I realize this subject is a dead horse. However I had the 16 flashes with the occasional random flashes upon starting the car(1998 legaccy).

 

As I understand the 16 flashes indicated a code has been stored. I think the random flashes were probably the actual code flashing due to my incidentally triggering the "secret handshake" while driving. I also may have experienced some torque bind.

 

Off to the soobie shop I go. Bummed cause it is ski season but I'll thumb up the hill if I have to.

 

The shop calls me and says that the code is gone and the torque bind is no longer present. So my mechanic and myself decided to leave the car at the shop for a few days to see if he could get the light to flash again.

 

Love my soobie and love my shop! My issue is not to question my mechanic or the engineers of this car but to educate myself to better understand and maintain my vehicle.

 

What could be the cause of this phantom disappearing issue?

It's an pretty simple electrical circuit with a few connections.  Open, Short or  High Resistance is the only faults you can have in a  circuit. 

Power on check is the best check you can do but harder to do. 

 

Easy stuff, have the shop open and clean the main trans connectors.

I just had the on again/off again dreaded 16 flashes on the AT light on a 95.  It could be a few things of course, but most likely it's an electrical failure on the Duty C solenoid.  The 16 flashes will most most likely return.

 

The dealership can pin point the cause, for $65 [when it's flashing or course].  It cost me $650 to replace the solenoid at the dealership. 

 

When it flashes, you are in locked up four wheel drive, hence the torque bind vibration when you are turning on dry pavement.

Edited January 30, 201610 yr by mikec03

Not that hard to change, but expect a full day under the car if it's your first one.

 

Search torque bind you will find some great write ups.

Ha, I haven't engaged my Duty C "snow switch" in years. mine would flash the next time I started up.   Don't you hate it when you get to work on time and find out there was a 2 hour delay in force-blame the subie