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  #1  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:29 PM
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ensteele ensteele is offline
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Towed SVX

A friend of mine is looking at an SVX to buy. It is a 92, and has 77,000 miles on it. The dealer told him about the small things that were wrong - small dings here and there, bad tire, and a couple other things that are easily fixed. He then told me what the dealer told him next which sent shivers up and down my spine!! He said that the previous owner had towed it behind a motor home. He said that he thought that they had put the front end on a dolly and had put the fuse to make it front wheel drive only, and had towed it that way. Doesn't that destroy the tranny? The dealer said that it drives fine, but I really wonder what this might have done to the car, and if it should be avoided at all costs. Please let me know what you think, he is in the process of buying the car, and I told him I would find out about it for him. Any quick reply would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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[COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430
1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739
1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831
1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229
1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car)
1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913
1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164
1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176
1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525
1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624
1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961
1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855
1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872
1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097
2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951
1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420

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  #2  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:37 PM
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Re: Towed SVX

Quote:
Originally posted by ensteele93
A friend of mine is looking at an SVX to buy. It is a 92, and has 77,000 miles on it. The dealer told him about the small things that were wrong - small dings here and there, bad tire, and a couple other things that are easily fixed. He then told me what the dealer told him next which sent shivers up and down my spine!! He said that the previous owner had towed it behind a motor home. He said that he thought that they had put the front end on a dolly and had put the fuse to make it front wheel drive only, and had towed it that way. Doesn't that destroy the tranny? The dealer said that it drives fine, but I really wonder what this might have done to the car, and if it should be avoided at all costs. Please let me know what you think, he is in the process of buying the car, and I told him I would find out about it for him. Any quick reply would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I can't remember exactly, but, if you have a 92 Owner's manual, it has specifics. I'm trying to recall, from memory, but, I believe the car should never be towed, but up to a very short distance using the FWD fuse, and then, at a very low MPH. If there is any distance or speed involved, all four wheels MUST be off the ground. That's how I remember it, but, pull out your Manual, just to make sure.
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1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k
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  #3  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:42 PM
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ensteele ensteele is offline
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Yes, that is how I remeber it too. when I had to have my 93 towed, the driver of the truck said that the only way someone should ever tow it with wheels on the ground was to disconnect the drive line in the front, and tow it with the back wheels off of the ground. I am sure this RV driver did not do that. What I am confused about is that it has not exploded yet, and it has 77,000 miles. This guy was the original owner as well. I will check the manual and see what it says. Thanks for the information.
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[COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430
1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739
1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831
1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229
1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car)
1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913
1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164
1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176
1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525
1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624
1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961
1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855
1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872
1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097
2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951
1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420

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  #4  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by ensteele93
Yes, that is how I remeber it too. when I had to have my 93 towed, the driver of the truck said that the only way someone should ever tow it with wheels on the ground was to disconnect the drive line in the front, and tow it with the back wheels off of the ground. I am sure this RV driver did not do that. What I am confused about is that it has not exploded yet, and it has 77,000 miles. This guy was the original owner as well. I will check the manual and see what it says. Thanks for the information.
My pleasure, Earl. I'm glad you have a manual. Saved me from having to walk outside and grab one of mine.

Meanwhile, I've heard more than one story about towing companies having to pick up the tab for an SVXers tranny replacement for making just such an error. I can't believe the sucker hasn't grenaded, either.
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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
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  #5  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:51 PM
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ensteele ensteele is offline
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Randy -

I am kind of comfortable in my chair right now, so maybe you could go out to your car and get YOUR manual and look it up for me. You wouldn't want to disturb me would you?

OK, OK I'll get up!
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Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*>

Subaru Ambassador

[COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430
1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739
1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831
1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229
1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car)
1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913
1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164
1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176
1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525
1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624
1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961
1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855
1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872
1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097
2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951
1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420

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  #6  
Old 10-11-2002, 10:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by ensteele93
Randy -

I am kind of comfortable in my chair right now, so maybe you could go out to your car and get YOUR manual and look it up for me. You wouldn't want to disturb me would you?

OK, OK I'll get up!

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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
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  #7  
Old 11-02-2002, 09:05 PM
TurboIQ TurboIQ is offline
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So what's to learn from this?

I just bought a 95 LS... shot tranny of course. I read the manual and about that AWD-FWD switch... what does it do exactly (how does it make the car "FWD"?) Can it be driven (on its own power) with the fuse in FWD mode? Could a switch be made to change the drivetrain mode from the inside?
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  #8  
Old 11-02-2002, 10:37 PM
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Yes, you can drive it in the FWD mode, but not for long distances. I suppose you could install a switch to do that, but I don't know why someone would want to.
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Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*>

Subaru Ambassador

[COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430
1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739
1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831
1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229
1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car)
1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913
1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164
1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176
1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525
1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624
1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961
1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855
1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872
1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097
2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951
1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420

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  #9  
Old 11-03-2002, 12:24 AM
gl1674 gl1674 is offline
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The reason why you are not supposed to tow SVX (or any car with automatic transmission for that matter) is the lubrication of the gearbox. Normally transmission is lubricated via an oil pump, the pump is connected to transmission input shaft and only pumps when engine is running. If engine is not running, the pump is not working.
For short towing distances there is residual oil on clutches/gears, but it's not enough for long/fast tows.

Installing FWD fuse makes absolutely no difference while the car is being towed without ignition on/engine running.

If you lift front wheels of the ground, but not the rear ones, the transfer clutch gets to suffer - there is a lot of motion there and again not much lubrication. Hopefully this can be repaired by replacing just the transfer clutch without removing the whole transmission from the car.
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Old 11-04-2002, 05:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by gl1674
The reason why you are not supposed to tow SVX (or any car with automatic transmission for that matter) is the lubrication of the gearbox. Normally transmission is lubricated via an oil pump, the pump is connected to transmission input shaft and only pumps when engine is running. If engine is not running, the pump is not working.
For short towing distances there is residual oil on clutches/gears, but it's not enough for long/fast tows.

Installing FWD fuse makes absolutely no difference while the car is being towed without ignition on/engine running.

If you lift front wheels of the ground, but not the rear ones, the transfer clutch gets to suffer - there is a lot of motion there and again not much lubrication. Hopefully this can be repaired by replacing just the transfer clutch without removing the whole transmission from the car.
Yeah this is correct. The other point is that the transfer clutches would not be engaged because the trans is not making pressure. You know the pump isn't working cause th engine isn't turning

Ask the guy to put the car on a lift and see if the AWD drive is working. All four wheels should spin and have power to them. Maybe with the front of the car raised up, the fluid level is higher in the transfer clutch section. This would bath the clutches all the time.

I think you are dealing with a 'GOOD" dealer since he told you about the RV towing.

Se if he would take off a lot of money Also does the odometer rack up miles when the car is being towed? Maybe it has lower miles on the engine then it says?
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