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Got a code out of the trans, Duty C. Next step?


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I took the 95 Legacy to a good Subaru shop (Weddes Auto) and had them pull the codes out of the trans cause the trans light flashes 16 times on start up.  Chris said that the code in the trans history is for the Duty C.  This will probably explain why the car seems like it is in FWD only most of the time.  I have put the fuse in the under hood holder and there seems like no difference in the way the car runs with the fuse in or out.

The question is,   with the duty c being bad will the clutch pack be shot also?  The trans fluid is clear but will be changed along with the filters at the same time the tail housing is removed. 

I always thought there was a problem with this trans because the manual trans cars we had before this first auto were always AWD animals and this one got stuck in the snow all the time.  With 4 snow tires on it yet.

 

Any help will be appreciated!

 

Mark

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The duty C code can only be thrown by the circuit breaking, or shorting to ground, or improbably shorting to +12V.

 

It could be the wiring from the TCU to the trans harness, or the trans harness, or the solenoid itself.

 

Suggest checking to see if shorted to ground or at the trans harness connection  at the top of the bellhousing.

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A code means a diagnoised electrical problem so chances are good the clutch pack is OK. But no guarantees.

 

0 ohms to ground is bad, and so is infinite ohms to ground.

 

Your meter needs to be able to read hundreds to several thousand ohms I think.

Edited by CNY_Dave
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Thanks!!  Just what we need.   Now I have read about the possiblity of the shaft on the clutch pack getting scored.  If this has happened, and I hope not,  is this a replaceable part or a bone yard find?

 

I did check for torque bind on Sunday and found there is none. I also checked to see if I had AWD and there is none also.  I stopped the car on a hill while it was raining and gave it some gas to get the front wheels turning and nothing but the front spun.

 

Thanks again from an AUTO trans newbie,

 

Mark

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All the clutch pack parts are replaceable.

 

Come to think of it, if the solenoid is open or shorted, and it does not have AWD, since the solenoid is activated to release pressure (before 2004) it will probably need something other than just the solenoid, unless the solenoid is stuck 'open' (which is a possibility).

 

There are several simple and fairly cheap problems it could be in addition to the solenoid or wiring.

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I am hoping the solenoid is stuck open right now,  I guess we will not know that until we OHM it or take it out.  The shop I am taking it to wants to do as much checking as possible before he puts it on the lift and starts tearing into it.  He has been starting to get more and more older Soobs and likes the challenge of solving the problems.  Hence all the questions from me to you all. 

 

Dave, you say there are problems that could cause a no AWD condition,  could you list a few and I can check on those also?

 

Thanks again,   Mark

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Its easiest and cheapest to just swap the whole cone assembly.  All the 95-98 autos have that part. They don't fail that often so you have good odds that a junkyard part will work and last.  GET A NEW PAPER SEAL.  If not it will leak :(

Been there :( :(

Also pay attention to the parking "paw" and its spring when dissasembling.  They like to fall out.

Edited by logic23
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Mmmm, clutch basket could be badly grooved, clutches could be worn out, clutch basket may have fallen off the shaft, solenoid valve stuck, the spool valve it controls could be stuck or loose, the O-ring that connects from the transd side to extension case side could be bad or missing, the pipe that sends the fluid to the clutch pack could be loose and leaking, on my 03 theres a small filter screen behind the valve, if you have one somewhere (I think your valve is in the tail section? mine is on the trans proper) it could be plugged.

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Lots of stuff to check on!!!!!  The car goes to the repair shop next week and the mechanic thanks you all already for the great points you have made.  He wants to do this right the first time and not have to tie up his lift for too long.  I am still hoping for something simple.......

 

Mark

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the most common cause of the duty C code is in fact a bad duty c solenoid,

replace it and you are good to go.

but there are other causes,

or so i have read, such as:

a stuck duty c due to dirty atf

a bad TCU

bad wiring

 

the '' FWD only seems to bean indicator.

usually a bad duty C will cause torque bind, not FWD.

i would test to see if the mechanics of the transfer clutch are working,

separate from the electronics.

 

with both wheels on one side of the car in the air,

unplug the large connector under the hood going to the trans.

start the car and shift to N.

rotate one wheel by hand,

the other wheel should rotate the exact same .

this means the wheels are ''locked'' front to rear.

 

if they are not locked,

there is a mechanical problem.

could be grooves in the clutch drum,

or worn out clutch plates,

oe busted clutch drum,

or no rear drive shaft

or the valve body of the duty C could be blocked eliminating ATF flow, pressure.

no pressure equals no power to the rear.

the duty C is designed to bleed off, regulate ATF  pressure.

full pressure equals a ''locked'' torque bind situation.

 

i would test the duty C as described above,

and do 3 drain and fills of ATF,

before i cracked the case and replaced the duty C.

 

more info is better.

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We put a bottle of trans cleaner in the car last night, Friday it gets emptyed and new filters installed.  Could be the fix......    More on Friday after the work is done and the Duty C is OHMed. 

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Good day today, I guess.   The fluid and filter has been changed, the pan had some stuff in it but not nearly as bad as some I have seen so that is a plus.  We OHMed the Duty C and it is bad.  The wire we used was the black with a yellow tracer cause this is the one that Shopsmith said was the one that went to it.  They call it an AWD Seliniod.   Gonna order the Duty C and when it comes in back the car goes up again to get that installed. 

 

Does anyone know if Rock Auto still sells the Soob Duty C?  The last post I heard about this was 2011.

 

Thanks,   Mark 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Gary, you have a PM.   For the rest of you this is what we have found in the extension housing.  The AWD viscous clutch drum is broken into two parts.  Pics can be seen here exactly what mine looks like,

 

  http://mdhmotors.com/subaru-all-wheel-drive-system-failures-repair/

 

The Duty C is also bad  and we are trying to find the wires in the harness to test the wires.  According to Shop Smith the Duty C wire is black with a yellow stripe, somewhere inside it changes to red and connects to the Duty C.  We think....  The wires go inside the trans on the side , is there a way to release these wires from the outside so they can be tested or replaced?   Just trying to do this right the first time. 

 

Thanks All!!

 

Mark

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Thanks Dave,   Today's update!!    We found the part we needed at a transmission recycler in Brooklyn NY.  Shaft, Bearing and drum came to $125.00 shipped and since we are so close to NY it came overnight.  It is now in the trans.  I also ordered two sealing rings for the clutch side shaft from Subarupartsforyou.com, they also came overnight from Conneticut.   The wireing harness has been OHM ed out and as far as we can see in perfect shape.  One thing about that though, we were tracing the wrong wire earlier, black with a yellow stripe, that wire goes to the speed sensor.  Oh well, live and learn.  Paul is away on Saturday, so the car should be done on Monday afternoon.......

 

Sorry about my spelling...

 

Mark

Edited by foxgap
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Thanks Dave,   Today's update!!    We found the part we needed at a transmission recycler in Brooklyn NY.  Shaft, Bearing and drum came to $125.00 shipped and since we are so close to NY it came overnight.  It is now in the trans.  I also ordered two sealing rings for the clutch side shaft from Subarupartsforyou.com, they also came overnight from Conneticut.   The wireing harness has been OHM ed out and as far as we can see in perfect shape.  One thing about that though, we were tracing the wrong wire earlier, black with a yellow stripe, that wire goes to the speed sensor.  Oh well, live and learn.  Paul is away on Saturday, so the car should be done on Monday afternoon.......

 

Sorry about my spelling...

 

Mark

Have you ever heard of Harry's Upull in Hazleton and Allentown.  The one in Hazleton always has dozens of Subaru's in it.  http://www.wegotused.com/

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