March 6, 200917 yr hey all: Posted about this a few days ago while my six year old was driving me nuts and I left out much pertinent info, so here it goes again. 1998 impreza obs. Got the car with a dead engine from over heat. No trouble codes on the ecu or the trans before I did the engine replacement. I put an engine from a 1997 legacy into the car. The swap was straight forward. The engine had the same egr setup as the original. Plug and play. I did the timing belt, waterpump and replaced the radiator and thermostat also. The car runs great, but for some reason the very first shift each time I start the car is late, ie the engine revs up to almost 4k rpm before it shifts into second. After the first shift everything returns to normal and it shifts fine. The cel came on and gave the p0720 code which is the VSS2 circuit malfunction code. I've tried unplugging and replugging all the plugs by the transmission, cleared the code and it comes back. I'm wondering if anyone has the fsm and can tell me the test procedure for the VSS2. I'm happy to go buy a new one and slap it in there, but I suspect that something else is wrong. Any info appreciated and sorry for the lame attempt with the other post about this. I've got to learn to do one thing at a time. Daniel
March 6, 200917 yr So this is an auto? You have two VSS. One in front of the tranny one in the rear. They are used as data for the spedo, tranny shift, and AWD. The car will operate with just one, but you wont have AWD. The sensors are simple magnetic pickups that can be checked with a meter. Have you checked the sensors themselves to make sure they are ok? nipper
March 6, 200917 yr Author No I havent checked them. That is the reason for this post. I dont know how to check them with a meter. I'm hoping for info on the procedure to check the vss's. Yes this is an automatic transmission. Thanks for any info. D
March 6, 200917 yr Get yourself a haynes manual, its in there, and it is a good refernce to have. I bet you just have a bad VSS sensor, They go sometimes, not a big deal. nipper
March 6, 200917 yr Get yourself a haynes manual, its in there, and it is a good refernce to have. I bet you just have a bad VSS sensor, They go sometimes, not a big deal. nipper Hey nipper, It's kinda off topic but the Hayne's only has manual for Legacy Outback from 1990 to 1999 (or 1998). Will that work on 98 Imp OBS too?
March 6, 200917 yr Hey nipper, It's kinda off topic but the Hayne's only has manual for Legacy Outback from 1990 to 1999 (or 1998). Will that work on 98 Imp OBS too? The major stuff would be the same. The body stuff and some heating stuff will be different. If you can buy one used someplace cheap It would work. I should see if i can find FSM for Imps. nipper
March 6, 200917 yr The major stuff would be the same. The body stuff and some heating stuff will be different. If you can buy one used someplace cheap It would work. I should see if i can find FSM for Imps. nipper I ordered a 97-98 Imp Service Manual but it doesn't cover OBS at all... It has 1600, 1800, 2000 turbo and non-turbo. But nowhere can 2.2 can be seen. I found the closest to be 97 Leg OB FSM I download online but like you said... it's for Leg
March 6, 200917 yr I ordered a 97-98 Imp Service Manual but it doesn't cover OBS at all... It has 1600, 1800, 2000 turbo and non-turbo. But nowhere can 2.2 can be seen. I found the closest to be 97 Leg OB FSM I download online but like you said... it's for Leg Give me a few days, hit me up next week, i may found something for you, just i'm busy this weekend. nipper
March 16, 200917 yr Author So the problem continues! I tested my vss2 and it checked out good. Got another one from the pnp ($8!) and tested it, also good. Put the new one in the impreza this morning and still have the same problems( late shift from 1st to 2nd on only the first time the tranny shifts after starting the car, then all normal, and check engine light comes on again with p0720 vss2 circuit malfunction). Next step is to check the wiring between the plug for the vss2 and the tcu. Does anyone have the pin out for the impreza tcu? This would be very helpful at this point. Maybe time to buy the fsm. Any help appreciated. Thanks. Daniel
March 16, 200917 yr Author yes! where can one find this? I found one too but was in some format my limited computing skills would allow me to access. Any help appreciated. D ps- I put some dielectric silicone on the tranny plugs and on the vss2 plug and the check engine light went off. I then cleared the code and it has stayed off and the shifting problem has ended. I'm still getting the 16 blinks at the at light on start up. I've read the process for checking the codes, but dont seem to understand the part where it says turn ignition to off, move shift selector to D and connect diagnosis switch to on. What diagnosis switch are they refering to? Also my tranny wont shift out of park without the ignition on. At least the car is shifting correctly again. D
March 16, 200917 yr Author I'm not sure. My regular email is through att. The address is 1962siia88@sbcglobal.net. I have a work email that is dan@lanesplitterpizza.com. I would think the sbcglobal would have size restrictions. Not sure about the work address. D
March 16, 200917 yr yes! where can one find this? I found one too but was in some format my limited computing skills would allow me to access. Any help appreciated. If you're having trouble reading a PDF file, you'll need to install a PDF reader program. Although Adobe Acrobat Reader is commonly used for the purpose, I prefer Foxit Reader. You can get it for free here: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/ . [...] I'm still getting the 16 blinks at the at light on start up. I've read the process for checking the codes, but dont seem to understand the part where it says turn ignition to off, move shift selector to D and connect diagnosis switch to on. What diagnosis switch are they refering to? The 'switch' is actually a pin on a black six-pin connector (B82) and a grounding wire ('diagnosis terminal'). B82 is under the dash, to the right of the steering column. If it hasn't been used before (or was returned to its original position), B82 and the 'diagnosis terminals' will be taped to the harness. Inserting a diagnosis terminal into position 5 of B82 is how you turn the 'diagnosis switch' on. See http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showpost.php?p=668884 for a diagram of B82 and pin numbering. Also my tranny wont shift out of park without the ignition on. Don't put it in Park when you turn the ignition off. You can put it in Neutral, with the parking brake on.
