Fwd Light

chris92svxlsl · #1 05-14-2006, 09:58 AM

okay so im checking my fuses this morning and i noticed the 10 amp fwd fuse is missing, so i replace it and the fwd light is constantly on my dash now, i removed the fuse and it goes away, whats the deal, im a moron its not suspose to be there anyway, how do i remove this thread

intelisevil · #2 05-14-2006, 10:20 AM

It does exactly what it says it's doing. That fuse is primarily used by Subaru when they are servicing your car.

It turns off the circuits that send power out the rear of your transmission, converting your SVX to FWD only.

The biggest danger in doing this (from what I've read on this forum) is now that all of your power is going to your front end, you have a greater chance to break your front diff or axles. Spinning your front tires because you no longer have power going to the back might be fun for a little while, but when you hear that clunk of metal parts disentigrating and feel that not so gentle pull of lots of cash leaving your wallet, the fun factor kind of goes away . . .

Dan

chris92svxlsl · #3 05-14-2006, 02:37 PM

yeah not gonna put that fuse in now...thanks

#4 06-15-2006, 11:27 PM

I am looking at buying an SVX and that light is on!!

Do I change the fuse? What kind of fuse is it? Before I buy the car tomorrow I want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the AWD system.
If I install the fuse (10A, right? What style fuse, I'll pick one up at my work [autozone] tomorrow) will the AWD come back??
The guy says it's been on since he's had the car... is that realllly bad?

Otherwise the car drove okay.

huck369 · #5 06-16-2006, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbcsvx

I am looking at buying an SVX and that light is on!!

Do I change the fuse? What kind of fuse is it? Before I buy the car tomorrow I want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the AWD system.
If I install the fuse (10A, right? What style fuse, I'll pick one up at my work [autozone] tomorrow) will the AWD come back??
The guy says it's been on since he's had the car... is that realllly bad?

Otherwise the car drove okay.

You DON'T want to put the fuse in, unless you WANT it to be FWD....the holder should be empty for normal use...and it's in the fuse box by the battery...

Mr. Pockets · #6 06-16-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbcsvx

I am looking at buying an SVX and that light is on!!

Do I change the fuse? What kind of fuse is it? Before I buy the car tomorrow I want to make sure there's nothing wrong with the AWD system.
If I install the fuse (10A, right? What style fuse, I'll pick one up at my work [autozone] tomorrow) will the AWD come back??
The guy says it's been on since he's had the car... is that realllly bad?

Otherwise the car drove okay.

It could be a bad sign, yes. Pull up a bean bag, I'll tell you a story.

My wife and I had a '95 Legacy until recently. A couple years ago, the car started binding in tight turns - meaning the car shook some and might even drag a tire on the pavement. This was happening because the solenoid that controls pressure to the transfer clutch (the multi-plate clutch that sends power to the rear wheels) was going bad.

I couldn't fix the problem right away, so I put the FWD fuse in the slot. That fuse prevents the car from sending power to the transfer clutch's solenoid. When I fixed the problem, I took the fuse out.

It is possible that the fuse is installed in the car you're considering precisely because the car has a problem with the transfer clutch. The clutch could be badly worn or the solenoid could be bad. Installing that fuse hides the problem. The current owner could be lying, or he could have been lied to by the previous owner.

nipper · #7 06-16-2006, 10:44 AM

The FWD fuse powers the Duty C solenoid so that the AWD is disabled. this is used for towing and whenever you have the spare tire on.
Looking at a used car with this light on loosly translated means run in the other direction. If the clutch pack is fried or really bad torque bind (which can usually be fixed by flushing the tranny, but why risk it). If the car is negotiable, and you really want it, keep in mind it can be an 800.00 repair or a transmission swap.

nipper

Crazypolo95 · #8 06-16-2006, 11:49 AM

so what do we pull a fuse in or not. Cuz all this time that i have had my SVx it has not had one in there

drivemusicnow · #9 06-16-2006, 12:02 PM

I'll try to make this really clear.

There is a slot in the fuse panel under the hood labelled FWD.

If there is a 10A fuse in this location, than the car will light up the FWD light on the dash, and make the car run in FWD.

If there is no fuse there, the car is operating normally, in AWD.

Mr. Pockets · #10 06-16-2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nipper

The FWD fuse powers the Duty C solenoid so that the AWD is disabled. this is used for towing and whenever you have the spare tire on.
Looking at a used car with this light on loosly translated means run in the other direction. If the clutch pack is fried or really bad torque bind (which can usually be fixed by flushing the tranny, but why risk it). If the car is negotiable, and you really want it, keep in mind it can be an 800.00 repair or a transmission swap.

nipper

I would not recommend using it for towing. The transfer clutch is designed to slip, but not with half the plates stationary and the other half spinning - especially not without fluid flowing around.

Honestly, I wouldn't tow the SVX with the rear wheels dragging for ay appreciable distance.

Yes, it makes sense when you're using the spare because the clutch isn't going to slip the way the car expects it to.

Mr. Pockets · #11 06-16-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazypolo95

so what do we pull a fuse in or not. Cuz all this time that i have had my SVx it has not had one in there

No, normally you would not put a fuse in the slot.