Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I just purchased a 1995 wagon, AWD, 5SM. I took it for a brief drive, which included a little bit of time in the snow. I asked the PO if the transmission worked fine, and he said he had driven it in snow, and it did fine. I take off on a two hour trip to pick up some leather seats during a winter storm. Lo and behold, not only do the all season tires totally suck n snow, but also, my AWD car is clearly FWD, and without all the nannies I have come to expect from my last car, a 2003 a4. And my washer fluid motor is blown. Vote: Transfer case. Rear dif Dead hooker in spare tire compartment. Thanks in advance for the drubbing I am about to receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 So, it is pretty clearly the central viscous diff. I want to wait until spring, so I can do it. Myself. No chance of hurting the transmission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Just bought a 1995 legacy. PO lied, and told me the AWD worked fine, but it does not. Rear wheels are not powered. $1500 fix at the dealership. Will it hurt my car to drive it until the spring, when I can get it up on stands to disassemble the transfer case? Thanks. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gire Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Thread moved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Thread moved. Thanks. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subikid90 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 You have a manual transmission correct? Check to make sure the drive shaft is installed. Otherwise I am sure you would hear or feel something coming from the center or rear diff. How did you determine the rear wheels are not working? -Subikid90 1997 Legacy GT 5spd & EJ251 w/EJ25D heads ~10.5CR 1998 Legacy GT Limited waiting for EJ22T hybrid swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 if the rear wheels are not powered and this is a 5mt, then the car would be nearly undriveable. I be he has a 4eat which can be FWD only if something in the trans isnt working or the FWD fuse is installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 This is a 5mt. When in snow, it is damn near undrivable. Fine when moving, but very hard to get going (or stopped, due to crappy all seasons) in snow. When it is cruising on the streets, even in snow, or while on dry pavement, it does fine. Sourcing a transfer case, or if I can, a center diff. Wondering if I can drive it without wrecking anything else. Feels driving a 1985 toyota corolla with bald tires. Edit: I know the rears are not powered, because I got stuck in six inches of snow, and the person watching me saaid my back wheels were not moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Argh. The driveshaft is absent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subikid90 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Source a drive shaft first, it wont be easy, you need a mt drive shaft for a wagon legacy. No others will work because of length differences. -Subikid90 1997 Legacy GT 5spd & EJ251 w/EJ25D heads ~10.5CR 1998 Legacy GT Limited waiting for EJ22T hybrid swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Okay. The center diff will certainly be shot (the reason the shaft was removed.) I can test the rear diff by turning the input flange (unlikely original failure, anyway) I have sourced a local transmission for $450 Will I hurt my car by driving it, carefully, as a FWD vehicle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 first, the wagon drive shafts are the same as the sedans, but the manuals are different from the autos, but i think the difference is in the front section of the shaft not the rear. I THINK all tge rear shafts are the same. but www.car-part.com know for sure. second, removing the shaft was probably done so he could sell the car, the viscous coupling/ center diff is probably shot causing torque bind. replacing it and the drive shaft will correct the problem. but you better install the shaft first to be sure. you need one any way. but no sense buying the viscous center unless you need it. maybe make a deal with your local yard, rear shaft for sure, center diff on approval and returnable for the trans if needed. mis-matched tires can cause binding and center diff damage , i think. so there may be a tiny possibility that the diff is ok but that the shaft was removed due to bind from bad tires. but would not bet on it. i don't think the missing shaft will cause more damage, but i'm not sure. i'm an auto trans guy. an exploded parts view may help. http://opposedforces.com/parts on an auto the power to the front is all before the transfer section. both sections of shaft or just the rear.? on an auto you have to leave the front part in or all the fluid will run out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Manual is bolted from the outside, I think. I believe the entire thing is missing. Boo to dishonest seller. I am sure the center diff I'd toast. Will just plan on driving it until the spring. What a drag. Certainly will improve my driving skills, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 I should be able to assess the center diff by raising the front end, engaging the transmission, and looking and listening at the transfer case, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnegg Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I should be able to assess the center diff by raising the front end, engaging the transmission, and looking and listening at the transfer case, right? it's a viscous coupling, exactly like a VLSD, viscous limited slip differential. it is a sealed unit with a viscous fluid inside with 2 plates. when the speed differential between the 2 is great enough, (maybe any difference at all) it heats and thickens the fluid which causes it to grab more. so as the front wheels spin the rears try and drive more. i'd be tempted to try the shaft now. especially since it is snow season. the binding will be less on straight driving and greater on turns. but i doubt 2 months will kill any thing. how many miles a week are you driving it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TbirdMan Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 shouldn't be, the part that would be damaged already is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gire Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Buddy, you don't need TWO threads about the same issue. Threads merged and left in Transmissions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Transmissions forum is a wasteland. Sorry about that, Gire, but I wanted some opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 if the rear wheels are not powered and this is a 5mt, then the car would be nearly undriveable. I be he has a 4eat which can be FWD only if something in the trans isnt working or the FWD fuse is installed. Interested to know why this is. I drive a 5mt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 it's a viscous coupling, exactly like a VLSD, viscous limited slip differential. it is a sealed unit with a viscous fluid inside with 2 plates. when the speed differential between the 2 is great enough, (maybe any difference at all) it heats and thickens the fluid which causes it to grab more. so as the front wheels spin the rears try and drive more. i'd be tempted to try the shaft now. especially since it is snow season. the binding will be less on straight driving and greater on turns. but i doubt 2 months will kill any thing. how many miles a week are you driving it? 105 miles. Per week. Two trips to the slopes. Edit: used driveshafts seem to be plentiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gire Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Transmissions forum is a wasteland. Sorry about that, Gire, but I wanted some opinions. No worries, and you are right about the vagueness of the transmissions forum. That's why I put your first thread in the Year Specific forum. I can change this one back too if you think it will help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 No worries, and you are right about the vagueness of the transmissions forum. That's why I put your first thread in the Year Specific forum. I can change this one back too if you think it will help. Not too worried. At this point I am more. Concerned with sourcing a driveshaft and center diff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Well, got the driveshaft installed, and it works perfectly. Must just have been a u joint. Huzzah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNVAR Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 How long ago did you pickup this car? Don't you think you should be going back to the PO and tearing him a new one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lojasmo Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 How long ago did you pickup this car? Don't you think you should be going back to the PO and tearing him a new one? Three weeks. Did, by email. Short story: I now own it. Despite the trials, I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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