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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 8 of 59

#66 of 580 Re: How does Subaru rate towing capacities? [davenmn] by rsholland

Jun 24, 2007 (7:11 am)

Replying to: davenmn (Jun 23, 2007 8:19 pm)
Current published Subie tow ratings:
 
Forester: 2400 pounds
 
Outback H-4 models, including XT turbo: 2700 pounds
Outback H-6 model: 3000 pounds
 
I'm assuming the same Outback ratings are true for the Legacys, although the tow ratings are no longer published in the brochures.
 
I believe the Impreza is limited to 2000 pounds.
 
NOTE: Those ratings are with trailer brakes. If you have no trailer brakes, all Subies are limited to 1000 pounds towing. For further info, check the owner's manual.
 
Finally, in other markets all these vehicles are rated to tow more than here in the USA. I've been told it's because Subaru of America is very conservative when it comes to their tow ratings. The vehicles are up to towing more, but SoA is concerned about engine cooling, thus keeping the tow numbers down.
 
Bob

#67 of 580 Re: How does Subaru rate towing capacities? [rsholland] by xwesx

Jun 25, 2007 (11:02 am)

Replying to: rsholland (Jun 24, 2007 7:11 am)
I think I would be more concerned about transmission cooling than engine cooling. I have some friends who drove their 2000 Forester from Maryland to Alaska with a 2000# loaded trailer in tow. About 3 months after arriving, they had to have a new transmission installed (under warranty). I doubt it is coincidence that the failure occurred so soon after completing that 4000 mile trek.

#68 of 580 Re: How does Subaru rate towing capacities? [xwesx] by rsholland

Jun 25, 2007 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jun 25, 2007 11:02 am)
Yeah, that too. I think the Tribeca, with the tow package, includes a tranny cooler.
 
Bob

#69 of 580 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th by jres

Jun 25, 2007 (2:58 pm)

Ok here's an odd one. I have a 2000 Legacy GT wagon with a manual transmission and 76K miles.
 
Under load such as encountering a hill, while in 5th gear the car will exhibit a slipping behavior. There is a 1000-1500 rpm blip of the engine during which the car doesn't accelerate. It also happens to a lesser extent in 4th and does not happen in 1st through 3rd.
 
Any thoughts?

#70 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [jres] by ateixeira

Jun 26, 2007 (6:54 am)

Replying to: jres (Jun 25, 2007 2:58 pm)
Sounds like the clutch to me. I'm surprised you observe it in 4th and 5th and not from a start in 1st. Does the clutch still grab well?

#71 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [ateixeira] by paisan

Jun 26, 2007 (8:32 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 26, 2007 6:54 am)
I'm going to 2nd the clutch. I've seen this happen in several occasions. I'd say that you should start looking for a clutch for it. Try the Exedy Sport it's slightly stiffer than stock but still is organic and will last a little longer.
 
-mike

#72 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [paisan] by jres

Jun 26, 2007 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jun 26, 2007 8:32 am)
What's bothering me is exactly what juice picked up on, It's pulling fine first through third. I have never heard of a clutch being bad in the upper gears. A shot clutch in my experience will slip under load in the lower gears.
 
Has anyone here done a legacy clutch on their own? I would prefer to do it at home if possible.

#73 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [jres] by paisan

Jun 27, 2007 (6:40 am)

Replying to: jres (Jun 26, 2007 2:10 pm)
We've done several, they are a royal PITA. We send that work out to anther suby shop due to it being such a PITA. One of the hardest parts is to split the trans from the block, can be a real bear at times.
 
-mike

#74 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [paisan] by jres

Jun 27, 2007 (2:18 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jun 27, 2007 6:40 am)
I guess my real question is, can the clutch be done without putting the car on a lift or pulling the engine?
 
Paisan, I see we share a particular car passion, I had an '89 240 sx. What a car... I miss it often.

#75 of 580 Re: 2000 Legacy GT Slipping in 4th and 5th [jres] by paisan

Jun 27, 2007 (10:42 pm)

Replying to: jres (Jun 27, 2007 2:18 pm)
It can be done without a lift. We've done at least 10+ at our place w/o a lift (we've also done about 5+ driveline swaps too w/o a lift). It's just a bit more difficult, you gotta get some big SUV/Truck jack stands and some jacks to get it up nice and high so you can wrestle it off the block and out from under the car. Figure on a 12-14hr day you can swap out the clutch w/o going too too crazy.
 
Yeah I picked up the 240sx from my buddy for $1500, 220,000 miles on it now and she is running well. I dropped about 500-600 this year in it (Alternator, Starter, Battery, tie-rods, ball joints, eibach pro-kit springs, GR2 rear shocks, brake lines) but it's a perfect NYC beater car!
 
-mike

Messages Page 8 of 59

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