DIY: 4EAT phase 1 power mode wiring

[TireIron]

This works on the phase 1 4EATs from 90ish to 99ish. I don't know if it works on the phase 2, they may have a sport mode version but I have never looked into them.

So this weekend I took a page out of the SVX mods and wired my 98 Legacy 4EAT to stay in power mode at all times. The electronics on the tranny are the same as the SVX ones so it worked perfectly.

I did my research from these sites and don't take any credit for thinking this up.
http://www.alcyone.org.uk/ssm/powermode.html
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39133

It works on the legacy just like the svx, but in 96 (at least in the svx) they removed the power light so you don't have a light on the dash when in power mode. All you have to do is run a wire from pin A4 on the first TCU connector to ground.

This is the connector and the empty spot is pin 4. I didn't unplug my connector to do the mod (not my picture).
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/02/powermodewiressp5th-1.jpg
My picture of it, wiring harness NOT in the car.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/02/DSCF0505-1.jpg

The TCU is mounted just to the left of the steering column, you don't need to remove any of the interior parts. I just looked under the dash, removed the 2 10mm bolts holding the TCU on and then ran a wire from that pin and grounded it to one of the TCU bolts when I bolted it back up. I didn't have a terminal from the connector so I cheaped out and just stripped the wire back and pushed it into the hole then wire tied it to the harness. I will get some pictures tomorrow of how mine looks and post them up.

This is where you look under.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/02/DSCF1956-1.jpg

Here's the TCU bolted to the brake pedal bracket and you can see the blue wire I ran and grounded to the mounting bolt.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/02/DSCF1957-1.jpg

The wiring harnesses are on the left side of the TCU. I unbolted the TCU so I could get to them, it's the top connector. You can see where I wire tied it to the harness to keep it from moving.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/02/DSCF1959-1.jpg

[green97gt]

and in essence this just makes the shift hard and late all the time? or?

[TireIron]

not at all. This makes the auto stop hunting for gears and constantly trying to be in the highest gear it can. It makes a world of difference to how the car feels. It will definitly hold gears longer but it will only push them as long as you push the pedal. If you're easy on the pedal then it feels normal. The JDM SVX actually had a button on the console to put it into power mode, they just removed it for the USDM version so it is a feature that was originally built into the cars, not like the resistor to lock the center diff mod.

You could also wire in a switch to this instead of hard wiring it to ground so you can switch it on and off. I figured I would never want it off, and if I do it's easy enough to either snip or unplug the wire. So far I've done about 500 miles on it (yes, that much since saturday, I did 250 today alone) and it is wonderful. The car is there when you use it, it doesn't lag and hunt anymore.

[green97gt]

yerah, my first thought was it needed a switch.

i wonder if it is at all harmful to the trans to be ran this way constantly...i would spose not if they put a button for it on some cars...

i remember in our SVX that power light would come on....sometimes... when driving spiritedly, and other times it would not.

this for sure looks like a better option than fiddling with the line resistor

[TireIron]

Yea, I'll get some pictures tomorrow so you can really see just how easy it is to get to. It is definitely worth trying if you don't like the slushbox feel to these things. And it is probably better for the transmission because it is not hunting for what gear it should be in and slipping the gears to make it shift as soft. Harder shifting is better on the life of the transmisson (it's not jarringly hard or anything, just comfortably firm). When the tranny shifts soft and comfy like it is actually slipping the bands on 2 gears at the same time as it goes from one to the other, slipping the bands causes heat and wear on them and eats away at the life of the tranny.


You could be trick and find a JDM power mode switch somewhere and wire that in hehehe.

[Grafton]

you you take a video of the tach to show the difference in shift points?

[Grafton]

Hopefully this works with a 99 obs the 4eat in that thing drives me nuts

[httrdd]

^ + 1

[TireIron]

The shift point change depends on how much pedal but I will try and get some video of it at some point. Do some research to see what the 99OBS uses for a 4EAT and what it has for a TCU. I know my friends ex-gf had an outback sport and it was horrible but it had sport mode and as long as you kept it in sport mode it drove great, probably the same concept. I forget what year hers was though.

