Automatic Problem?

[90Beater]

Okay Hey everyone, I just bought this 1990 Legacy for $800, with an automatic(200k showing on the odometer). I dove it home with no shifting problems. It then sat for about a week while I sourced some wheels and tires. I went to take it on a test drive with the new shoes to see if I fixed the shimmy problem got driving down the road and it drives but it wont shift up from first gear. What gives? I checked the ATF and level is good and looks clean. So what do you guys think the problem is? How do I fix it?

[chuckthefuk]

Could be a few things.. some quick research shows that the speedo cable could be bad which feeds the VSS to the ECU and TCU...

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/sho ... p?t=132053 (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=132053)

OR

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=43394

[90Beater]

hmm interesting, I did notice the tachometer wasnt working it didn't move at all it was pined at 0rpm.

[chuckthefuk]

well there's your problem.. the car thinks its not moving...

get cracking and fix the speedo cable.

let us know how it works out for you

[90Beater]

Awesome I will look into a speedo cable.

[90Beater]

if the speedo cable makes the tach and computer know what speed the car is traveling, what is makeing the speed gauge operate? because the mph guage works but not the tach? I just wanna cover all angles.

[chuckthefuk]

Usually the Speedometer / Odometer relies on the Speedo cable coming from the transmission. The transmission drives the cable that is attached to the back of the Speedometer. The tachometer is usually wired to the igintion system and reads the spark cycles.

Not all cars come with Tachometers.. In fact many members install a tach from a higher trim/model subaru to upgrade to a "tach cluster"

Sorry about the mix up... I am stuck in the later generation mind state.. You don't actually have a VSS since its cable driven.

After reviewing our posts it doesn't sound like the speedo cable is bad.. its just a possibility for the 4EAT shifting issue. Tt seems that one of the connectors behind the cluster is loose or disconnected or damaged. It should be a 2 or 3 pin connector going behind the tach.

Grab a copy of the factory service manual from --> viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753&hilit=+factory (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753&hilit=+factory)

It should have the wiring schematics and removal instructions.

I would start with fixing the tach 1st.. then look into the 4EAT shifting problem.

-Chuck

[90Beater]

just called up a service tech at my local subaru dealership, he thinks its the speedo cable or the speed sensor in the transmission.