ok so heres a quick storie on how i found out this thing took a crap on me. ok friday i checked my Tranny fluid and is was low (almost not on the stick) yes the car was running, anyhoo so i bought some tranny fluid and filled it satrday, i figured since there wasn't that must in it, I would just drain the old out and put all fresh, So I did.... then once i put 2.1/2 qt in i started it up and checked the fluid. it was almost full, so i added the rest of 3rd bottle which was just enough. then i notice i had some thin white smoke coming out the exhaust..! I guess since i filled it theres now enough fluid in the tranny for that vaccum thing to pick up. cause it didn't do it at all last week when the fluid was low. at first i thoguht it was oil but it didn't smell right. so my dad and I looked at it and let it run to see if it would clear up (It didn't) so I shut it off and was looking around the engine for any sort of oil or something that was getting into the air lines, nothing..... then I looked at this vac line which is attached to a T-style juntion and a metel line that comes off this thing on the tranny. well the thing i noticed was theres a Vac line that go's into the Intake on the passenger side and there was Tranny fluid around the vac line and in it. so we pulled the vac line off the intake and pluged it and let the car run. and what do ya know! the smoke faded and stoped and the smoke was really bad (Looked like when you put sea foam in the Booster hose) lol. so my question is what is this called and what does it do? my dad kinda thinks it might be for when you punch it and it needs to kick into a higher gear (Overdrive) sorta thing. I figure it must be taking a crap cause you shouldn't have Tranny fluid going into the intake. I need a name so i can order it from Subaru.

 

Heres a pic, its the one in the back closest to the fire wall..

 

Lemme know,

Thanks Tom...

PS: how do you replace it when i get a new one?

It's called a vacuum modulator.

 

It screws off, grab it with vice grips and twist it off.

 

Go OEM on this, they're about $40.

It's called a vacuum modulator.

 

It screws off, grab it with vice grips and twist it off.

 

Go OEM on this, they're about $40.

 

OK thanks soooo much! i was kinda thinking it had to screw off, so cool...

Yeah i'm going with an OE one. and maybe i'll get a new metel line too (Dunno if i'll crack the old one) thanks again bro!

 

-Tom

Just got your PM, glad to see you got an answer. Tim

Thanks too! yeah i'm happy to get an answer too lol:grin: now i just gotta get my check thursday so i have money... i'll see about ordering it this week sometime.

 

Thanks again guys!

 

Just got your PM, glad to see you got an answer. Tim

Just wondering, whats the other one for? the one in front with the wire coming out of it..?

Just wondering, whats the other one for??

 

4WD solenoid. Wires go to the 4WD button.

4WD solenoid. Wires go to the 4WD button.

 

Ohhh, ok! thanks now i see. cool:headbang:

Some tips on modulator installation: (what I did anyway)

 

Make sure the modulator o-ring isnt warped, or nasty looking. Replace it, if so. The o-ring was like 79 cents IIRC.

 

Also, don't lose the rod that "pokes" into the transmission and the modulator. Without that... well, just make sure you reinstall it.

 

Seafoam the intake after replacing the modulator, if you can afford to.

 

Now's also a good time to check and clean the governor, change the transmission filter and pan gasket, and put a tiny bit of Trans-X in with the new ATF.

 

Last but not least, change the gear oil. I used Royal Purple myself.

 

After that, transmission will be the best... it can be.

Alrighty, thanks for the tips! I was thinking there has to be a seal or o-ring for the modulator.

 

I'll make sure i don't lose anything lol, i would like to drive my car again Haha.

 

I prolly won't Seafoam the intake, I'll just run it so it all gets out of the system.. maybe i'll use some Carb cleaner.

 

As for the tranny filter and pan seal, i don't really want to touch those bolts (kinda scary looking) when i changed the ATF there wasn't any dirt in it but it WAS old. I am thinking about changeing the gear oil, where do you find Royal Purple? and what wt: is it 80w-90? I really want to check/change the rear diff fluid but i can't get the plug out!! it's soooooo stuck, i've been sokeing it in deep creep but it won't budge. i'm thinking about trying a little heat from a torch (Good idea?)

 

BTW where is the governor? do you have to go though the oil pan?

 

Thanks again!

 

Some tips on modulator installation: (what I did anyway)

 

Make sure the modulator o-ring isnt warped, or nasty looking. Replace it, if so. The o-ring was like 79 cents IIRC.

 

Also, don't lose the rod that "pokes" into the transmission and the modulator. Without that... well, just make sure you reinstall it.

 

Seafoam the intake after replacing the modulator, if you can afford to.

 

Now's also a good time to check and clean the governor, change the transmission filter and pan gasket, and put a tiny bit of Trans-X in with the new ATF.

 

Last but not least, change the gear oil. I used Royal Purple myself.

 

After that, transmission will be the best... it can be.

I really want to check/change the rear diff fluid but i can't get the plug out!! it's soooooo stuck, i've been sokeing it in deep creep but it won't budge. i'm thinking about trying a little heat from a torch (Good idea?)

