On my 88 GL10 turbo car, there is a "turbo" light, and i guess that comes on when there is a certain amount of boost. But there is another light that sometimes, but not always comes on that says "Power". What does the power light indicate?

I'm not sure about this but I see your cars in an automatic. Do you have the 4spd automatic or the three speed? I believe the 4spds had a switch on the stick that you pressed for Power mode which let the engine rev higher before shifting. I know the Legacys with the 4spd auto had that, just not sure if the Loyale autos had that.

 

Keith

Keith is real close.

The "Power" light on the 4EAT serves two purposes.

1) As Keith alludes to, it indicates the transmission is in a special mode

where it holds each gear to a higher RPM than normal.

This mode is invoked by the speed at which the throttle is depressed.

Stab the loud pedal quickly and the power light should light.

Hold the pedal down and the shift RPM will be increased

(I believe it also increases the hydraulic line pressure in the transmission shift circuits)

 

2) The "Power" light also serves as a check for the operating components of the electronic controls.

If the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) detects a problem with one of these controls,

it will flash the light upon start up. The TCU can be put into a mode where it will flash the light to indicate the trouble.

 

 

The "Turbo" light illuminates any time the intake manifold is at a positive pressure.

(It also indicates the ECU is in the run rich mode, ignoring the 02

sensor and adding fuel to cool the combustion process.

Hope this helps

yes thanks, the power light comes on at certain times on hard acceration. the car is a 4 spd auto.

 

I have another question. When i accelerate out of corner, the inside front wheel starts to spin and then there is a big jerk and the car feels more solid. Is something happening in the rear drive line as well?

The car is only in two wheel drive (one actually -open center diff) until the TCU sees the front set spinning faster than the back, it then drops the signal to the rear clutch pack drain duty solenoid and thus engages the rear drive.

I believe this is what you are feeling