[TireIron]

Updated with pics, will still try and get the video.

[Huffer]

Great idea, never heard of it! If I still had an auto this would have been great! Snappier shifts are much better for an auto - slow shifts and gear hunting result in heat, which is the biggest killer of the 4EATs.

[httrdd]

Suscribed!

[evolegacy]

if this is as good as it sounds I might do this with my 4EAT, can't stand when it searches for the highest gear, gets annoying :smt012

what gauge wire did you use?

[TireIron]

it doesnt carry any current so even 18 is fine, i think that happens to be 16... I had it lying around from a coupe of amp install kits (the remote turn on wire they give) i like it because the blue really stands out.

[evolegacy]

ok, next Q i guess would have to be since you didnt have a terminal for the connector, how secure is the wire in that spot?

[TireIron]

with the size wire I used its a pretty tight fit and then zip tieing it where I did keeps it in place. Next time I get by the junkyard I'll probly strip a few terminals out of a connector and put on in there. Just make sure none of the strands of wire get into a terminal next to it.

[legacy22]

Just did it was a bitch with the auto start box ziptied to the wires going to the TCU but i got it! i just notice my car has to at its running temp before it will shifft into overdrive! is that normal? Definitly can tell its not slipping between gears at all but like you said its not hard just firm! i like now i just hope my tranny dont blow up lol

[TireIron]

The not shifting to OD until warm is part of subarus programming. The tranny shouldnt go into OD until warm, it's bad for it. Thats why if you live in a cold climate you should never eliminate the tranny cooler in your radiator because it can keep it from reaching operating temp.

[legacy22]

nice i figured it was supposed to be that way. I def. like the way it shifts now! For me it almost seems smoother!

[Matty2Hotty]

This work with my 01 lgt BE? I dont have no power mode switch or anything for my auto.

[Stang70Fastback]

Would this work on a 98 Outback? I assume it's all the same electronics?

[legacy98gt]

im wiring mine up with a switch right now i hope it works, did it change your mpg any?

[TireIron]

I think it may have given me like .5-1 MPG MORE because it is staying in the torque band more now.

Yes it should work with your 98.

The '01 has a phase 2 4EAT (started with the 99 model year) and I don't know enough about the phase 2 to know if this will work. I know they changed a lot about them when they switched to the phase 2 including adding a bunch more shift maps to the TCU. It may still have the ability to work, but I have no idea.

[Stang70Fastback]

Sweet. I had a look under the dash and my problem is the keyless entry module is zip tied and attached directly in front of the TCU, so I can't really get to it at all. I don't want to start taking things apart to get to it, because who knows how it all works. Maybe I'll bring it to a mechanic and ask them to help me out since they could likey so it real quick. I'll get around to it one of these days as I'd like to try this out before my car kicks the bucket, lol.

[TireIron]

Yea, my '97 had the keyless module right there. It's only ziptied there, so get some zip ties the right size, cut the ones there, move the module out of the way, do the mod, then zip tie it back up...

[legacy98gt]

i did it but i cant really tell a difference, maybe it shifts a little later but im not sure if its just in my head, i wonder if i put the wire in far enough, i i think i did. is there a way i can be sure its working?

[evolegacy]

Sweet. I had a look under the dash and my problem is the keyless entry module is zip tied and attached directly in front of the TCU, so I can't really get to it at all. I don't want to start taking things apart to get to it, because who knows how it all works. Maybe I'll bring it to a mechanic and ask them to help me out since they could likey so it real quick. I'll get around to it one of these days as I'd like to try this out before my car kicks the bucket, lol.


Dont disconnect the module, just cut the ties from it and move it to the side someplace. I disconnected mine while doin this and lost power to the power lock on the driverside door, annoying so I popped the unit back in.

