help.

[thecrew42]

I just bought a 1990 Subaru Legacy manual transmission from a friend
who moved out of country. He just left it for me to pick up. The
problem is, I can't figure out how to get this car to move. The engine
starts great, there is gas and oil and everything in it. I take off
the e-brake and put the car into gear, but it won't move at all. It
seems like there is another brake or something that I'm not releasing,
but I'm not sure what it is... The clutch goes in and out fine -- I
think that the car is fine, It's just that I'm an idiot and there is
some feature that I'm not aware of. Does anyone know what I'm talking
about? Thanks.

 

[johninKY]

FWD or AWD? If FWD check the front CV axles. Car will not move if one is
missing or broken. Don't know how long the car has sat but maybe the
brakes are frozen.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

FWD or AWD? If FWD check the front CV axles. Car will not move if one is
missing or broken. Don't know how long the car has sat but maybe the
brakes are frozen.

Good post.

Um, does the car stall or do you smell burning clutch material?

(Maybe get the car up on stands and spin the wheels - John's frozen
brake idea seems possible, even rusted parking brake cable - I THINK the
90s may have had the seperate parking brake on the back of the rotor -
anyone?

Carl

 

[johninKY]

Carl,
E-brake is in the rear.
John

 

[strchild]

Actually, Subaru has attached the e-brake to the front disks in the past,
and not the goofy drum-disk combo either. The e-brake cable operated the
disk calipers so could be on the front. Not sure the models and years with
this feature, but I found it useful on a few occasions. '90 sounds about
the right period.

The OP mentioned it's a manual so anybody have knowledge of the hill-holder
system? What sort of failure modes might it exhibit?

~Brian

 

[hippo]

Actually, Subaru has attached the e-brake to the front disks in the past,

and not the goofy drum-disk combo either. The e-brake cable operated the

disk calipers so could be on the front. Not sure the models and years
with
this feature, but I found it useful on a few occasions. '90 sounds about

the right period.

The OP mentioned it's a manual so anybody have knowledge of the
hill-holder
system? What sort of failure modes might it exhibit?

~Brian

Hmm.. my first thought was hill holder too, but the brake suggestions have
reminded me of a range of makes that have been immobilised by rusted/seized
brakes over the years. Might be worth towing it a metre or so with a solid
bar and seeing if all the wheels turn in neutral or not - 'cos if you use
a rope and the brakes don't work ..... :-(

Quick visual by a willing assistant should verify if the clutch pedal is
actually making the throwout arm operate or not. Cheers

 

[Vanguard]

thecrew42 wrote in message

I just bought a 1990 Subaru Legacy manual transmission from a friend
who moved out of country. He just left it for me to pick up. The
problem is, I can't figure out how to get this car to move. The
engine
starts great, there is gas and oil and everything in it. I take off
the e-brake and put the car into gear, but it won't move at all. It
seems like there is another brake or something that I'm not
releasing,
but I'm not sure what it is... The clutch goes in and out fine -- I
think that the car is fine, It's just that I'm an idiot and there is
some feature that I'm not aware of. Does anyone know what I'm
talking
about? Thanks.

If it has a clutch, does the engine drag down or halt if you let out
the clutch but the car doesn't move? If not, the clutch isn't
engaging.

 

[AS]

What do you mean the car does not move?

If you release the clutch when in gear do you feel the engine being
loaded? As if brakes applied?

Or is it that the car does not roll and then you do not release the clutch?

When the hill holder cable is out of calibration, or when it is
defective, it can keep the brakes applied.

As others say, the brakes could be seized. Try going forward and then
backwards repeatedly to see if the brakes release.

Good luck!

 

[PayPal Dude]

Is the car AWD, does it have dual range transmission?
Check dual range lever all the way down or up (Low Range)!

 

[hippo]

Is the car AWD, does it have dual range transmission?
Check dual range lever all the way down or up (Low Range)!

Far out I am getting old! Only 3 yrs since I had a dual range mnl and I
forgot that one. Good point too, 'cos anywhere else it's in neutral!

*Make sure* you have the clutch in though or you may get one hell of a
crunch. Also it sometimes needs a pretty firm shove to engage hi or lo if
it's been sitting or the selector's got full of dust/bugs/snack wrappers.
Cheers

 

[johninKY]

The front-mounted E-brake was a feature used in the 80s on the GL/XT/XT6
models. Only Subaru model in the 90s to use it was the Loyale which was
nothing more then a renamed GL.

Totally overlooked the HH feature which I now bet is the problem. Jack
the car up and if the RF and LR wheels can not be rotated it means the
hill holder is engaged.

 

[2]

PayPal Dude is the bom!