So I got this 190k 1990 legacy wagon for my gf, and all was great. Drove it home, cleaned it up blah blah blah. So the next day, I hop in the car and head down to napa to get a new battery and holy moose nuggets, the rear end/middle of the car is howling so loud, I almost had to put in ear plugs. It felt like i was driving a tacoma on 38s with air lockers engaged, turning on dry pavment. So I did some searching and read about the duty c, so I put in a fuse at the FWD fuse block. Perfectly fine fwd and no more air lockers and perfect drivability. So I go home and park it. 4 hrs later I head to eagle river. Same problems even with the fuse in. Im completly boggled. Pull the fuse and put it back in, drives great. And for the last 3 days this drama repeats itself. The 1 to 2 shift is junk and the 2 to 3 shift hangs. I would turn around and sell it, but the good guy I am will not do that.

Sorry guys, i forgot a few things. So this howling starts at about 8 mph, and by 40mph its so loud you gotta slow down or it will buzz your ears to death. The binding issue happens almost as soon as you start turning, and there a bunch of clicking and poping. When its actualy in fwd, not a single problem. Sounds great, runs great, perfect.

torque bind. 

 

1.  do all the tire sizes and tread depths match identically?

 

assuming they do i'd simply fix this in like 30 minutes - change the fluid, add a filter (see below), and install a switch. more details on that simple fix:

 

2.  install a toggle switch in the dash so you can just flip a switch between FWD and 4WD.  some of us install a switch anyway so we can actually fully engage the 4WD in winter or offroad, it's a great mod to have.

 

if the FWD fuse works then the Duty C solenoid is working and the clutches or grooves in the basket/gear are to blame and it's hanging up. 

 

check into the TSB or recall for 90/91 automatics - there's a fluid/clogging issue with them, i think subaru installs an external filter or something around the radiator to prevent it.  with that issue in mind you might want to:

1.  change the fluid

2.  clean out the lines

3.  install a filter or the parts Subaru provides for that issue. 

*** this probably isn't the cause or will help but i'd look into it while you've got an issue and are addressing this.

 

to repair it you'd have to install new clutches and maybe a gear/hub/basket (whatever you call it) or file it smooth. 

the good news is it can be done under the vehicle and doesn't require pulling the trans.  remove exhaust and unbolt the rear housing on the trans and you have access to the clutches.  

depending on your experience it's not a hard job really, annoying working under the car of course.

 

you can get a used rear extension housing or buy new guts. 

Ok awesome. Ill change out the tranny fluid later today. Hopefuly it will let me drive it for more then a mile after the change.

 

As for the rear housing, if i put a new clutch pack in there, do you think that will fix it? And what is the TSB?

 

Fwd fuse toggle switch in progress in 5 minutes

That TSB was news to me, but sure enough, there it is in the tech info system....

 

Of course, that part number is loooong since discontinued. But it's just a remote filter kit mounted inline with the stock cooler.

16-51-92R41139.pdf

the 1990 should already have the external tranny filter - look down between washer fluid bottle and the engine, there should be a round filter down there attached to the subframe - roughly the same size as the oil filter, maybe a little bigger

 

bad news is: it is NOT a spin on type filter, it has in inlet and an outlet that hoses attach to. finding a replacement is the fun part.

Edited May 3, 20169 yr by heartless

So spoob came to shove and its going on craigslist for 500$ i dont have time for it