[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Not to rain on anspaugh777's parade, but that would also be my concern. Disconnecting the TCU and ECU means they'll run on default values for a short while, possibly masking certain problems. On the other hand, perhaps everything will be fine from now on.

 

So if they go back to what they were, wouldn't that mean that we have found the problem? The TCM or the ECM?

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

awesome - good job!

 

"air flow pipes" - is that the vacuum lines or something else?

i would guess this did the trick. hopefully it doesn't come back once the TCU and ECU *relearn* and populate all the tables/fields in the controller.

 

 

Yeah, I'm guessing they are the vacuum lines. When you're looking under the hood from the front, they are the wide plastic black pipes going from the air filter to the left side of the front of the car.

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Okay....so as of right now it runs BEAUTIFULLY!!!

I'm not sure if it will slowly downgrade and get back to what it was (excessive shift shock), or it will stay this way.

 

But here's what I did:

 

1. Located the TCM and the ECM.

2. Disconnected the circuits to the TCM and the ECM.

3. Under the hood I disconnected the air flow pipes.

4. Disconnected one circuit and one ground wire.

5. Blew on circuits, and tightened ground wire.

6. Reconnected the air flow pipes and tightened them down.

7. Reconnected the TCM and ECM circuits.

8. Put everything back together.

9. Prayed to Jesus.

10. Did the self-diagnostic test to see if the A/T temp light would flash a code.

11. The A/T temp light just flashed normally after self-diagnostic.

12. Drove over 5 miles, fast and slow.

 

And the car shifts perfectly!!!

 

We'll see what happens. Thanks for all of your help everybody! I'll let you know how it goes.

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

If you see anything disconnected (wiring or vacuum hoses), take care of it. Proper vacuum hose connections are usually shown on the emissions label pasted to the bottom of the hood.

 

i'll check it out

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Perhaps the vacuum hose with the *filter* medium on the outside that goes to the Pressure sensor mounted by the airbox???

 

Ooh...what do you mean?

 

Would that make the car shift hard?

[Engine Ground Terminals]

Yes, some of them have a ground wire for the trans in the area of the pitch stopper.

 

wheres the pitch stopper?

[Engine Ground Terminals]

You need to tell us what you're working on. But generally speaking most newer subies have 1 or 2 on top of the intake and the ground cable for the battery goes to by the starter.

 

Well, I found a TCU code on my car using the "unique" method. The code was 45. So I looked up in my subscription to AllDATA and it says to check the engine ground terminals to see if they are tight. If not, then it says to tighten them.

 

I just don't know what they mean by engine ground terminals and can't find a diagram as to where they would be.

[Engine Ground Terminals]

Does anyone know where the engine ground terminals are located?

 

I need to check if those are tightened. Thanks!

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Done.

 

Hey...I'm curious. Where the heck are those engine ground terminals?

 

I can't start anything before I check if those are tightened. Thanks.

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

We posted at almost the same time. See my message #39 above. Back away from the TCM .

 

Don't join the green connectors, they're for diagnostics.

 

Okay....I'm away from the TCM. Close one.

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Code 45: Intake Manifold Pressure Signal

Diagnosis: Input signal circuit of TCM from ECM is open or shorted

Trouble Symptom: Excessive shift shock

 

However, the first step in the diagnostic procedure for code 45 directs you to the diagnostic for the TPS, which includes the symptom of excessive tight corner "braking".

 

Unfortunately, there's too much to post here. Okay if I send a PM to you with further info, anspaugh777?

 

Yeah, please PM me with whatever I need to do. Thanks!

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Okay....so here's what I've done so far.

 

 

I've taken off the cover underneath the steering column. I can see the TCM and its connectors, which are 2 big ones. I unplugged them and kind of blew off some dirt.

 

But I noticed to green connectors, NOT wires, but end connectors that look like they fit perfectly together. They weren't connected. Should I connect them? Could that be the problem?