As for the wire, I didnt notice a difference so I assume I screwed up, Im just pushing it into the connector or am I pushing it all the way thru so the wires are coming out the other side?

[TireIron]

It needs to go in far enough to make contact with the pin on the TCU. If you've been annoyed with how the 4EAT shifts then you will really notice a difference when first driving it.

The older models (possibly '95 and older?) should have a power indicator light on the dash that lights up green and says "power", but the newer ones don't, I think they removed it when OBD 2 came along.

I stripped my wire back at least a 1/2 inch and then pushed it in as far as it would go (the connector was still plugged in). It went in easy for a little ways and then had a little resistance as it went the rest of the way in. I'm figuring this was where it was pressing in with the pin on the TCU. Doing it with the connector connected it cant really go in too far because it will bottom out on the TCU, as long as it doesn't start to press out sideways and connect the other pins, but you would really have to force it in there to make it go that far. And if you are worried about if it's far enough, just go strip a terminal out of a connector on a junk car and insert the terminal and use the wire connected to the terminal. Then you know it will be in far enough.

[legacy98gt]

i stripped it about 1/4 inch and pushed it in until it got hard, should i stripe it more or try to push it in more or both?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Thread moved to DIY section. I will contact the OP about renewing broken image links.

[Matty2Hotty]

It DOES work on the phase 2 tranny, it's pin 20 on the white plug. Can someone please find a pinout of the TCU to figure out where this pin located is on the plug for other members!

[still_alive]

It's a great mod! I would do it again in a heartbeat, took me ten minutes. I went to the local junkyard and cut that top plug off with about 8 inches of wire after it, I de-pinned it and now have 20 extra pins so I can do anyone's in my area. It's simple you just take the back of the pug off and push your pin in until it clicks. I hooked up a small toggle switch to it under the dash so I'm the only one that can use it :grin: easy, any questions I'd be glad to answer

[harrymaneuvers]

I would love to know what to do for a Phase 2 4eat too!!!!!


I will do it same day I get an answer!

[Matty2Hotty]

Pin20 on the white plug which i have no idea what pin it is. RS owners said it worked great but that was 3 year old forum, phase 2 have grey and white plug. Yet to get anyone with a pinout so can't say.

[bulldozer24]

pin 20 is between the blue/white and the white/red wires on the white connector.

[harrymaneuvers]

Oh snap... so who is gonna be the test monkey for a phase 2?

[bulldozer24]

I did this about two weeks ago on my phase 2 and i can definitely tell a difference. It holds gears longer and shifts down sooner, everyone should do this too their 4eat.

[harrymaneuvers]

Is the process any different for the Phase 2 owners?

If it is, which pins need to be used?

DETAILS PLEASE!!!!! DOING THIS ASAP!


This should work on my ladies 04 WRX wagon with the 4eat too right?

[bulldozer24]

Is the process any different for the Phase 2 owners?

If it is, which pins need to be used?

DETAILS PLEASE!!!!! DOING THIS ASAP!


This should work on my ladies 04 WRX wagon with the 4eat too right?

its the same process, just ground out pin 20 which is between the blue/white and the white/red wires on the white connector, you can put a switch in line if you want to. And that's it, your done!

As for the ladies wrx i have absolutely no idea.

[harrymaneuvers]

How hard would it be to wiring the switch to an unused illumination spot in the cluster... when I was changing my perfectly fine fuel light bulb, I noticed that there are about 6 spots that arent used. I think there is a TCS, hill hold and a few other lights.

[BrainStormeR]

I have a BH Legacy (3rd version, MY99, EUDM) with 2.5L engine and 4 speed AT with Power mode and Hold (snow) mode. Is this mod going to affect my configuration? Or the Power button does the same thing?

[TireIron]

You already have the power mode, so that is exactly what this mod does. We got screwed in the US and didn't get any of the fun features or body mods.

