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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 58

#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.

#129 of 580 Drive Train Whine by agwat

Jan 09, 2008 (4:25 pm)

Hi All...I own a 2001 (AT) Outback with 110K miles. My wife drives the car and never lets me know when the car starts doing something funny. I jump in the drivers seat to head out on the road and then throw out the accusatory "WHAT IS THAT" after a few seconds of driving. Anyhow, the other day I jumped behind the wheel and noticed an audible (but not extremely loud) whine that increases with intensity as the car speeds up. Sounds similar to how many cars whine when you drive them in reverse. I threw the transmission into neutral and found that the sound persisted and was independent of engine speed. It sounded like a bad power steering pump (which doesn't follow my previous statement about engine speed, but I checked it anyhow) so I went home and removed the belt that drives the pump as well as the alternator and test drove it around the block, the noise was still there. I cant tell if the noise is coming from either side of the car...it seems to be directly in the middle. I jacked up the car and checked the front end CV joints and they seem solid...but I did notice the the drive axles seemed to have play at the point where they insert into the differential. There was both axial as well as up and down movement...how much play is normal? This was more that a few thousandths...
 
Any suggestions are appreciated,
 
Andrew

#130 of 580 Re: Drive Train Whine [agwat] by xwesx

Jan 09, 2008 (5:14 pm)

Replying to: agwat (Jan 09, 2008 4:25 pm)
My guess is that it is originating with the rear differential. When was the last time differential fluids were changed? You might consider a drain/refill on both the front and rear.
 
My '96 Outback had the same whine you describe for the last 70,000 miles I owned it. It slowly became more noticeable, but never caused any problems.

Messages Page 13 of 58

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