I was driving across the coutry last week and my old 88 DL decided to snap its CV shafts, so rather than repairing it, it went to the junkyard. It was $350 to fix and I only paid $500 for it. Anyway I have come across a '91 Just with 111,xxx km's on it. Its from an older lady in her 70's and it has always been dealer serviced. I took it for a spin and when I was driving it the "Clutch Temp" light flashed on for a second but then went off. Its the auto EVCS tranny, that I hear is far from great. Is there any major things I should be looking for? I have a turbo Nissan 240SX and I need a car to get me around in the harsh Canadian winter. Has anyone had problems with the clutch overheating? Thanks in advance.

Stay away from it like the plauge. The ECVT is not the car you want - especially with the "clutch temp" light on. The ECVT's die from heat - always.

 

Not to mention the justy engines aren't known for going far beyond 100k miles. They really were the black sheep of the subaru family.

 

You could have changed that axle yourself in an hour or two for less than $100....

 

GD

I agree that you should stay away from it because of the evcs tranny. As for the motors not making it past 100k, I'd have to say thats a load of crap. I know of 2 justy 5spds with over 250 000km and no motor work yet. One of them has been heavily beaten on logging roads as well. I don't know what it is with you GD shooting down every motor in existance except your fabled ea81 But I'm getting really tired of it.

I like Justy's - they just aren't very reliable. I've seen it happen. My neighbor had a nice little 5 speed 4WD - engine died at about 92k.... seen lots with low mileage in the junk yard too. I have to assume that something is going on.

 

GD

Well I've never had any experience with them going wrong other than the ecvt's, what is the weak point on these things? just wear? From what I hear their built pretty stout inside. What I could see is people just not caring about these things cause their so cheap, and dismissing oil changes and what not. It even happens to the larger subarus to some extent.

So if that tranny does decide to **** the bed how much would I be looking at for a new one? Are there any in the junkyards, or is that what usually send them to the junkers? How much labour would I be looking at? The ****ty thing is I need to get an auto as I wont be the only one driving it. Has anyone had an auto and NOT had problems with it? When you say they "die" past 100k miles what usually causes that?

 

I didnt want to repair the old DL wagon as it was burning and leaking oil, had numerous exhaust leaks, and was extremely rusty. Also I was 1500km's from home so I couldnt do the labour myself. It would have been stupid to put money into it.

ECVT's . always die, and usually under 100k miles. They really are a horrible pain to deal with. Getting the dealer to put a new one in would cost you more than the car is worth, if they can even get an ecvt tranny still. If the warning light is coming on already, I'd stay away from the car as if it had a rod knock. I really think you need to keep looking unless you can talk the owner down to next to free and junk it when it dies.

Alrighty. Does the clutch temp light mean its on its way out?

One of you is talking about thousands of kilometers and the other is talking about thousands of miles.

Do not fool with an ecvt Justy with trany trouble, you can't even put a manual tranny under it as the engine cranks are different.

Heat is what kills the ecvts. I understand they are not rebuildable.

I *do* like the Justys though, they are almost as tough as the DL/GLs.

I have heard of some of the ecvts being trouble-free and high mileage, but when they go, they cost more than 2 GLs to replace.

Are they talking about kilometers vs. miles, or are we just being lazy with our units? (Had a physics prof. that'd skin me alive for that...)

 

Somebody nearby in VT had a Justy for sale, that had a good tranny in it, if'n I remember right. I'll poke around the Marketplace and see what I come up with, if you need a spare tranny.

 

Just realized you're in Alberta... on the wrong side of the continent, if I remember Canadian geography at all. Ah, well... here's where I saw the post.

Just not paying attention, I 'spect.

Nasa lost a spacecraft that way.

One of you is talking about thousands of kilometers and the other is talking about thousands of miles.

Do not fool with an ecvt Justy with trany trouble, you can't even put a manual tranny under it as the engine cranks are different.

Heat is what kills the ecvts. I understand they are not rebuildable.

I *do* like the Justys though, they are almost as tough as the DL/GLs.

I have heard of some of the ecvts being trouble-free and high mileage, but when they go, they cost more than 2 GLs to replace.

Actually - that's not true - I know where there's a Justy that *had* an ECVT (it's even stickered on it), and it's been replaced with a 5 speed...... owned by an old couple who still drive it. It's 4WD too. Perhaps they changed the whole engine, but I wouldn't think so by the looks of the car.

 

GD

you can get a 5spd 4wd tranny for the justy, It's probably not much harder to swap into an ecvt car then putting a manual in an automatic dl/gl.

What the heck does ECVT stand for anyway?

 

 

Keith

electronic continuously variable transmission. I think

I don't like the word electronic and transmission in the same phrase. Gives me the chills...

 

 

Keith

electronic continuously variable transmission. I think

it's a novel idea, but it uses a magnetic fluid coupling and the fluid becomes demagnitized or something like that. It's funny, because I was watching a t.v. show on ford's new magnetic fluid technology. Ford was trying to push that this was new technology that they were working with for future vehicles. But it's been in use in the justy for 15 years

 

The big three have realized that to survive they need to have new technology. So instead of actually coming up with new ideas they rip off old ones and claim that they are new, and bombard you with bulls#$% information in their ad campaigns

 

EG. the ad that's like, "the new ford so and so has 6 high strength carriage bolts to hold the bed on securely during the toughest hauls." or "engineers decided to place the shocks on the outside of the frame for increased stability and handling" These are supposed to wow the potential buyer!

 

Okay enough anti-ford ranting.

and crysler back in the 80's were saying the first mini-van and I am going noooooooo VW bus is

electronic continuously variable transmission. I think

There was a time I was looking at one as well, passed on it in favor of my GL once I read up on the Justy. It seems that 9 out of 10 owners think they are disposable junk, and the 10th gets 200K with no problems.

 

I've seen lots of 2WD Justys out there still running around, but very few 4WD. As for the ECVT, I read a thread on a car review board regarding them that indicated there's some sort of electric component or motor that goes in the tranny rendering it imoperative, not a case of it falling out while you are driving along.

 

The writer claimed that the bushes in the part can be replaced and the tranny will be fine. Kinda makes sense, if that component fails under heat. However, how far do you have to filet the tranny to replace the part, and was this guy spreading fertilizer? Anybody heard anything like this? I suppose if this guy could do it, he'd have a cottage industry of rehabing Justys.