newsance Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 Ok, I have a 1990 Subaru AWD with 157k miles that doesn't act like it. I don't have any torque bind issues and the transmission doesn't slip, shifts normally, and doesn't display any trouble codes. But, the AWD unit doesn't work like it should. If I have it in "manual" mode in 2nd and 3rd, I get a little bit (or perhaps I am deluding myself), but if I am stuck in snow the rears will not turn at all. Definitely not 50/50. I'm assuming the AWD clutch packs are fried. Is there a writeup anywhere on how to replace them? I've read other posts that seem to indicate this is pretty straightforward. I'm hesitant to swap the whole transmission, as it is otherwise running properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 i'm not familiar with "manual" mode on a 90 awd a/t. but the awd unit is in the extention housing on the rear of the trans. if you are not going to swap the whole thing, then you just swap the rear extention housing. the clutch pack is mounted in it . but for the labor money, it is more to swap the rear housings than it is to swap the trans, unless you are doing it yourself. the swap can be done in the car, but a shop will probably pull the trans, swap the housing and reinstall the trans. plus, you don't really know if the unit you are installing is good unless you buy it new. dealers charge 800 -900$ parts and labor, i've never seen a price for just the rear housing. i paid 285$ to have a used one installed at a local shop, but the trans it had just come off of had just come out of a friends car and although the trans was bad, the clutch pack was known to be good. of course any time you buy used you take a risk, but there are lots of savalge yards making a living doing it and getting repeat business. i would probably swap in a good used trans, and keep the other just in case. if the new used one fails. then you can reinstall your orignal and swap in the rear housing. chances are that the used trans will last the life of your car. if i can find it i'll post a link to some pics from a late 90's trans. EDIT: i have posted the link a couple of times and i saved it on my other computer, but i can't find it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 What he said. You can do it yourself, but sometimes its best to let the dealer do it, especially if you dont have the space to do it, or a second car to fetch parts. How often have you changed the tranny fluid in the past. If you go with a used tranny, try to look at whatever is left of fluid on the dipstick. If you can choose the car to take it out of inspect the tires to see if they match (if it still has tires). Get one from someplace that will give you a warrenty Personally if your transmission is working well, i would just have the dealer rebuild it. On my 97obw i know the dealer had to measure clutches and order them, as they couldnt just say they needed clutches for X vin number (1997 was when they redesigned the AWD housing which may have had something to do with it). nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benebob Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Manual mode simply locks out 1st gear from what I recall. Haven't driven an early 90s Subie in a while though. I would suspect though you'd be getting a code if your clutch packs were gone. An auto from that era is 90-10 with up to 50-50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 Manual mode simply locks out 1st gear from what I recall. Haven't driven an early 90s Subie in a while though. I would suspect though you'd be getting a code if your clutch packs were gone. An auto from that era is 90-10 with up to 50-50 no code if everything is working fine and the clutches are slipping. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?p=410273#post410273 the sticky on the button... nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?p=410273#post410273 the sticky on the button... nipper i read the sticky on the button... i think i understand. when you press the manual button then you can shift manually? where's the clutch? yuk yuk yuk think i shoud pm this to legacy777?? just kiddin' folks, read the sticky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 when you press the manual button then you can shift manually? where's the clutch? yuk yuk yuk right next to the automatic rubber band rewinder nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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