subaru transmission problems

71 messages, Last post on Sep 14, 2009 at 4:09 AM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Transmission, Wagon

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#14 of 71: Re: 1999 forester transmission delay [phil39] by ateixeira; Jan 17, 2008 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: phil39 (Jan 17, 2008 1:30 pm)

If you drive backwards all the time, it feels like a Porsche.

#15 of 71: Re: 1999 forester transmission delay [gutap1] by roundstone; Mar 15, 2008 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: gutap1 (Nov 28, 2007 3:37 pm)

I had the same problem with my old 99 Forester at 78K miles. Dealer said I need a new tranny. So I traded that in with a new car.

#16 of 71: Re: 1999 forester transmission delay [lelands] by robidobi; Mar 30, 2008 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: lelands (Nov 07, 2007 5:13 pm)

I have the same problem with my 2000 Forester and it is very frustrating..I took it into a Subaru service place and they flushed the transmission fluid but that didn't help. It happens sporatically, but mostly when the engine is cold so I can't seem to get help with this problem.It is very annoying.My car has 78,000 miles.

#17 of 71: 97 subaru transmission trouble by ostrich; Apr 26, 2008 (5:48 pm)

My mother-in-law has a 97 subaru. The last time she went to drive it she had trouble going from PARK to REVERSE. Once she got it into reverse and backed out of the driveway, she couldn't get it into DRIVE. She got rough on the gear shift and finally got it into drive and just pulled it back down the driveway. Now I can't get the engine to turn over. The gear shift will only move to NEUTRAL if I use a screwdriver and manually depress the safety switch. Any suggestions to why it won't turn over? Why it won't shift between all the gears? Car has 117K

#18 of 71: "Binding up" on low speeds while turning by wcwilliams; Jun 28, 2008 (7:04 pm)

I have a 2002 Forester, 60,000 miles, AT. Recently, while executing very sharp turns at very slow speeds, the car began to hesitate, almost as if the transmission was binding up or seizing.

My mechanic has isolated the problem a bit, by taking the tranny out of "all wheel 4 wheel drive" and putting it in front wheel drive. Essentially, he said that there was too much pressure being applied while the car was in all wheel drive. He thinks the problem might be with the electric solanoid that is in the front transfer case, but he's gotten stalled because he didn't have the electronic specs diagram for 2002 models.

Has anyone experienced this type of problem? Is it the solanoid that's failing to get the signal to transaxle to release pressure, or could it be a problem with entire transmission?

Does he have to take out the whole transfer case to get to the transmission to repair or replace this solanoid, or is there a way to test it without unpacking thr tranny?

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated!!!
Thanks,

ateixeira (Jun 30, 2008 7:14 am)
- wcwilliams (Jul 01, 2008 9:28 am)

#19 of 71: Re: "Binding up" on low speeds while turning [wcwilliams] by ateixeira; Jun 30, 2008 (7:14 am)

Replying to: wcwilliams (Jun 28, 2008 7:04 pm)

You can test his theory pretty easily - insert the FWD fuse and see if it behaves differently.

wcwilliams (Jul 01, 2008 9:28 am)

#20 of 71: Re: "Binding up" on low speeds while turning [ateixeira] by wcwilliams; Jul 01, 2008 (9:28 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jun 30, 2008 7:14 am)

Forgive me for being thick about this--is there a direct link between each fuse and the solenoids??

#21 of 71: FWD Mode by ateixeira; Jul 01, 2008 (11:36 am)

No, what I mean is that there is a FWD mode, you insert the fuse pictured below, and is disengages the rear axle.

Then drive it, and observe closely to see if you detect any difference.

If you do, then it's definitely caused by the AWD system.

wcwilliams (Jul 01, 2008 12:07 pm)
- ateixeira (Jul 01, 2008 12:12 pm)
- denn1 (Oct 13, 2008 8:18 pm)

FWD Mode.JPG
470x503 (53kb)

#22 of 71: Re: FWD Mode [ateixeira] by wcwilliams; Jul 01, 2008 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 01, 2008 11:36 am)

Thanks and yes, I have done that--I have been driving the car in FWD mode for the past few weeks, and the problem has completely disappeared. So we do know that its the AWD system that is the problem, but I still get conflicting advice from mechanics and dealers:
some say it is the rear clutch that needs replacing; some say it is a solenoid that is failing to send the proper signal to the rear differential. How tough is it to isolate the proper solenoid (I now know there are about 8-9 of them) that we can test?
Does testing the solenoid involve as much labor as unpacking the entire transmission to check or replace the clutch???
Thank you!