 

BTW where is the governor? do you have to go though the oil pan?

 

Thanks again!

 

I wouldn't use heat on the diff plugg. The rear cover is aluminum. perhaps just a handheld propane torch, and only torch the plug, not the cover.

 

The governor is the cylinder sticking out to the passenger side, top front of the trans. Might want to pull and inspect the gear condition. But if you're shifting is normal, I wouldn't worry about it. Disturbing it could F$#% it up:rolleyes: jk

But if you're shifting is normal, I wouldn't worry about it. Disturbing it could F$#% it up:rolleyes: jk

 

Shifting normal you say? What's this "normal shifting" you speak of? :lol:

Yeah i was thinking about useing a handheld propane torch, and i'll keep it on the plug. I just waas thinking about useing a little heat to help get the deep creep in a little farther.

 

yeah it shifts fine, so you know the old saying (If it ain't broke, DON'T fix it) Haha:lol:

 

Thanks again!

 

I wouldn't use heat on the diff plugg. The rear cover is aluminum. perhaps just a handheld propane torch, and only torch the plug, not the cover.

 

The governor is the cylinder sticking out to the passenger side, top front of the trans. Might want to pull and inspect the gear condition. But if you're shifting is normal, I wouldn't worry about it. Disturbing it could F$#% it up:rolleyes: jk

dude, when these things go really bad youll be smoke screening to spy hunter-esque proportions. it can actually be quite comical.

 

but seriously - vice grips or channel locks work perfectly for this. youll also need a new part and about 10 minutes of your time to have this thing replaced.

 

its a good idea to pull the trans governor out during this time and inspect. if it looks like the plastic cog/gear on it is apple-cored at all, swing down to your local yard and pull one that isnt. if i remember right its only 3 10mm bolts holding the cover on over top of it.

dude, when these things go really bad youll be smoke screening to spy hunter-esque proportions. it can actually be quite comical.

 

but seriously - vice grips or channel locks work perfectly for this. youll also need a new part and about 10 minutes of your time to have this thing replaced.

 

its a good idea to pull the trans governor out during this time and inspect. if it looks like the plastic cog/gear on it is apple-cored at all, swing down to your local yard and pull one that isnt. if i remember right its only 3 10mm bolts holding the cover on over top of it.

 

 

Yeah I know about that smoke lol (Going up hill) all I can say is "WHITE OUT!!! anyhoo I replaced it about a week ago, no more smoke Plus my engine runs better (I wonder is it was just sucking a little bit to make it run not that great before) but not enough to cause a smoke show Hmmmm???

 

Anyway yeah your right about the bolts for that governor cup 3 10mm bolts.. I was told in the past that the Kick down solenoid was behind that cup too. True-False? I didn't pull the cover, since it seems to shift fine like Gloyale said

The governor is the cylinder sticking out to the passenger side, top front of the trans. Might want to pull and inspect the gear condition. But if you're shifting is normal, I wouldn't worry about it. Disturbing it could F$#% it up jk

So I prolly won't mess with it. But I'll keep that in mind.

Just do what I said before. I'm sure you've heard of preventive maintenance, right? These transmissions are finicky, I know first hand.

 

You probably don't have to Seafoam the intake, but in my case anyway, the ATF didnt just go away after replacing the modulator, and Seafoam did clean it all out. Make sure that you let the vacuum line going to the modulator drain real good before you put it back on, if ATF got in there, that's a hose where it likes to sit.

 

Change the filter and fluid. It's not hard. Seriously, it's not. Your transmission will last longer and be happier if you do so. Mine had under 100K and the filter was TRASH. I'm also going to do it to the 200K sedan I have.

 

Yes, the gear oil weight is 80/90. Do NOT use a torch on the plug. Use a socket (I forget the size) and a breaker bar, maybe even a cheater bar for more leverage. It'll come off.

 

Check the governor. Don't disassemble and clean it, since it's shifting OK. But, apple coring of the governor gear happens gradually, and once it gets to a point, well, let's just say you don't want to be in the middle of nowhere when this happens. Hence you check it now, and make sure it's not in the process of eating itself away. Plus then you'll know if it's a nylon or metal gear, and if it's metal I wouldn't worry about it. If you break the gasket, big deal, just put a TINY bit of RTV on the mating surface and put the cover back on. BTW, he WAS kidding about you messing it up... well, in just checking it anyway

 

The kick down solenoid is right beside the governor cover. If it's kicking down when you hit the gas hard, you're OK, don't worry about that. It's not behind the cup. ATF is behind that cup.

 

If you want a quick fix, just replace the modulator and call it a day. I'm only telling you this stuff because I figure you want to drive the car long-term. If not, disregard what I'm saying.

Plus my engine runs better (I wonder is it was just sucking a little bit to make it run not that great before) but not enough to cause a smoke show Hmmmm???

 

I've had them fail both ways. Quick failure, big leak & smoke show, and slow, small leak, no symptoms until the car doesn't shift right.