"Power" light flashes after start up

[samantha]

Subaru Legacy, 1992, 168K - More and more frequently, when I start the
car, the Power light on the dashboard (next to the Manual light)
flashes 16 times. Generally, this is accompanied by extremely sluggish
and stiff grinding when i turn sharply - i.e., into a parking space or
anything past 90 degrees. Just had steering rack replaced as well as
front struts. Has anyone encountered either the 16 flashes of the Power
light or the hard grinding feel when turning car sharply? Thanks.
Samantha

 

[samantha]

sorry - just found this. didn't come up before in my search:

The power light on the 90-94 legacy is the equivalent of the "check
trans"
light. If it has a trouble code in memory, it will flash 16 times
whenever you
start the car, if there is a critical failure during the driving, it
will start
flashing while driving. So your 16 flashes are not the actual trouble
code, but
rather the indication that there is a trouble code in the memory. I can
not
remember if there is a way to check the trans memory without the use of
a scan
tool, I will look into it for you.

 

[mulder]

Subaru Legacy, 1992, 168K - More and more frequently, when I start the
car, the Power light on the dashboard (next to the Manual light)
flashes 16 times. Generally, this is accompanied by extremely sluggish
and stiff grinding when i turn sharply - i.e., into a parking space or
anything past 90 degrees. Just had steering rack replaced as well as
front struts. Has anyone encountered either the 16 flashes of the Power
light or the hard grinding feel when turning car sharply? Thanks.
Samantha

The sound you are describing is probably the center differential
binding. Given the mileage on the car, if you intend to keep it you
will want to start checking around for a good used transmission.