Guys,

Major problem, car wont rev past 4 and a bit k revs it has a ****fit (like fuel cut) but it's rev related not boost related also speedo has stopped working

It is defo rev related as the car drives normaly up to 4k revs
Any ideas greatly appreciated as the car is my daily driver!!
CEL is on as well

Thanks in advance
james

 

right its in "limp home mode" its a safety thing so you dont rev it past 4k and **** up the engine......SO STOP REVING IT LOL.

You can go to subaru or a specialist off here or maybe,depending on the car connect a couple of plugs together and find out why the cel is on by reading the pulses on the trip???? counter,but you do need it looking at, im sure some one on here will soon tell you where/how/what to do to find out whats going on,but for now dont rev it please,im too drunk to try to explain (real bad day at work thing goin on)but someone will....sorry...hope this helps.

 

Thanks mate have a beer on me, I thinks related to the speed cable in some way as that stopped working at the same time !

 

Yup the ECU does this when the speedo cable fails. It is to stop the Japanese circumventing the 112mph speed limit by unplugging the cable.

Fix the speedo cable and the problem will fix itself!

 

Yes as above the ecu is in limp mode.
With your speedo not working its obvious your ecu is not getting the speed signal hence why it wont go over 4000rpm.

Depending on your model year its down to speed sensor (fitted to the gearbox) Or the speedo clock. Or the speedo cable is loose or damaged.

 

Dont panic ...speedo cable is either faulty or just come unclipped, this will be firing up the CEL & causing the 'limp mode'

 

told you some one would come along

 

wow like busses now

 

Great thanks guys

Where do I look to plug it back in ?

 

nice one to know.

 

Just like buses where the hell have you all gone ?

 

What model year is your car?
If its pre97 (cable operated) then have a look at the speedo cable where it fits into the gearbox. Its just behind the dipstick (g.box) There should a small spring clip which holds the 2 cables together. You may have to pull the orange rubber sleeve up first to see it is all plugged in.

Or it may have been disconnected from the back of the speedo, unlikely unless you have been fiddling in the engine bay by the dp.

If its electronic type speedo then it may required a new speed senor or check the wiring has not been burnt from the heat of the dp.

 

Brilliant thanks, it's 1995 car, i have checked the big casble on top of the box and it all seems connected o.k, is it the one with the alloy block of metal half way down ?
Seems o.k not sure what to do next ?
Cant see how it's come out of the dash, how do you get to the back of the dash?
James

 

THERE WILL BE A BUS ALONG SOON
KIP

 

Tickets Please!

I'd suggest you take the instrument cluster out to have a look, if its as simple as the later electronic speedo's it is easy peasy and take 30 minutes to get it out check and put it back in.

Be aware though that it is the inner cable you are interested in! just because the cable looks connected to the gearbox and the speedo it doesn't mean the cable inside has not snapped. Did the speed on the speedo wobble around at all before it finally stopped? as this could indicate a fraid cable. Anyway have a look see.

Now Move along the bus please! Ding Ding

 

Cable should run from the top of the gearbox (drivers side) up past the turbo & in through a big rubber gromit into the bulk head. Speedo cable is actually 2 cables ...gearbox end should be about 12" long with a rubber sleeve that connects to the longer cable that goes to the back of the speedo.

Im not sure what you mean when you say 'alloy block'? ...this could be your speedo converter (are you running mph or kph?) as there are two types: one that goes on the back of the speedo or the type that sits at the gearbox end.

Your best bet is unclip the cable at the gearbox end (dont be tempted to unscrew it from the gearbox! it's a pig to get back in!) ...then pull the cable up through the engine bay & test it ...i just clamped a drill to it & got someone check the speedo was moving.

If that works, speedo end is fine

If not it's probably fell off/ been pulled off the back of the speedo ...just unscrew the dash surround & unscrew the dash & wiggle it out. make sure the cable is attached properly & repeat the drill test.

This way, if it is cable failure you'll be able to isolate which one (breakers tend to sell them seperatley) & if you have a speedo converter dont forget to try the above with it removed, as they're known to fail too

 

Thanks again for the help guys, i hae tried to take the instrument cluster out but cant get it all the way out, not far enough to get to the cable, do I have to take the whole dash out ?

