates as well, while it is down.
If the C solenoid is 'electricaly faulty' the TCU will post a code. But if it is mechanical defective, the TCU won't know, so no code.

Harvey.

P.S. Don't spin the front wheels with the fuse in, it can cause the front diff to break.

Just a note from experience. When my TCU took a dump, the car would not accept FWD mode with the fuse in. So, I'm guessing, it's the clutch plates. The "Evil Twin" has been binding for some time and has been running in FWD mode. One of these days, I'm gonna get it fixed.

dcarrb · #11 08-23-2005, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonathanS

There's a FWD mode for AWD SVXes?

Inserting a fuse into the normally-open FWD slot in the underhood fuse box electronically prevents AWD from engaging.

dcb

halistan · #12 08-23-2005, 06:34 AM

Ok, lets assume that it is the solenoid and i'm going to go ahead and replace it. While i am at it i think its probably a good idea to replace the transfer clutch plates as well. Does anyone know what part #'s those are subaruparts.com? Can anyone help me make a list of what i need so i can order them and put them on? Thanks in advance

halistan · #13 08-23-2005, 11:59 AM

So no one know that part number? *taps mic* Is this thing on? Testing, 1, 2...testing 1, 2

ssnsltd · #14 08-23-2005, 01:53 PM

If you have not pulled the PropShaft and checked the U-Joint closest to the trans, I would do that. The joint is behind a heat shield and the trans mount so it is not possible to check without at least removing the heat shield .

The symptoms and sound you describe are exactly what was happened with my 95. It turned out to be that front u-joint.

Earthworm · #15 08-23-2005, 04:26 PM

The Solenoid is 31942AA070 according to subaruparts.com
REFERENCE LINK
As for the clutch plates it may be in the "Transfer" section HERE but I'm not 100% sure on that. It does look like there are various sizes so you may not be able to order the correct parts before stripping it apart first.