[thegonz]

i just did this on my 96 leggy and my shifts are smoother and my acceleration is better.

so overall it was a good 10 minutes spent . im going to look at my girls 98 forester and see if i can do it to hers as well

[TireIron]

Added another picture for the phase 1 wiring. Still nothing on the phase 2, I don't have access to one.

[7cjbill2]

I'd give it a try on my '99, anyone got a connector terminal + pigtail? U-pull-its are a thing of the past around here. :(

[Shane01BH]

I'm reading this closely, I have an Outback H6 and the auto blows. If I can search this out this weekend I'll report back. Really looking forward to a Phase II photo.

[1997lgt]

just done this on my GT, it feels similar to pushing the Tow/Haul button in my Avalanche. But it makes it a LOT better. Highly recommended. Took approx 15 minutes.

[LGT Kirby]

I wonder how this would be on my SS. even though it has the manual mode, I never use it since I baby the thing.

[harrymaneuvers]

Im working up the courage to do this to my leggy... I think I will do it this weekend... maybe.

Also found this on Wiki... makes me think that it would work in the 04 wrx:

"4EAT
This transmission was released in 1988 for use in the Subaru XT6 and Leone Touring Wagon. The bellhousing and input shaft were changed for the Subaru EJ engine, but this transmission is still in use today with only minor changes.
Gear Ratios: 1st 2.785 2nd 1.545 3rd 1.000 4th 0.697 Rev 2.272
Usage: 1988-1991 Subaru XT, 1990-2004 Subaru Legacy, 1992-1997 Subaru Alcyone SVX, and all Subarus 1995–Present

[Wiscon_Mark]

They're referring to the physical transmission. I'm sure the TCU programming has changed quite a bit since 1988.

Doesn't mean it won't work. What would be useful is info on more modern JDM/EDM transmissions and if they're still building this feature in.

[TireIron]

I don't know if the TCU was moved into the ECU or not for the newer electronics... If not it is a possibility although I know for a fact some of the newer ones like the outback have a "sport" mode that the shifter can be switched sideways into which does the exact same thing as "power" mode and makes the cars drive wonderfully.

[harrymaneuvers]

Just went outside and looked... this is what I see on my Phase 2 plug... Am I correct to say that the wire that I am to tap into a ground is the empty space between the blue/white and the red/white wires on the white plug?


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMAG0884-1.jpg?t=1329087101

[bulldozer24]

yes thats it, i have already done it. The trans does feel different with shifts and how long it holds gears but that is just by feel, it may just be a placebo affect.

[7cjbill2]

Anyone got any extra terminals/pigtails? I don't like the idea of just jamming a wire up in there.

[harrymaneuvers]

You dont need an actual terminal... I just went to Fry's Electronics and picked up a pack of these...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/IMAG0892-1.jpg?t=1329096212

Worked perfectly!!!

First impressions:

Completely noticeable... Not so much in first gear... but 2nd and 3rd definitely hold longer. A good example would be taking a right at an intersection about about 15 miles per hour. Before, the car would almost always be in like 2nd or 3rd... so after the corner, getting on the car would result in a down shift to get up to about 2500 RPM... now the car is already in that gear and accelerates without downshifting.


Power Mode in the Phase 2 4EAT for the win!!!

[BattleWagon]

Wow! read this post, spent ten minutes under the dash, ten minutes on the road and im back to say this has been by far the best thing i have learned for my car. Best $2 in materials ever spent on a car! I dont feel like i have to "shift" my car any more.

[7cjbill2]

I'll have to check for those KK terminals at Radio Shack, no Fry's around here. :(

[camroncamera]

Would this mod do anything for my HARD 1-2 shift at low speed on my '98 BK LGT Wagon? Taking it slow and easy through a parking lot is anything but when the 4EAT jerks my head back during this shift. Normal acceleration on the street is not as bad.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Would this mod do anything for my HARD 1-2 shift at low speed on my '98 BK LGT Wagon? Taking it slow and easy through a parking lot is anything but when the 4EAT jerks my head back during this shift. Normal acceleration on the street is not as bad.

