Auto Vs Manual

SquiresSquire said:
[MENTION=4168]Dedman[/MENTION] I have a ECU out of my parts car (2006 SG Auto XS, and/or matching Transmission ECU) if you want to swap them out and see if it is that causing your issue
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Cheers mate. Might consider this although to me it sounds everything is normal and I have just hit the mechanical limits of components.

SquiresSquire said:
Have you tried resetting the ECU Maps via disconnecting the battery etc? Previous owner might have driven like a Grandma, so the maps are all tuned to that style of driving?
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Its possible, although I have been giving it hell for a few weeks now so it probably should have adjusted


El_Freddo said:
Dedman, have you done a transmission service? Might be time for new fluid and filter?
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Sure have. One of the first things I did.

To be honest I actually think everything is working as it should on the car I have just hit the mechanical limits of what the Auto can do (on the 1st drive). I haven't yet seen any real better performance except for turbo models which have the extra power to overcome the autos shortfalls in terms of gearing. Maybe I should just by an XT and be done with it...
 
Dedman said:
What I though. So it will do nothing when flooring it in 1st gear only.
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The Power/Hold switch alters the power distribution. In Hold mode and 1st gear you are locking the centre diff, in Power mode you are not.

When you serviced the transmission did you do the front diff oil? This is done separately to the gear box fluid.
 
Dedman said:
Just a bog standard 4EAT in a 2006 forester. Not really a shifting issue though. The videos in question were in 1st gear the entire time.
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OK. The Sportshift tranny has a different TCU and clutch pack from the standard 4EAT. It was one of my requirements for my wife's Forester when I was looking. Jatco make a bullet proof automatic (4EAT since 1988!), but the additions/differences added by Prodrive make a significant difference to how the SH performs (it has an almost identical motor to our EJ253 donks in our 2006 SGs, the 2008-2010 SH had a slightly further modified EJ253).


When I drive the SH, I always flick it into sports mode and give it a few good squirts to keep the engine clean. The Prodrive TCU remembers this, and makes the tranny (and car) more responsive when my wife is driving it in normal mode. She often comments on this, but has never understood when I have explained to her why it is doing this ... :iconwink: :lildevil:.



Just BTW, someone else pointed out about the low range torque of the EJ253 donk. It hits 80% of maximum torque by about 1200 rpm, and is still over 90% when the ECU causes misfiring at around 6300 rpm. This gives it an almost flat torque curve, and it's almost like the driving an under-powered OHV American V8. Same sort of lazy torque curve and effortless performance, but without the sheer grunt of a 4-6 litre motor,



There is a fair bit of discussion about it in this thread about the differences between the EJ251 and the EJ253 engines -


https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=5020
 
havachat said:
The Power/Hold switch alters the power distribution. In Hold mode and 1st gear you are locking the centre diff, in Power mode you are not.
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I have a switch controlling the VTD centre diff so the different modes do nothing with my setup apart from send current to a dummy resistor.

havachat said:
When you serviced the transmission did you do the front diff oil? This is done separately to the gear box fluid.
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Sure did.
 
What have you done with the SF?
 
Sad, did something happen to it or just died of old age?
 
Rally said:
Sad, did something happen to it or just died of old age?
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I happened to it.... No it was mostly a loss of faith in the reliability of it after all the dunkings in salty WA water. Had electrical gremlins starting everywhere. The final nail in the coffin was the fuel tank springing a leak which requires the entire rear end of the car to be taken out.
The body was also starting to fail with seam welds popping everywhere on it. The windscreen was cracked on the inner layer of glass from the amount of body flex going through it. The sf was never the most ridged car and I have given it absolute hell.
 
havachat said:
The Power/Hold switch alters the power distribution. In Hold mode and 1st gear you are locking the centre diff, in Power mode you are not.
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My understanding is different.

Hold mode effectively disables 1st gear and as far as I know "Holds" in whatever gear you select and I believe it's just a rumor that it locks the centre diff otherwise why would many, including me, have gone to the trouble to research and install the centre diff lock mod?

An auto will lock up, or rather change torque distribution, when 75% throttle is reached in 1st or 2nd gear so I imagine this will happen with Hold or Power options. What might be happening is that some are selecting Hold then getting the go pedal to 75% in 2nd and then it will lock.

The lock up mod simply fools the TCM that this condition has been met at any throttle setting.