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Follow the procedure as in the attached chart. The light should blink -- it might be eight times per second, four times per second, or a series of long and short blinks. Make a note of the result, and get back with that info.

 

 

Okay....4 longs, 5 shorts. So the code is 45.

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

There are several problems that can cause the symptoms you've described. However, if we assume that the trans didn't get damaged while your "friend" worked on the car, one thing that's engine-related and can easily affect the trans is a defective or misadjusted TPS (Throttle Position Sensor). Yes, it can even cause the low speed binding.

 

As has already been suggested, getting the TCU code(s) read is important at this stage -- for example, if a code for the TPS comes back, it will really simplify the repair.

 

Give me a few minutes and I'll post the method of getting the TCU codes without a Select Monitor.

 

That would be great help! Thanks!

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

it's the TCU codes and from what i've read it's fairly complicated. this is why i suggested the dealer. but if you search and ask some one will tell you how to do it.

 

have you checked the connectors going to the trans? there is a main connector located on or near the top of the trans, passenger side near the fire wall. you might check it, unplug it and look to see if any of the pins are bent. since the TCU wasn't removed, i doubt that the conections there have changed any. check the A/T fluid level, drivers side near the fire wall, yellow dip stick. check it cold first then hot. it can be difficult to read when hot. look at both sides of the dip stick.

 

I recently had the tranny fluid flushed and changed. So that "should" be good.

 

did the trans run right before the engine was pulled? is the blinking A/T temp light intermittent, does it come and go?

 

The transmission was great before the engine was pulled. The A/T temp light goes on after driving for 5 minutes, and stays on. Just blinking continuously.

 

as nipper often says, a blinking light is not to be ignored.

 

Yeah...I should get the codes checked. Thanks man!

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

this sounds like torque bind. it will cause a flashing A/T Temp light at start up. it will flash 16 times just after you start the car. do a search and read up on it.

 

Well...the A/T Oil Temp light doesn't flash right after I start the car. It doesn't really start flashing until I drive it for over 5 minutes. And after a couple slams in gear, it begins flashing.

 

this is probably something else, but still elcetronic in the trans. you need to have your trans trouble codes read. this will tell you alot. your problem may be a conector or a bad duty solenoid. it may be in addition to the torque bind (which could be a bad duty 'c' solenoid) or it could be instead of.

 

don't go to a transmission shop, unless oyu know and trust them. either find a way to read the codes yourself, or go to the dealer to have them read. after you find out what the codes are then you can address the problem.

 

there are not many things that have to be done by the dealer, but reading trans codes may be quicker and easier that way.

 

it sound like you are going to have a great car.

 

Do you know how I can read the codes myself? Would it be the OBDII codes or the TCU codes? Or what?

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

year, make, model, miles????

 

how long have you had the car? is the shift shock new or different than it has been? other history?

 

 

Thanks for replying so quickly. Here's all of the issues that have happened.

But first:

 

2001 Subaru Forester L

110,000 miles

Great shape before:

 

My "friend" helped me out and changed the spark plugs, the header gaskets, and timing belt. Well, when he did the timing belt, he timed it wrong and some valves in the engine bent.

So he took the engine out, replaced the valves, timed the Forester correctly, and put the engine back in.

At the same time, a CV boot was torn, so he replaced that as well.

I'm not sure exactly what he did, but it runs now. But the problems are:

 

It shifts into gear REALLY hard. Shockingly hard.

The A/T Oil Temp light flashes after driving the car for about 5 minutes.

When it flashes, there are no long flashes, just continuous short ones.

And when I try to make a slow, sharp turn, the car minorly jerks, and is not smooth.

 

Thanks for any info I can receive!

[1996 OBW- A/T light flashing]

Hey guys....new here.

 

Where are the TCU and the ECU located?

 

I'm having severe shift shock in my Forester and wanted to see if I could just clean out the main connectors. Thanks!