snide

Really would appreciate any thoughts, I have an auto transmission 4eat in my 98 outback awd, 115k miles, loaded; so (in cruise )whenever I come to a really steep hill or go to pass another car quickly (highway), when it tries to drop to 2nd from D, it seems to fail to engage 2nd, leaving it in neutral with the engine red lining. if it only drops 1 gear (3rd) everythings fine. I took it into a master tech at subaru yesterday, put a computer quizmo on it and got no codes, drove around while he watched the gears on it and got no codes, so we tightened the band on 2nd but that didn't help either. (cost me $50.00 for him 2 ride around with me 3 times and shop time; a good guy, yes!!). He recommended a transmission shop they use all the time and this guy figures he will have to go inside the tranny. at this point, seeing I just finished driving it 2000 mi (trip) with the problem with everything else seemingly fine, why put out $2000--- except i would like to have the option 2 sell it. have u ever heard of this problem as no one else has ?? thanks glenn

whenever going up steep hill and transmission tries to grab 2 gears, it seems to go into neutral, leaving the engine racing, until it gives up and goes back to 3rd & eventually D at the top of th hill.. On a not so steep hill, where it only grabs 1 gear, everything is okay. Just wondering about the neutral & engine racing similarities any one else had this problem???? snide980B

Hi, I recently purchased this vehicle and drove it immediately 2000 mi on a trip. One problem, which I knew about and was compensated for, is that when the auto transmission drops a couple of gears on a hill or when u floor it, the engine races like its in neutral until the gear catches. It spent the day b4 I left in the subaru dealership and they came up with a few guesses as to what it could be but basically new transmission seemed to be order of the day. As it seems to work fine otherwise the guy I bought it off said why dont u drive it until its totally pooched. If it only drops 1 gear it seems fine! Anyway when I got home I checked the tranny dipstick and fluid seemed bubbly on it hot and when I checked it later cold the fluid level is uo over the hot mark. I took a pint or 2 out of the tranny, doesn't look like there's coolant or water in it but it never drops the level. Right at the end of the trip the heat gauge showed the radiator in the red H and I had smelt the coolant dump just b4 looking at the gauge yet when I got out, there wa little steam and I could undo the cap with my bare hand!! The fluid level in the radiator seems fine now. So the ?'s are: Why only a problem when downshifts 2 not 1 gear? Why would the tranny fluid be over the hot mark when cold and I've taken lots out? Why would cooling system dump whatever fluid in it yet be fine later? thanks Glenn after org post Have added fluid back & checked level at hot only. Still problem.