I can look up the variables to prove this but don't have the time right now. I'd certainly be interested in seeing any tech documentation that proves the Hold switch will lock the centre diff. :)
 
[QUOTE=Dedman;103105. Maybe I should just by an XT and be done with it...[

Given the characteristics of turbo engines, would this give you a significant boost in torque below 1500 rpm? I've searched but can't find any dyno results for a standard XT (SG) so I'm not sure.

I had a chat with a guy who has a supercharger on an NA SG and he swears by it for off road. Reckons it's a weapon as the torque starts coming in almost from idle.
 
Beachworm said:
Given the characteristics of turbo engines, would this give you a significant boost in torque below 1500 rpm? I've searched but can't find any dyno results for a standard XT (SG) so I'm not sure.
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Well peak torque for both is at 3600 rpm and the NA produces 184Nm from factory where as the XT produces 330Nm. Given these numbers I would expect the turbo to pump out a bunch more at 2200-2500 stall speed. The XT may have a higher stall speed as well (need to confirm this). Might take one for a drive on the weekend to see.

Supercharger would be cool but I don't think I am up to that much custom engine work at this stage. Not a cheap or easy mod that one...
 
The conversion I looked at was on an unmodified NA engine so it was a bolt-on conversion. We didn't discuss the cost of the kit but it looked remarkably simple to me (not that that means a lot). He told me it was a low boost system that didn't require other mods but was very effective low down. It fitted in the space normally occupied by the air cleaner box and came from a supplier in North Queensland. The most complicated part was the water to air intercooler.

I would be concerned about trying to climb ledges by relying on getting enough torque at stall speed in an XT. At those revs, when it starts to move it's likely to go with a rush. I've been relying on giving it a bit of a bump to begin with so I've got at least a bit of momentum. I've found I get some wheelspin especially if there's a bit of sand or gravel on the surface but I'd rather have that than a sudden move at 2200rpm in an XT.
 
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That sounds like it. I copied this from the site:

Our Subaru RS 2.5 Impreza (2005)
250 000km of driving with supercharger - only component upgraded was the clutch.
The stage 2 intercooled supercharger kit is fitted - motor still original - 6psi boost.
Performance wise, it’s still quicker than current WRX and Levorg - incredible bang for your buck. 5.3 secs 0-100kmh
This car has proved 10’s of thousands of people wrong - you can supercharge the NA EJ253 and enjoy fun for decades without burning up the engine.
We still sell these kits AUD$4300
 
Beachworm said:
I would be concerned about trying to climb ledges by relying on getting enough torque at stall speed in an XT. At those revs, when it starts to move it's likely to go with a rush. I've been relying on giving it a bit of a bump to begin with so I've got at least a bit of momentum. I've found I get some wheelspin especially if there's a bit of sand or gravel on the surface but I'd rather have that than a sudden move at 2200rpm in an XT.
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Yes that is a concern but at the same time having the power to be able to do that if needed is also nice. There is also trying to get enough speed for runup mid slope. I found when stopped on the steep the NA did struggle to gain speed again.
 
Longing for 4LO

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum, and my Subaru. Just a couple months into ownership of my Crosstrek, I'm noticing some definite drawbacks versus a truck with 4LO. My two main issues have been IN SAND and ON STEEP INCLINE. I'm using a 5spd and am experiencing difficulty maintaining a slow, steady speed without burning the hell out of my clutch. This is further exasperated when following trucks which are able to "putt along" at much slower speeds. For instance, I was fine in the sand by myself, cruising along in 1st gear at a respectable clip, but I bogged down and had to allow some clutch slip when I caught up to slower-moving trucks.

Any tips/solutions?

I don't suppose anyone's found a way to retrofit alternate transfer cases in order to gain a lower "crawl gear" - have they?

Thanks in advance!
 
depends on where to climb. heavy truck or other 4wd car with lots weight can struggle in situations where we light subarus will just pass no problems. so it depends where you need to go/climb/crawl
wouldnt choose manual vs auto with VDC. XT forester with VDC is just beast. just not on low revs. turbo not helps there. supercharger would help.
 
Yes, you can retrofit a dual range 5 speed, although that will present you with a few challenges. The problem you have is that you have an engine with little in the way of torque, with gearing insufficient to enhance what little torque you have.
 
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