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Subaru Legacy/Outback Transmission Problems

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

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


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Messages Page 38 of 58

#370 of 580 another question by ashevilleian

Sep 22, 2009 (5:29 am)

ok, so i was driving my new-used 2007 Subaru outback 2.5i a good deal this past weekend and tried to localize whatever is going on with it a bit more. I had the ATF changed at the Subaru dealer here in asheville but the problem is still occurring. it seems to occur most at higher speeds (between 60-70 mph) and not necessarily during a shift but more when i'm changing speeds. and it feels like i'm driving over one of those strips along the road meant to wake you up if you fall asleep. it only lasts about a second and goes away. it also seems to happen more during inclines. oh and the ball bearings are all fine. any ideas?

#371 of 580 Re: another question [ashevilleian] by ateixeira

Sep 22, 2009 (7:38 am)

Replying to: ashevilleian (Sep 22, 2009 5:29 am)
That's a mystery because I would have guess wheel bearings next, and you say those are OK.
 
I would look at the front diff fluid and the rear diff fluid. Maybe drain and fill, and check the magnetic drain plug to see if any metal shavings came off. Basically looking for other symptoms.
 
Can you tell from which side of the car the noise is coming? Try to narrow it down to front vs. back, or the side.

#372 of 580 Re: another question [ashevilleian] by saedave

Sep 22, 2009 (8:56 am)

Replying to: ashevilleian (Sep 22, 2009 5:29 am)
it only lasts about a second and goes away. it also seems to happen more during inclines. oh and the ball bearings are all fine. any ideas?
 
Is there anything loose under the car that could touch the drive shaft? exhaust pipe, muffler heat shield? Also anything that could touch a wheel...brake line, etc.
 
Could it be the cooling fan or something driven by the serpentine belt?

#373 of 580 Re: another question [ateixeira] by ashevilleian

Sep 22, 2009 (9:07 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 22, 2009 7:38 am)
are the diff fluids easy to change by yourself?
it actually doesn't make a sound really, it just feels like i'm going over one of those strips along the side of the road and i would say it feels like it's coming from the front, but i'll try to localize it a bit more.

#374 of 580 Re: another question [saedave] by ashevilleian

Sep 22, 2009 (9:09 am)

Replying to: saedave (Sep 22, 2009 8:56 am)
I'll check this, but i don't think so. and it doesn't happen all the time, just those times mentioned.
 
there are zero rattles or shakes anywhere in the car that i can hear. i hate when things rattle or squeak so i'm pretty quick to act when i do hear something.

#375 of 580 Re: another question [ashevilleian] by xwesx

Sep 22, 2009 (9:52 am)

Replying to: ashevilleian (Sep 22, 2009 9:07 am)
No real sound, but you can feel it and it only happens when the gears shift. Perhaps I am way off base here, but I almost think there is an issue with the torque converter - perhaps the lock-up clutch? It would be an uncommon failure if this is the case, but it just seems like it has something to do with the operation of the transmission.

#376 of 580 Re: another question [xwesx] by ashevilleian

Sep 22, 2009 (10:11 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 22, 2009 9:52 am)
it doesn't actually just happen when the gears shift, just when i change speeds. could that be the problem if it's occurring at times it's not shifting? most shifts are good, it seems that it only happens when i'm rapidly speeding up. like if i was going up an incline on the highway and have to floor it (since it's the 2.5) to keep a constant speed, it'll happen. then after it does it, it might shift and some times it happens a couple times in a row.
 
Sorry if it's confusing, i really dont know much about cars and i don't want to go into the dealer to get them to check it out without having some idea. they will charge me a bunch of hours to figure it out.

#377 of 580 Re: another question [ashevilleian] by ateixeira

Sep 22, 2009 (11:17 am)

Replying to: ashevilleian (Sep 22, 2009 9:07 am)
Rear is easy but you said the you thought the noise was coming from the front.
 
I've only done the front diff fluid on models with a manual trans, which shares fluid with the diff. I'm pretty sure AT models are different.

#378 of 580 Re: another question [ashevilleian] by xwesx

Sep 22, 2009 (1:25 pm)

Replying to: ashevilleian (Sep 22, 2009 10:11 am)
Oh..... but this is all very confusing.
 
Here was your first account of the situation: but now when i'm driving most shifts feel perfect but every so often it feel like i ran over a speed bump when there is nothing there. it happens a lot on the highways and in the mountains but doesn't necessarily happen every time it shifts or for a certain gear but seems to happen most when i'm accelerating or decelerating. Any ideas?
 
We have now moved past the "speed bump" scenario (which I must say is quite different) to rumble strips. But, still no sound, just a feel.
 
I must say it seems like engine hesitation, with all things considered. Do you know the maintenance history of the vehicle? Is this the one that was a dealer demo (I get my stories confused)? This may be something as simple as worn spark plugs, but without knowing if they were replaced yet, it is hard to say. Also, no codes in the system would likely steer away from that theory as well.
 
*sigh*

#379 of 580 Re: another question [xwesx] by ashevilleian

Sep 22, 2009 (1:54 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 22, 2009 1:25 pm)
to make it even more interesting, i think it's doing both now. but it was first feeling like i hit a speed hump but after resetting the computer and getting ATF changed, now it's doing the rumble strips with a few speed bumps thrown in there (though they could be the same thing, i may just be paying more attention some times) and again neither of these happen all the time or very often and almost never during city driving.
 
Nope, no service records. its an 07 with 80k miles on it. i know i should just take the thing in to a dealer, but i really don't want to spend too much on the diagnosing part of it as it's $90 an hour. If there are no engine lights on, would it make any sense to hook a reader up to it? i have access to one if it would help at all.

Messages Page 38 of 58

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