transmission run around

[jpolk]

I have a 2000 Legacy GT Limited with 100k miles. It is an automatic
and shifts very hard between 1 and 2nd. The AT Oil Temp light
occasionally comes on. I took it to an excellent, experienced,
transmission guy who I have used before on other cars. He partially
took it apart and told me that the transmission was fine, the problem
was up the line somewhere, something is sending faulty signals to the
transmission. He told me to take it to the dealer to have them hook
it up to their diagnostics, but warned me they would probably tell me
to replace the transmission, and because they would replace everything
up and down the line along with the transmission, the problem would
get fixed, even though I didn't need a new transmission. The dealer
wants to put in a new transmission for $4,500. The transmission guy
says the transmissions is still good, but would charge $2,500 and is
sure that changing it will not fix the problem. The car is only
worth $6,500. I hate to spend the $4,500 when it is not necessary,
it is just no one has been able to diagnose the exact problem. Any
help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2000 Legacy GT Limited with 100k miles. It is an automatic
and shifts very hard between 1 and 2nd. The AT Oil Temp light
occasionally comes on. I took it to an excellent, experienced,
transmission guy who I have used before on other cars. He partially
took it apart and told me that the transmission was fine, the problem
was up the line somewhere, something is sending faulty signals to the
transmission. He told me to take it to the dealer to have them hook
it up to their diagnostics, but warned me they would probably tell me
to replace the transmission, and because they would replace everything
up and down the line along with the transmission, the problem would
get fixed, even though I didn't need a new transmission. The dealer
wants to put in a new transmission for $4,500. The transmission guy
says the transmissions is still good, but would charge $2,500 and is
sure that changing it will not fix the problem. The car is only
worth $6,500. I hate to spend the $4,500 when it is not necessary,
it is just no one has been able to diagnose the exact problem. Any
help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I would mention your town/area both here and over at
www.ultimatesubaru.org and maybe at www.nasioc.com . Ask if anyone knows
of an experienced Subaru mechanic in your town. I think I would get at
LEAST one other opinion before spending that kinda money.
Also, you might quiz the dealership for more specifics - exactly what
codes are telling them the tranny is bad, etc.
Or maybe a different independent transmission shop can read the codes
from the TCU?

I dunno

Carl

 

[jpolk]

Thanks Carl. I live in Roanoke, Virginia (SW Virginia). Both the
dealer and the shop said the TCU was coming back with no error codes.
They were diagnosing based the hard bump in the shift.

 

[jpolk]

Thanks Carl. I live in Roanoke, Virginia (SW Virginia). Both the
dealer and the shop said the TCU was coming back with no error codes.
They were diagnosing based the hard bump in the shift.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Thanks Carl. I live in Roanoke, Virginia (SW Virginia). Both the
dealer and the shop said the TCU was coming back with no error codes.
They were diagnosing based the hard bump in the shift.

Maybe someone here will have a suggestion for you. But I wouldn't
discount the possibilty of a stored code in the ECU being helpful.
Though the flashing tranny light would seem to point to that.
Maybe a speed sensor? Also, some folks have had good luck with a true
transmission flush - though it would seem your tranny guy would have
suggested that - and if he disassmbled part of it, you at least got SOME
fresh fluid.
Maybe an indie mech that specializes in Soobs could swap in a known good
TCU from another vehicle to help diagnose the problem?

anyway - good luck

Carl

 

[AS]

The valve body, which actually does the shifting as commanded by the
shifter, the TCM and the solenoids ran about $700 a couple of years ago.

I would not touch anything until the cause for the flashing light is found.

There is a lengthy diagnosis procedure described in the service manual
for faults without trouble codes stored.

Good luck!

 

[houndman]

I have a 2000 Legacy GT Limited with 100k miles. It is an automatic
and shifts very hard between 1 and 2nd. The AT Oil Temp light
occasionally comes on. I took it to an excellent, experienced,
transmission guy who I have used before on other cars. He partially
took it apart and told me that the transmission was fine, the problem
was up the line somewhere, something is sending faulty signals to the
transmission. He told me to take it to the dealer to have them hook
it up to their diagnostics, but warned me they would probably tell me
to replace the transmission, and because they would replace everything
up and down the line along with the transmission, the problem would
get fixed, even though I didn't need a new transmission. The dealer
wants to put in a new transmission for $4,500. The transmission guy
says the transmissions is still good, but would charge $2,500 and is
sure that changing it will not fix the problem. The car is only
worth $6,500. I hate to spend the $4,500 when it is not necessary,
it is just no one has been able to diagnose the exact problem. Any
help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Maybe something like Lucas Transmission fix would help. Their power
steering additive fixed Morning Sickness in an old car I have, where
when first starting out in temps below 40deg, the steering was real
hard to turn till I rocked the wheel a few times. The tranny fix is
said to lower temps, and help with rough shifts.

http://www.lucasoil.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=29&catid=2&loc=show

VF

 

[johninKY]

An out of adjustment TPS will cause hard shifts. Transmission should also
have an external band adjustment. Don't know about the newer Subarus but
the older models had a dropping resister under the hood. I know when I
disconnected mine the XT6 shift very hard, so hard I reconnected it.

 

[jpolk]

I appreciate all the good advice and suggestions. The dealer flushed
the tranny and put in a "conditioner" which they said might help, but
it did not. I'm going to see if I can find an independent subaru
tech in the area. Thanks again.