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Subaru Legacy/Outback Transmission Problems

580 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 12:13 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Transmission, Sedan, Wagon


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Messages Page 13 of 59

#119 of 580 Re: 1999 subaru legacy transmission problem and ? [paisan] by ncassidy

Dec 06, 2007 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Dec 06, 2007 5:19 pm)
It does have a smell to it albeit not a burn't clutch smell. I am familiar with that odor. The garage that put the clutch in believe it is the transmission or something in there that is screwed up.It almost acts like the first 4 gears are spinning on the shaft they are attached to.The guys at the garage have done a lot of Subaru clutches and they are reputable.They even took it all apart and stuck in a new fly wheel and new pressure plate. Still does the same thing. I actually drove the car home the other night and it hardly made it up my driveway. Had to get a rolling start to make it up.

#120 of 580 2005 Subaru Outback Transmission Problems after 8 months of having it, new by jbaudet

Dec 30, 2007 (7:20 am)

Hi Guys, I have a 2005 Subaru Outback, close to the first year of having this car, it presented transmission problems, the transmission slips, usually making a right or left turn. To make a long story short, the local dealer had changed the trans twice, its good for a while and then the problem comes back.It cant be the transmission because it was replaced twice. A regional manager from Subaru came to the dealer and we went for a test drive and believe it or not he said that it was a nomal condition and I have to give chance to the computer to respond, BS. I've been driving cars since I was 15 and never experienced anything like that so I said to the manager, its like me telling you to use a computer and not to hit the enter hit too fast otherwise the computer will fail, he did not say anything. I know he was covering the company. There is something wrong with this car. Any help will be appreciated it.
Thanks

#121 of 580 bobbyc by bchatterjee

Jan 03, 2008 (1:11 pm)

My Subaru Legacy outback has 79K miles. Last week "check engine" light came ON and I found the speedometer not working. Took to my garage where they changed' speed sensor' unit but Speedo still not working. Suggested I drive home and bring back for further check after New Year Holidays etc. Driving home (barely two miles) experienced loud metallic clanking noise and decided to have the car towed back to the garage with help from AAA.It appears the differential suffered a internal breakage and as per garage needs complete overhaul and rebuilding the transmission.I wonder if anyone can throw light on this failure and if similar failures have occurred in 1998 Subaru Legacy with less than 100K miles ?

#122 of 580 Re: bobbyc [bchatterjee] by paisan

Jan 03, 2008 (4:02 pm)

Replying to: bchatterjee (Jan 03, 2008 1:11 pm)
You can get a junkyard unit for about $600 and probably about $400 to have it installed. Thats the route I'd go.
 
-mike

#123 of 580 98 GT Tranny Issue by subbie2756

Jan 07, 2008 (6:05 pm)

OK, here's the deal guys. I popped a head gasket at 136k. Since I had a tranny issue already with a delay in the 2-3 shift, I chose to replaced engine and trans as one unit. I now have a JDM engine and trans in my Legacy GT. Since it was installed I have noticed what feels like a severe torgue steer to the right under hard exceleration. It smooths out once I'm past about 30. I have even tried excelerating hard from then on, and didnt notice the problem. This problem is of course worse if it is slick out, and living in central IL, it stays slick in the winter. Any ideas?

#124 of 580 95 Legacy Won't Back Up by subaroo

Jan 08, 2008 (4:02 pm)

My daughter drives our 95 Subaru Legacy wagon with automatic trans while away at college. She says when she shifts it into reverse it acts like it's in neutral and won't actually move backwards. It started doing this intermittently, now does it most of the time. It will properly go into reverse successfully once in a while....usually first thing in the morning when car has been sitting overnight. Seems to be worse after the car has been driven and warmed up. Any suggestions on what the problem is, how to fix, and cost to fix will be appreciated.

#125 of 580 Re: 95 Legacy Won't Back Up [subaroo] by xwesx

Jan 08, 2008 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: subaroo (Jan 08, 2008 4:02 pm)
First thing to check is the fluid level; next, perhaps, is the shift interlock. If neither of those things, then it may be a problem with the transmission's internals (which means replace/rebuild the transmission). No problems with forward engagement at all?

#126 of 580 Re: 95 Legacy Won't Back Up [xwesx] by subaroo

Jan 08, 2008 (5:30 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 08, 2008 4:50 pm)
Thanks for the reply. No problems in forward gears, only reverse.
 
Fluid is OK. I topped it off....still had the problem. Then has my mechanic drain and refill....still had the problem.
 
What's the procedure for checking the shift interlock? Please advise.
 
A friend suggested the transmissions bands were slipping and needed to be adjusted. Does this make sense....most of my experience is with manuals/clutches not automatics?

#127 of 580 transmission by softailred

Jan 06, 2008 (9:42 am)

1994 Subaru Legacy Sedan(auto) will not shift into 3rd or overdrive max out at 60mph

#128 of 580 1st gear synchro by jefty_jeff

Jan 09, 2008 (1:53 pm)

I have a 99 Legacy 5-speed manual with about 250,000km (155k mi). Bought the car at 140,000.
As far as I can remember it was difficult to shift into 1st gear (and reverse) almost from the beginning. It's not really bad, but roughly every other time I need to wait a bit until it shifts. Sometimes it won't shift at all when the light turns green at an intersection, and I'm sitting there trying other gears or reverse to move the gears inside the transmission before it goes into 1st.
My dad is a mechanic and we've always been driving manual. We have replaced the synchronizer on the 1st gear, but shortly after that the problem returned. We have tried several different brands of oil, from standard to Mobil1, AMSOil and currently I have Motul.
We have even gone as far as modifying the clutch pedal to gain several mm of clutch travel, but to no avail. (The clutch has been replaced too along the way).
 
The way I deal with it is try to shift into first while the car is still rolling a bit before coming to a full stop, and then shift back into neutral after the gears have been properly aligned.
 
I tried a couple of new Outbacks recently and, while substantially better, they still don't have a precise shift feeling in the 1st gear. Did anyone notice this?
I believe some car reviews pointed out the imprecise shift feeling in Subaru manual transmissions.
 
Other than that the car is running well. I'm waiting for it to die so I can buy the Outback.

Messages Page 13 of 59

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