Possibly, but that could be due to something else. Have you had your transmission serviced? (new fluids, etc) Try that first.

Huffer, and quite a few others recommend Lubeguard ATF additive for transmissions that are having issues.

[camroncamera]

The 4EAT is indeed due for transmission fluid replacement, I was hoping to change to Redline ATF last year after I did the head gaskets but it still needs to be serviced. Fortunately the AT was regularly serviced before we got the car last year. Thanks for the suggestion of Lubeguard Additive, I'll look into that. I've heard that the 1-2 lurch on the 4EAT is pretty common and am hoping for a regular maintenance solution.

[still_alive]

I feel like it helped my 1-2 shift, its not rough like it was any more

[peter]

Would this mod do anything for my HARD 1-2 shift at low speed on my '98 BK LGT Wagon? Taking it slow and easy through a parking lot is anything but when the 4EAT jerks my head back during this shift. Normal acceleration on the street is not as bad.

Im wondering the same, low speed 1-2 is bad on mine as well, not as bad now after I changed the fluid and ran Lubegard but still something I would like to improve

[camroncamera]

Would this mod do anything for my HARD 1-2 shift at low speed on my '98 BK LGT Wagon? Taking it slow and easy through a parking lot is anything but when the 4EAT jerks my head back during this shift. Normal acceleration on the street is not as bad.

Im wondering the same, low speed 1-2 is bad on mine as well, not as bad now after I changed the fluid and ran Lubegard but still something I would like to improve

I probably made it sound worse than it is, but I'm hoping this combo will benefit my 4EAT. BTW, the '99 and up 4EAT are supposed to have smoother-shifting transmissions, has anyone here been able to tell the difference?

[harrymaneuvers]

Well I still have the driveline slack in mine so I would be able to say... I THINK my driveline slack is from a deteriorated 4eat tranny mount.


I am assuming there is a good inch or two room for my tranny to lift and drop which is causing the on/off switch feeling while cruising at highway speeds.

[65pontiac]

worked great, best 2 minute mod ever ( already had the wire soldered and cut for something else)

phase 2 tcu

[LGT Kirby]

EDIT: Car must be in gear for POWER light to come on. And yes it works same
connector.



https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/011-1.jpg

Here is my TCM. This is a turbo model, and these have a POWER light on the dash. The POWER mode apparently only kicks in when you're really beating on the car.

I followed the instructions, and the open terminal spot (4th one from the left, on the left connecter) wasn't giving me a read when I plugged my power probe into it.

I figured, if the TCM was given a ground/negative read from the power probe, it would turn on my POWER light that I have. I tried this in PARK, and no light response.

Does the vehicle have to be in gear?
Is it the wrong terminal?
Am I a newb at this DIY wiring stuff? (I can answer this one, YES)

Any info is appreciated. I have the wires and all, just don't want to do trial and error on my baby..

Right after posting this I am searching for my TCM wiring diagram to see if I can answer this myself.

[Shane01BH]

I just did this on my 2001 H6 and it certainly feels better. Once I get a few more miles on I'll report back for confirmation.

[LGT Kirby]

Just finished doing this is the SS. I hooked it up to a switch and all. Looks really clean.

Thoughts: wow it made a big difference! It climbs to 3150rpm before shifts(when cruising) and feels much much smoother. With foot down to the floor, it's a whole new car.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/019-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/018-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/02/017-1.jpg

[shoguy]

unfortunately radioshack doesn't carry those terminals, but I found a BH being stripped, cut a connector off that and found the terminals are different between BG and BH. the BH terminals will fit 3/4 of the way in but not lock. on the good side it does make contact and work, it was a big difference from a quick mod!

