2000 Outback 2.5l motor was swapped for 2.2l. torque converter issues

[ssnow]

First post to this forum: bought my son a 2002 Outback in very good shape with swapped motor as orig 2.5l had been driven too long on the blown H Gasket. Mechanic who did the work and sold us the car did not tell us it was a 2.2 motor. Here are current issues:

 

1-the torque converter is chirping (stalling at stop at times, delay in locking up at times).

2-muffler fell off & needs replaced. now ck eng light throwing Cat code and Torque Converter code

3- Muffler shop says muffler replace should fix Cat code.

4-want to order muffler from 1-a auto to save $

 

Questions:

 

1- need suggestions for issue #1 above? is TC compatible with the swapped-in 2.2? need new TC?

 

2-is the 2.2l motor compatible with the prior 2.5l exhaust? need oem exhaust?

 

3- any other issues I should be aware of with the above vehicle as described?

 

Thanks!

[GeneralDisorder]

Never seen a TC chirp. Delay in lockup.... can't explain that one other than it's computer controlled so possibly the TCU is bad. None of this is related to the 2.2 swap. Although it's generally a terrible idea to swap in the phase II 2.2 as they have a tendency to burn oil and have some parts like rings that are dealer only and very expensive. 

 

Muffler being gone will not cause a cat code. It probably needs a cat. Wouldn't be unusual.

 

Sounds like a rusty mess. Put a muffler on it, clear the codes, and sell it. 

 

GD

[idosubaru]

Agree with GD - none of that is swap related unless the person swapping it screwed up. That EJ22 and EJ25 are interchangeable. They’re basically the same engine for your intents and purposes so its pointless to look there for issues.

 

Make sure the transmission pan isn’t dented or compromised and check the ATF fluid level and condition.

 

Muffler has nothing to do with P0420 on that car, doesn’t matter who you talk to that says otherwise they’re wrong.

 

Also the P0420 is genrally a benign code on that car and should be ignored until the TC issue is confirmed and dealt with. That is far more problematic.

 

“TC” will chirp if the lower bellhousing cover plate is bent and rotationally striking the TC or flexplate. It’s thin and easy to bend back away from the rotating mass.

 

They’ll also chirp if the front diff lacks oil. Check front diff oil.

 

Might as well check AT oil as well to verify and make sure you know the difference between front diff and atf fluids.

 

The exhaust is the same except the front exhaust manifold is single port instead of dual port but that part is completely interchangeable between the two / bolts on and off and makes no discernible diffenence otherwise.

[Fairtax4me]

Sounds like it has a lockup solenoid failure. In the valve body of the trans.

 

P0420 code could be from an exhaust leak between the y-pipe and the cats, or could be from a leak right after the cats. Or could be quite a few other things. Not worth worrying about unless you find and fix the trans/lockup issue.

 

You're sure it's a 2.2? It's a doable swap but those 2.2s are alot less common.

[matt167]

My old boss had a 200 something Ford Escape where the TC chirped and then when it got hot the lockup would not disengage and stall the car at like stoplights. Different make, similar issues. 

[987687]

Those fords had a tuning issue that caused them to slip the lockup clutch in certain conditions and clog the return oil passage ways. The result was when hot they'd sometimes fail to disengage (or slip more and make it worse...).

Although everything about that era ford was horrible...

[wtdash]

Try an 'anti-fouler' / extender for the rear O2 sensor. it's been working on my step-son's '00 OB for a month now - had the P0420, too.