Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

I've been told (3 or 4 times now) that you can disable the AWD on a Legacy by removing a fuse... but no one seems to know which one.

Is this an Urban legend?

I'm not willing to drop the transfer case and drive shafts in back, but a fuse? Heck yeah.

I could swear I saw this question in another thread but now I can't find it. At the time, someone responded that while it was easy enough to do, it didn't save anything because all that weight was still there and all the mechanical stuff still had to be rotated.

The rumor I've heard here is that it's good for 3-5mpg, and dropping the shafts is good for 10+.

Of course, a 2mpg improvement in a Subu-pig that only gets 20mpg is enough for me to get all excited about. This is one tough car to hyper-mile.:mad:

Don't know about Surbarus, but fuse removal works on '99 and newer AWD Astros. The fuse is labeled ATC on the vans, maybe there's a similarly labeled fuse in your Sube.

yes, it's under the hood near the firewall. as i recall it applies to automatic transmissions only because the center diffs are electronically controlled where the manuals are mechanically.

rotating mass is rotating mass. unless you are getting rid of it, its still there unless you are spinning your tires, which wastes even more gas...

however, i could understand if there is some sort of "brake" on either side of the diff that would cause energy to be wasted...

Found it!!!

But it's already been removed.:mad:
As has the AC belt.:mad:

Dang it, I'm running out of ideas.

sounds like you need a tune up or have a mechanical problem

Could be both, that'll be checked this week. But I've been getting the EPA combined-EPA highway mileage for the car all along, still do. It's just a 3000lb car with 2 automatic transmissions (FWD+AWD), and the aerodynamics of a Kleenex box.

Most of the people in the area with the same model / options think 20mpg would be great, they usually get 17-18mpg.

Looks like a small car, feels like a big car, drinks like a truck.

i don't ever remember my legacy doing a that bad. it was a manual trans tho. seems like it got ~28mpg pretty consistently.

My first Legacy was a 2wd stick, it was a whole different world.:(
Easy 35mpg.
https://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/834

This car? I feel like I'm trying to push a rope.

mine was manual awd

I think if I did do major mechanical surgery on the car, swapping in a manual would be close to the first priority. But spend $1000+ modifying a $1200 car that I don't really love doesn't make sense to me.

I'm shopping.

...especially for an improvement that's likely to be ~5 mpg. Anyone care to do the math on how many miles to payoff?

yeah, no point at all. the amount of work involved in converting to manual will surprise you.

for $1k you can pick up an older civic/corolla/tercel/saturn and get 40mpg easily.

:thumbup: :thumbup: unfortunately that seems to be your best option.

Re: Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

The fuse being gone means the AWD is enabled. Adding a fuse (don't know what value) will put the car in FWD (Front Wheel Drive) mode, and probably turn on a warning light on your dash. The FWD fuse is added for maintenance or testing or other purposes, according to my owner's manual.

Alas, a previous owner of my '90 Legacy disabled AWD in some other way, I am told, to increase mileage. I wish he had just added a fuse, because we have freezing rain outside, and AWD would be quite nice to have.

Re: Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

If you read the owner's manual, it actually tells you to put in the fuse (disabling the AWD system) if you have to put on the mini-spare. This is because the Subaru AWD system is very sensitive to tire diameter.

This will also put a "FWD" warning light on your dash, BTW.

So if your fuse is out, you are in AWD. Fuse in = FWD.

Regarding MPG, my 99 Outback Wagon (Auto) would get 22 - 24 in the city and 25 - 29 on the highway.

Re: Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

Okay so I haven't looked at GS in a little wile, so I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. I've done quite a bit of internet research on this topic (and likely posted that thing the Holey Cow was thinking of).
So yes, fuse out keeps it in AWD. Put a 30A fuse in and it goes to FWD. This is done with a magnetic clutch (which adds a little to alternator draw).
The biggest problem with this whole thing is that you have to move the rear axle no matter what as you don't have locking hubs.
I read somewhere that a Forster owner gained about 7% with the fuse in, but that's in the margin of error.
I have found no reports of anyone doing this long term, and what effects that may have on the life of the drive train. Many knowledgeable people have has some very negative theories.
One person did gain substantial mileage by removing the rear axles, which is a major undertaking.

Re: Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

I don't know if it was the just rear driveshaft or also the axles, but I remember post on another board where someone looked into this.
Their mechanic quoted them about $200 for removal. It likely is a PITA, but doable by a DIYer with the tools and enough jacks and stands.
Putting the parts back was a $1500 job in order to get all the gearing lined up correctly.
So, if you never want AWD again, or plan to sell it at market rates, then it might be possible.

Re: Disable AWD on a Subaru Legacy by removing a fuse?
 

The best way to get better MPG out of a Forester is to sell it and buy something else. ;)