[Sub-Goon]

LGT Kirby, nice choice on the hidden switch install! When you say the it has to be in gear before the light will come on, do you mean the led on your switch or a dashboard light?

I suspect there might be a spot for the dash light, just without a bulb mounted. There seem to be alot of unused spots for idiot lights, when it does the bulb test! Has anyone looked at the idiot light area for this? If its there and just needs a bulb, I wonder what other idiot lights could be made use of!?! It would be awesome if that was true!

I have the pigtail, spare wire, terminals and extra foglight switch. Now I just need time to get it all installed!

[Sub-Goon]

I have the pigtail, spare wire, terminals and extra foglight switch. Now I just need time to get it all installed!

Well, I opened up the wiring diagram and metered the extra factory foglight switch that I have. The switch is a momentary switch, so it can only be used with a factory style relay. With out the relay it is only on while the switch is actively being depressed!

[Sub-Goon]

I just ran some 0-60mph tests.
With 4EAT Power Mode NOT activated:
39.5 seconds

With Power Mode Activated:
10.9 seconds

Just for a note, the only mods I have that effect power is:
-Power Mode Switch
-DIY OEM CAI
-Torque Box delete
-Snorkus Delete
-K&N Filter
-10g Ground Kit
-Group N Pitch Stop

[Navi271]

^I call typo! lol

I'm trying this mod tomorrow morning on the way to work. We'll see if the wire is connecting or not...

[Navi271]

It's definitely working. First impressions are I definitely wasn't used to it, and so I didn't really like it. With just a normal pre-power mode pedal press the shift point seemed to move up to around 3k instead of the normal 2.5k. The transmission easily allows an increase in the shift point to 4k and beyond with just a minimal increase in pressure on the pedal.

I started on back roads (45-55mph). Getting up to higher speeds like that are easy and fun with this mod. However it seemed to take a little bit of pedal work for it to really want to shift into 4th, and more so overdrive. There was one point I was thinking, why the hell hasn't it gone into overdrive yet. It was windy, and I was pressing the pedal a little more than usual to get up to speed. Once up to speed it just hovered at around 3.5k to 4k for 5-ish seconds, like it was waiting or just making sure I didn't want to go a little bit faster, then shifted into 4th. Like normal, a decrease in pedal pressure lets the transmission know it should shift. Speaking of shifting, it's quite nice. I do like how quick it is, and downshifting to pass someone was lightning quick.

Next was in city driving (25-35mph). It always wants to shift at 3k unless you're hardly pressing the pedal. If you do actually go slow and barely use the pedal, it will realize you want to go slow, it will put you in low rev's, it just takes longer than normal. I usually drive slow, quite slow, so hearing my engine slowly rev up to 3k's all the time and then hanging there for a second begging me to keep reving was kind of annoying. Not bad really, just annoying. I also noticed my engine running hotter than usual and fans kicking in more often. And I should clarify, this is not something you could see on the stock temp gauge. I was using a ScangaugeII that displays the coolant temp in degrees F.

This mod also just made me want to push the pedal down further. It made it so easy! It doesn't want to shift, it just wants you to keep going. I wonder how this will effect my gas mileage.

I think the big issue was I'm just not used to it at all. I've been driving my car daily for close to 9 years now, and I know exactly where and how the pedal needs to be for the transmission to shift. This mod just changed all of that. If I keep this mod, I'll probably have to get a button for it.

[L.Michael]

I did this, and just as most people notice, is the shifts are better, and rev higher between. I personally don't see the need to change it, as is you're not giving it demand, its going to shift close to normal anyways. As is, I just shoved the wire in there and grounded it to its own fastener. I should get an actual connection from the wreckers just so it won't wiggle out over time.

I have been getting way better gas mileage, but I don't know what I owe just to the warmer weather.. Will know for certain by winter if this changes anything!

