Auot trans acting up?

[FSTOUR]

My wifes 2001 Outback Limted has 78,000 miles. The trans has been serviced by the local (VanBortel Subaru) dealer. We have begun to car pool to work and I have noticed a delayed shift into fourth in the am.

This only happens on the first time the trans shifts through the gears. The rest of the day the trans will shift fine.

We live at the bottom of a hill. It is about 3/4 mile up the hill, the trans will hold third gear until you get above 4500rpms, which at this point the road is flat and you are going 65mph in a 45mph zone. If you let of the throttle the trans just holds third gear, it will not upshift to fourth.

After the trans has gone through this it will be fine the rest of the day.

The fluid level is correct, not burnt.

No other symptoms I can think of.

One thing we do is on long downhills, or coming up to a stop sign we will manually selec third then second. This really saves the brakes. This could not be a cause could it?

Now that I think of it sometimes if we are going 40-70mph and let of the throttle to slow for whatever and then tip back into the throttle the trans will intermittently shift not hard but almost like it's not sure what gear to be in. These are not foot to floor tip ins, just easy crusin down the road.

Any ideas? Is it worth taking to the dealer for them to say "well right know it is not doing it so everything is fine" or should I just drive it.

We have the warranty until 100,000 miles through Subaru so I kinda am not to concerned yet.

[Legacy777]

It doesn't sound like anything is really wrong.

 

Some of the control logic in the newer automatics is a little weird, and that may be what you're experiencing.

[Commuter]

My wifes 2001 Outback Limted has 78,000 miles. The trans has been serviced by the local (VanBortel Subaru) dealer. We have begun to car pool to work and I have noticed a delayed shift into fourth in the am.

This only happens on the first time the trans shifts through the gears. The rest of the day the trans will shift fine.

This is only happening since the car pooling started? Sounds like the tranny is sensing the extra load and holding the lower gear longer. It also shifts different when cold. I notice this on my 97 OB in the winter mostly. It takes longer for the Torque Converter lock up to kick in. That sort of thing.

One thing we do is on long downhills, or coming up to a stop sign we will manually selec third then second. This really saves the brakes. This could not be a cause could it?

For the long downhill, ok. (Newer transmissions will even do this automatically.) As for when coming to a stop, I know some people do this, but I personally don't agree with it. Brakes are "meant" to slow the car down. The drivetrain is meant to accelerate and to keep the car going at at a constant velocity. Engine powering the wheels thru the transmission. It is not designed for a lot of reverse torque. (Wheels trying to power the engine.) Transmission repairs are a lot more than pads and occasional rotors. Just my 2 cents.

 

I suspect your transmission is working as intended. Try making the run without the extra passengers. See if it acts differently (same as previously?).

 

Commuter

[FSTOUR]

The car will shift the same with one or two people in it.

 

As far as the downshifting, I aree with the brakes are cheaper. The trans is taking the same amount of stress going up the hills as going down. Do you think you could stress the internals of a trans going down the hill more than going up it? Same wight, same speeds, same internals.

Just my thought.

[1 Lucky Texan]

Seems like you have noticed a change - and assuming it is 'more than subtle' I think a little experimentation may be called for. One thing to try is resetting the ECU. You maybe get Autozone or a friendly indie mech to do it for you, or tey disconnecting the neg batt terminal, pressing the brake pedal once or twice, waiting maybe 20-30 minutes. Recoonect and drive 'normally'. The car will 'relearn' it's map based on usage from that point.

 

 

I do seem to recall a certain year or 2 where there was a 'reflash' for auto trannies too. Maybe someone recalls or you could check at www.my.subaru.com for recalls. It may have been a TSB.

 

Soobs are fairly light cars so it's distinctly probable it is just trying to cope with the load. Seems weird it would be temperature related though.

 

Carl

[mwatt]

My wifes 2001 Outback Limted has 78,000 miles. The trans has been serviced by the local (VanBortel Subaru) dealer. We have begun to car pool to work and I have noticed a delayed shift into fourth in the am.

This only happens on the first time the trans shifts through the gears. The rest of the day the trans will shift fine.

We live at the bottom of a hill. It is about 3/4 mile up the hill, the trans will hold third gear until you get above 4500rpms, which at this point the road is flat and you are going 65mph in a 45mph zone. If you let of the throttle the trans just holds third gear, it will not upshift to fourth.

After the trans has gone through this it will be fine the rest of the day.

The fluid level is correct, not burnt.

No other symptoms I can think of.

One thing we do is on long downhills, or coming up to a stop sign we will manually selec third then second. This really saves the brakes. This could not be a cause could it?

Now that I think of it sometimes if we are going 40-70mph and let of the throttle to slow for whatever and then tip back into the throttle the trans will intermittently shift not hard but almost like it's not sure what gear to be in. These are not foot to floor tip ins, just easy crusin down the road.

Any ideas? Is it worth taking to the dealer for them to say "well right know it is not doing it so everything is fine" or should I just drive it.

We have the warranty until 100,000 miles through Subaru so I kinda am not to concerned yet.

 

Take a look at this link (originally posted by SEA#3 in another thread). I found this very handy in helping me understand the shift characteristics of the 2nd gen. 4EAT in 1999 models; I wonder if these characteristics apply to later models??: http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/19994EATInfo.pdf

 

I notice that the first 3-4 upshift (after a cold start) on my '99 Legacy GT is delayed--even if the ambient temp is near 100 degrees. I'm convinced that this is a normal condition.

[FSTOUR]

That sounds like it. Thank you.