Did the head gaskets on a 97 Legacy L wagon with 4eat and 261k and now have the 16 flashes of the AT temp light going off. This did not happen before I did the job, so I'm sure the "issue" was self caused.

 

I pulled the wire connectors off again and made sure they are properly connected. Which connector is trans specific?

 

In wrenching on one of the bellhousing bolts to pull the motor, I tugged on the wiring running to a sensor sitting just about 4 inches in front of the dipstick for the front diff. On inspection everything is unharmed, but maybe I stretched a wire or something. Google searches have not been able to tell me what that sensor is. Anyone know? It sits above the torque converter.

 

Saw how to get trans codes for 90-94 and 2000+ but how do I get codes off a 97?

Edited July 16, 201510 yr by AdventureSubaru

16 flashes indicates an electrical issue. The sensor you're talking about is a speed sensor in the front diff housing.

 

Only time I see issues with a transmission after head gaskets is when the transmission gets jacked up into the tunnel. It pinches the wiring in the harness and causes problems.

Got it. Good advice. I did shove a scissor jack and a 2x4 down there and help jack things up so the motor wouldn't drag the TC out with it.

 

Where do I hunt for pinched wires? Or should I grab a new wire harness from a junkyard car?

the MAF and the TPS will also throw a trans code.

check those to make sure they are plugged in

and the wires to the connector are good.

 

is the trans oil pan dented.

that can cause trouble for the harness inside the pan.

Yeah. Looks like I may have crunched things with the trans pan. It's bowed in through the center. After vacation, I guess I'll drop the pan and see if anything got crunched.

 

At least I have 3 pick n pulls within a 30 mile radius to replace whatever I destroyed.

Yep, if the trans pan is dented you've probably crunched one of the solenoids or the wire harness in there. They're only about 1/4" from the pan, and those pans are really flimsy.

I've only had to drop the trans pan once before and that was several years ago. Is it as simple as going to a pick N pull, and pulling the wires and solenoids out of there? I'm trying to picture what the connections look like and how easily it would be pulled.

I just did a head job and now im using oil and smoking more and I have vibration in my wheels..lol    Don't DO A HEAD Job!

Yeah just grab what you need.

The wire harness may not just pop out. You may have to just cut/splice new sections of wire if any are damaged.

Drop the pan on yours first and make sure to figure out which solenoids/wiring are damaged.

Gonna head to pick n pull tomorrow. I'll aim for a 96-98 trans. Solenoids should be the same from 90-98 though right?

The ones I've repaired - the solenoids connector/wiring is cracked - just replace the solenoids and you're golden.  Doubt you'll need wiring but that can be repaired anyway.

 

1995-1998 transmissions interchange so i assume the solenoids are all the same.  a cursory search on google seems to suggest the same.

opposed forces would give you confirmation.

 

Doesn't even matter if it's an EJ18, FWD, EJ22, or EJ25.  I've swapped FWD auto's into AWD Subaru's and they're plug and play, zero difference, don't even need to swap the TCU - so I presume the solenoids are all the same.