[Shane01BH]

Just to keeps this alive, I noticed my H-6 shifting a lot slower and hunting for gears a lot, I wiggled under the dash and saw my ground came out of the screw I used. I replaced it with a proper fork connector and things are snappy again.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

[Matty2Hotty]

I remember reading a thread on the power mod, not on this site, it has long term negative effects to the tranny and shouldn't be used daily if I recall. Still on debate to try the mod or not.

Found review
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/power-mode-vs-regular-brief-review-209433.html?t=209433&highlight=Power+mode

[shoguy]

This mod was also done on my 04 H-6. What a difference. It was upshifting to overdrive at 35, sitting at 1000 rpm driving around any any request for more throttle would cause it to hunt for the gear it was originally supposed to be in. It would shift to second almost immediately when starting, and by shifting too soon it was jerky from constantly shifting. Now it starts and holds first, stays in logical gears for the speeds, downshifts eagerly and generally is using the big engine much better!

[NickDaBassGuy]

I tried this, and my trans still goes from 2nd to 4th, then 3rd. Was hoping this would fix that.

[WPEC]

love this mode, just done with it today.
thanks for bringing a goodness.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/10/5CA30907CB2849E7B5840484555874DA_zps55nb-1.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/thseth/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5CA30907-CB28-49E7-B584-0484555874DA_zps55nbm5e6.jpg.html)

[TyrWagon]

Power Mode is the best option for non turbo cars haha, i have this option in my car... Soon i can sell a lhd gear selector like mine, with the switch and the same console... Just check my thread in classified section :-)
Any of you found a way to turn the indicator on the cluster ? It should not be difficult
480 481

[dave5358]

This mod was also done on my 04 H-6. What a difference. It was upshifting to overdrive at 35, sitting at 1000 rpm driving around any any request for more throttle would cause it to hunt for the gear it was originally supposed to be in. It would shift to second almost immediately when starting, and by shifting too soon it was jerky from constantly shifting. Now it starts and holds first, stays in logical gears for the speeds, downshifts eagerly and generally is using the big engine much better!

Rick:

I trying to do this on a 2006 Forester - a newer 4EAT, different wiring, etc. For 2004-2008 vintage Subaru vehicles, has this been successfully implemented? I have read all the material on Alcyone's site in UK, mostly pertaining to the late 1990's SVX, but have found nothing for 2004-2008 vintage vehicles.

FWIW, my TCU and the two TCU connections looks like this

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2017/03/x1WKZM6-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2017/03/dzh1a9L-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2017/03/a0fcYVW-1.jpg

My shifter looks like this:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2017/03/cRqbqHz-1.jpg

Pin 4 on my TCU may still be the magic pin to activate Power Mode, but I note that that pin is currently in use on both connectors (that is, a wire in the Pin 4 hole). Could there be an add-on harness that attaches somewhere and would lead down to a console switch on one end, and back to Pin 4 on the other?

Another thread on this site mentioned grounding Pin 20 on the white connector (probably pin 20 on connector B54 aka pin A20). Is that the solution?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[shoguy]

Dave-sorry it has been a while since being on this forum. I am pretty sure it was pin 20 as you are saying. It is the phase 2 Generation 1 TCU, same as yours in the 2004 outback that I had. I grounded the pin and noticed for a few days it reacted better, held revs better and was a lot more fun. After a few days it returned to Grandpa mode and became sluggish again :( The phase 2 transmission does not want to be lively! The phase 2, generation 2 has the sport mode with the manumatic mode, they had them in the 2005+ legacy, the Tribeca and not sure when the forester got them. We have picked up the Tribeca now, what a difference in power and responsiveness, it has the EZ30R and P2G2 trans, much better!

[PIDDYPLACE]

Doing this tomorrow with my H6 w a bad trans mount...let's see if I can break it the rest of the way!😄😄😄

[PIDDYPLACE]

Power mode successfully done!feel it more in the downshifts then the upshifts not think that's a fluid issue.