March 17, 200917 yr Author Alrighty then! I got the tranny codes to work, although on my 98 obs its pin 4 on the diagnosis switch that gets grounded, not 5. I got a code for vss1, which seems plausible considering my cel code is for vss2 circuit malfunction, and I'm sure they meet up somewhere in the wiring. Now I just need to figure out how to replace vss1 and hopefully problem solved. Thanks for the help folks. usmb rocks! daniel
March 17, 200917 yr I'm not sure. My regular email is through att. The address is 1962siia88@sbcglobal.net. I have a work email that is dan@lanesplitterpizza.com. I would think the sbcglobal would have size restrictions. Not sure about the work address. D i cant emali but i can do a file transfer via YIM or AIM.
March 17, 200917 yr IIRC, for auto trans, vss1 is on the rear extention housing on the rear of the trans, pass side. vss2 is pass side about 1/2 way down from the top near the fire wall. wiring for the rear goes through the large trans wiring connector above the vss2, front sensor, on the trans bell housing. check the connection pins, odd that both failed. Edited March 18, 200917 yr by johnceggleston
March 17, 200917 yr Author The vss2 has its own plug and it tested out fine. The vss1 goes through one of the two big plugs on the tranny. I'm using a 95 legacy fsm, so it could be wrong, but according to the test there my vss1 is not showing the proper resistance. Has anyone here ever replaced the vss1 at the back of the tranny? It looks like two bolts and it will pop right off, but does it plug into the tranny harness before the big multi plug, or do I need to cut wires and solder in another vss1 when I replace it? I got under there, but cant seem to see any plugs between the vss1 and where its wiring enters the rest of the tranny wiring loom. Any help appreciated. Thanks. d
March 18, 200917 yr The vss2 has its own plug and it tested out fine. The vss1 goes through one of the two big plugs on the tranny. I'm using a 95 legacy fsm, so it could be wrong, but according to the test there my vss1 is not showing the proper resistance. Has anyone here ever replaced the vss1 at the back of the tranny? It looks like two bolts and it will pop right off, but does it plug into the tranny harness before the big multi plug, or do I need to cut wires and solder in another vss1 when I replace it? I got under there, but cant seem to see any plugs between the vss1 and where its wiring enters the rest of the tranny wiring loom. Any help appreciated. Thanks. d it does go through the large connector but there isn't a connector in between, you have to cut. have you priced one yet, someone should have a used one. did you check to see if any of the pins in the large trans connector are bent? Edited March 18, 200917 yr by johnceggleston
March 18, 200917 yr Author FIXED!!! One of the wires from the vss1 was cut about 5" back from the plug. Quick job with the soldering iron and it tested out just fine with the ohm meter. Plugged everything back in and turned on the car. CEL light went off and no blinky from the at light. No more late first shift and drives perfectly. Thanks for all the help folks! Daniel ps- after all this I realize that when trying to get the engine and tranny to mate up during my engine replacement I probably pinched the wiring from the tranny when I jacked up the front of the trans.
March 18, 200917 yr Author i cant emali but i can do a file transfer via YIM or AIM. Hey Nipper I'd love to get my hands on this file, but I'm incompetent with computers. I have no idea what YIM or AIM are. Thanks. D
March 18, 200917 yr Hey Nipper I'd love to get my hands on this file, but I'm incompetent with computers. I have no idea what YIM or AIM are. Thanks. D Well i can do it the old fashioned way, im a nig fan of the postal system.
March 18, 200917 yr Author Great! I could paypal you for the shipping and effort! I do know how to do that! Daniel Rogers 617 Vallejo St Crockett, Ca 94525 Thanks D
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