1994 Impreza Question

Trout wrote in news:gbuiq2h6j4etbtauhkdehag7h4efgk6gu0 @4ax.com:

Yes.

The transmission computer doesn't let it go into top gear until it warms up. Don't let it bother you.

Do you know where the thermal sensor is on the transmission and is hard to replace ?

I'd rather get up to speed on the highway instead of waiting 10 or more minutes for the trans to get into the highest gear.

Assuming there isn't actually something wrong with the sensor...

What makes you think getting into top gear[1] before the engine and transmission is warmed up is better for the engine than doing it the way Subaru's engineers designed it?

[1] Is it really keeping the trans out of 4th gear, or is it simply preventing the lockup torque converter clutch from engaging?

Trout wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Not sure I understand the problem.

At different times I've owned both a '93 Imprezza and a '93 Loyale. Both had 1.8 liter engines of slightly different design. Either one would go directly from a cold start to 75 MPH on the freeway if I chose to abuse them that way. The main difference is that cruise RPM on the Imprezza would drop to around 3,000 after a two mile or so warm up. My Loyale only had a three speed automatic and cruised around 4,300 RPM regardless of engine temp. What exactly do you mean by "up to speed"?

If it's actually taking you ten minutes to get that final shift you may have a bad thermostat. If it's stuck partially open the engine won't warm up as quickly as it's supposed to. Also keep in mind that a 1.8 four cylinder doesn't burn enough fuel to make a lot of heat and the Imprezza has a pretty large heater core. The thermostat only controls what percentage of the coolant flow is routed through the radiator. Here in Wisconsin I've seen winter days when running the heater blower full blast would actually pull the temp gauge out the bottom of the operating range on an engine that was already warm! :-(

Later, Joe

Every other manufacturer can do it ok so it would be faintly ridiculous for Subaru to make such a mess of it.

Phil wrote in news:MPG.2014d979e1cbde3398a235 @news.ntlworld.com:

Different companies have different design priorities.

Do you have a problem with an auto maker designing a rev limit into the ECM to keep some wahoo from seeing how far past red line he can go before the rods come out? How about antilock brakes? Traction control so you can't floor board it and spin the tires?

How does using the control circuitry for the automatic trans to compensate for owner indifference or abuse "make such a mess of it"?

If the original poster cannot get the car to exceed 55 MPH until it has warmed up, there is a mechanical issue with his particular vehicle that needs to be resolved. If he chooses not to exceed 2,500 RPM on a car that red lines at 6,500 why blame the engineering department for his driving style?

I know somebody with a FORD Aspire automatic, and it will not even allow you to shift into gear and drive *at all* until you have warmed the car up for almost five minutes. Of course, yes, you can override that feature, but at what cost?

~Brian

Been having the warm-up problem here the last few days with my 93 Impreza, too. The car will cool off from running temp when you are going down any sort of grade, even with the heater off. Like you said, just not burning enough fuel to make the heat. But I can also get up to any speed I want while the car is cold, if I chose to abuse it that way. Only takes about a minute or so on the highway at 55+ to warm it up to running temp, and that's not too many RPM's.

~Brian

"strchild" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.supernews.com:

This really sounds like a bad thermostat. It's not unusual for them to fail in a way that keeps them from closing properly. A thermostat that won't open will toast your engine fast, one that won't close will mess it up just as bad, but takes a much longer time to do it. If your engine is running below the proper operating temp it drastically accelerates wear and tear. Running that way for an extended time could literally take tens of thousands of miles off the life of your engine. The part itself should be less than $20 even from the dealer and this is one area where OEM is the way to go. I've heard of so many problems with aftermarket Subaru thermostats I wouldn't try to save a buck that way.

No, I think it's normal to me. Just unusually cold weather and I live atop a big hill. Drops about 1000' in elevation within a half mile. Going down the hills around here can pull the temp down, but it never bottoms out. Never overheats or otherwise runs too cool when it's not idling it's way down hills also. (-;

~Brian

"strchild" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.supernews.com:

Guess I'm just a hopeless flatlander. I'd have to drive 500 miles to find a stretch of freeway where I could speed up by shifting into neutral. :-)

Joe

Well, maybe, but I'll bet you have plenty of fun straightaways you can gun it on. Makes them 500 miles just melt away! (-;

~Brian

Yes, if it prevented the driver from exceeding 2,500rpm, as that would not be a design priority, that would just be a bad design.

I'm working from the assumption that Subaru wouldn't do anything that stupid though, and that it's a mechanical fault of some kind.

Hardly the same thing.

I certainly have no love for traction control, but that's a seperate issue and is largely down to personal preference.

Phil wrote in news:MPG.2015ff10ba41d53f98a237 @news.ntlworld.com:

Yep.

That's why I asked the OP for more info. The one I had went past 2,500 easily but wouldn't do the final shift until the coolant and presumably the ATF temp was in the operating range. That's a feature. If it isn't letting him exceed 55 MPH until it warms up that's a malf and needs to be investigated.