Advice needed for major problem on my 92 Legacy L

[markclaire]

So I've been driving and loving my 92 2WD Legacy L for about 7 years now, and have just encountered the first major problem (other than the usuals...)

The other day I had to really slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. After this, the transmission wouldnt re-engage until I put it in reverse, and only after that did it catch in the forward gears. For the last couple of days, its been really limping, especially when cold and in the lower gears. The car moves - engine performance seems normal - but the tranny takes 1-5 seconds to change gears, and occassionally disengages when cruising.

I checked the ECU codes this morning and nearly went blind trying count all the flashes:

31 - Throttle Sensor
32- Oxygen Sensor
35 - Canister Purge Solenoid Valve
11 - Crank angle sensor
13 - Cam angle sensor
14-17 - Fuel Injector inoperative
45 - Pressure Sensoir and pressure exchange
24 - Air control valve

The car was running fine (no CEL codes) just before the near collision, so I have a hard time believing that all of the above went bad at once as a result of slamming on the brakes. Does anyone have suggestions of where/what I should check first? Can a failure in any one of these parts (or something else) lead to a meltdown like this?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Mark

[Splinter]

First off, welcome to the forums. Too bad your first post has to be on such a down note.


Remember that the ECU stores codes since the last time it was disconnected from power, some of those codes may be very old. I'd reset the codes (actually do a whole ECU reset, via negative terminal disconnect), and see what new ones come up.

Are you getting TCU codes, or just ECU? With the tranmission problems, I'd expect to be getting TCU codes as well.

[markclaire]

Thanks Splinter.

I reset the ECU/TCU and all of the codes but one disappeared. It looks like the "canister purge solenoid valve" is the cuplrit (There aren't and have never been any TCU codes)

I have no idea what this item is, but it gives me a direction to start in.

In your experience can a faulty "CPSV" cause the types of problems that I have described? Can it be repaired/repaired/diagnosed? Its identified on a picture in my Haynes manual but there is no mention of the thing in the text.

Thanks all. I really appreciate it.

[markclaire]

oops - just found the relevant section in the manual which tells me how to check for proper voltage/resistance/vacumm, etc at the purge control. I'll post an update later, but would always appreciate sage advice in the meanwhile, especially the sort of advice regarding how much this thing will cost and how it will fix all my problems...

[markclaire]

unplugging the electrical connector from the solenoid valve seemed to improve performance dramatically, although I'm going to wait for everything to cool down and check it again before I declare victory.

If it is in fact a faulty CPSV, does anyone know if is it OK to drive around for a few days with the plug disconnected while the part is being shipped? My wife has some business meetings to go to later in the week so I'd prefer to know it was reliable before seting her loose on the freeway.

Thanks.

[Legacy777]

Yeah you should be fine driving around with the plug undone.