 

no you dont need to take the whole dash out, they are just a bit fiddly especially if you have proper man hands!!, make sure you ahve removed all screws from the surround, including the 2 that are up top (these hold the plastic casing to the rest of the cluster panel) What you could try to do first before removing everything though, is to try to gently push the speedo cable nr the grommet going into the cabin as you may seat it back home again (assuming it is loose that is). Also you shouldnt have to do an ecu reset when it is fixed if it is cable related (didnt on mine when I changed my dials)

 

You could undo the 2 x 12mm bolts to drop the steering wheel so its make taking the speedo out easy.

I would test the long speedo cable by turning the inner cable spindle by HAND.
If its difficult to turn or binds during the rotation. Then it needs replacing

The same test with the short cable by hand (remove from gearbox)

The same test on the convertor

Then the same test with all 3 connected.

You should be able to turn the spindle using your finger tips, check the other end of the cable to see if it turns.

Ticky

 

Thanks mate your a star, im struggling a little bit the cable is connected at the dashboard end, im not sure about the other end, Im sure I have the old mechanical type it seems to have the converter near the gearbox but I cant really see how to seperate it all!

 

To remove the cables:

You can just pull the cable off from the back of the speedo clock

With the longer cable same as above but the g.box end, you need to pull up the orange rubber sleeve to reveal a small spring type clip. This clip slots into a groove to keep the cable locked into place. You can use a small screw driver to help get the clip out of the groove & pull the cable out/off. Or just pull the cable a little harder but get ready to catch the clip.

The short cable which is fiited on the gearbox needs to be undone with a 17mm spanner. Pull up the orange rubber sleeve to reveal the hex nut.

When you put this cable back onto the g.box just make sure line up the spindle into the slot.

Good luck Ticky

 

[QUOTE=ticky;6735112]To remove the cables:

You can just pull the cable off from the back of the speedo clock

With the longer cable same as above but the g.box end, you need to pull up the orange rubber sleeve to reveal a small spring type clip. This clip slots into a groove to keep the cable locked into place. You can use a small screw driver to help get the clip out of the groove & pull the cable out/off. Or just pull the cable a little harder but get ready to catch the clip.

The short cable which is fiited on the gearbox needs to be undone with a 17mm spanner. Pull up the orange rubber sleeve to reveal the hex nut.

When you put this cable back onto the g.box just make sure line up the spindle into the slot.

Good luck Ticky[/
QUOTE]

Hi mate thanks for the quick response, i think the reason im not getting this is because im thick
I think the converter is in the middle of this cable (the alloy block i mentioned earlier) and it seems different to what you describe

 

Here is a picture of my old cable complete with convertor & the short cable thats fitted to the gearbox.

The black box is the convertor

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...Photo-0033.jpg

The reason your getting confused is that there are different version/designs of convertors. So maybe yours is a little different. So you will have to take a closer look & see how its connected to the original cables & simply undo?

The link below shows the variation of convertors

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...speedoconv.jpg

 

Hi Mate,
Thanks for all your help my cable and converter look exactly the same as your old one, having taken it apart this morning I can confirm it has snapped inside just like you said, the cable from the speedo to the converter is o.k. The bit that is broken is between the converter and tha gearbox som i guess i need a new converter and the short cable that plugs into the gearbox.
Now where the hell can I get one
?
\Thanks again
James

 

I still have the long cable but just sold the short cable?

But Grade A Subaru supplied me in the past with both cables, quick service & decent price too.

Just make sure the longer cable spins freely by hand, mine did not & testing it with a drill did not help to find the cause of the short cable breaking.
It cost be 2 short cables to find out why.

Take the convertor apart & apply some grease.

Ticky

 

Thanks for all your help guy's. My new cable turned up today, it's not the same as the old one
I know have a cable thats got a different fitting at the gearbox end and a little black box that I havent got a clue where it goes it fits the speedo end of the cable but the other end wont plug onto the speedo
The converter is the same as the one in the second picture above and it's the one at the top of the three !
Any help greatly appreciated
James

 

Try to get a picture up of your old & new cable as well as the convertors.

Could you not return the cable & convertor to the supplier?

 

Hi mate,
Thanks for the speedy reply.
I got the whole thing from Subaru Heaven, they have sent me 2 cables that will go from the gearbox to the speedo and a black converter, I have just had a thought the car has a P1 gearbox this might explain why the gearbox connector looks different doesnt explain the where the converter is supposed to go though ?

 

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that helped with this I have finally got it sorted, got the new cable to work she is now back to her old Tarmac Terrorist self

 

sorry to hijack the thread but looking at these converters i have the one on top. Question is does it go gearbox side or speedo side? It's been rattling round in my door pocket for ages!
Cheers
Mike.