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Transmission problem on 96 outback


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Hello

 

New to the boards

I own a 96 Impreza Outback.

 

It had 133,000 miles on it

 

Just brought it to Subaru to have the Timing Belt changed.

 

While replacing that they tell me that a sensor chip in my transmission is going bad (wrote "MPT GOING BAD" on my bill). They noticed that the car shakes a tiny bit when I make a turn which I noticed but it aint no big deal to me .

 

Told it will be about $1,600 to replace chip and whatever else.

I told them this is a around the town car i use to go to the train and maybe to the store on weekends . Our main car is a 2002 Subaru Forestor.

 

He told me think about changing it as it will "BURN UP EVERYTHING EVENTUALLY" - what ever that means?

 

Car cost me $2,800 2 months ago and I put $300 for the timing belt and $300 for alternator (which was broke when I bought it)

 

Can I get by without this , I just want to get 2-3 years out of a car I drive 15 miles a week

 

Anyone with any experiance with this i woudl appreciate the help and Im glad to be a member here .

 

Thank you.

 

Kevin

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15 miles a week!!!!! (780 miles a year, 2340 over the next three years) I would drive it till it dies. Have the transmission fluid serviced, check the fluid level often, and baby it when you drive it. Putting $1600 into a potentially dying transmission on a $2800 car that you hardly drive is not something I would do.

 

I think a major concern for this car is going to be the fact that it isn't driven enough. Make sure you get the oil hot as much as possible and change it by time rather than mileage.

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First of all thank you

 

I may have been under estimating but not by too much

 

I drive to the train and back M-F, 2 miles each way for about 20 miles and maybe to a store or a friends house on weekend still may average 35 miles a week tops. i will also drive it from NJ to Staten Island once a month to visit my parents and thats 1 hour each way.

 

I did plan on using the car more often which is why I put the new timing belt on but this new problem with the bad MPT has got me worried about driving it to much or too far from home. He stated that it is a chip and not the tranny issue but the only problem now is a tiny shake when I make a turn caused by the 4 wheel drive and I would like to get it fixed as I had this car checked by good mechanic and he told me that it was in great shape , not any problems for a 96 car with 133,000 miles but that these 4 cylinder subarus ran for over 200,000 easily and it was worth alot more than the $2800 i paid . I did a search online and they got for about $5000 - $6000 for similar car with similar miles. saw one , same year , same milage that sold for $7000.

 

I want to get 3 good years out of it but do I really need to worry about this MPT chip thing and what does he mean by burning everything?

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LOL

 

 

Hey im only 36

 

Thanks Cookie

 

I guess i should just hope to get 2 good years out of it.

 

Definitly aint the tires , the machanic at subaru said it was the chip in the transmission and the transmission had to be taken apart for them to change it , $1600 bucks.

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