Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

amboy

Members
  • Posts

    3
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Location
    Charleston, Tennessee
  • Referral
    Web Search
  • Biography
    Retired Peace Officer
  • Vehicles
    2000 Subaru Legacy Outback

amboy's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/11)

0

Reputation

  1. I am one of those guys who has a 2000 Outback with an automatic transmission. I bought the car two years ago and am the second owner. Love the car, love it's styling, and I am up to date on all of its scheduled maintenance. A few months ago, I noticed that the transmission oil was getting a little darker and checked its maintenance records to determine whether it was time to replace the transmission fluid and the differential fluids. I have records going back to when the Outback was purchased new, and yes, it was a bit over 30,000 miles since the last change. Put all new fluids in the front and rear differentials, and replaced the transmission fluid with the recommended synthetic blend recommended by my dealership. Immediately, my great little car displayed the cursed Subaru Delayed Forward Engagement problems. I have been watching the Subaru forums on a different website trying to find out what was going wrong. Called my dealer, and the Service Manager at first said this is normal for my transmission, but I knew it wasn't, because it didn't start the problem until I replenished the transmission fluid. I didn't have the work done there, because I live 100 miles from the dealership. He suggested that I could purchase a new transmission for around $4500, or have mine rebuilt for over two thousand dollars. That's a lot of money for a car that is worth only $3000. I am retired, but my wife has a low mileage 2011 Outback and I just couldn't stand the thought of having to junk my pretty little Outback. Somehow, I came on to this website and found the posting by Rooster2 back in 2008 about the "fix", so I did exactly as he said, using Trans-X Transmission Treatment. And, just like he said, the problem was absolutely cured. Why did my problem begin after I replenished the transmission fluid? Most likely, the original owner of my car had already been adding Trans-X every time that the Outback had its transmission fluid replaced, probably at the same dealer that I use, and where the car had been serviced at since it was new. I suspect that they are not allowed to recommend Trans-X to customers, but they add it along with the transmission fluid change for those of us with 1999 or 2000 automatic transmission Subarus. Don't know it for sure, but just a real strong suspicion! Rooster2, whoever you are, may the Good Lord take a like'n to you for all the thousands of dollars you have saved us who still treasure those pretty old Subaru's!
  2. The TCU/TCM is located underneath the dash on the left side of the steering column. I have a 2000 Outback, also, and our models are equipped with a 4EAT transmission, if yours is an automatic. The transmissions in the Legacy, Outback, and Foresters made in 1999 and 2000 have a bit of a problem. Its only these two years that have the notorious "Subaru Delayed Forward Engagement" issue, which has been dealt with in depth on this website forum. If you will check the forum, there is a cure. In short, the cure is to replace your transmission fluid with Valvoline Max Life Full Synthetic Multi=vehicle ATF Dex/Merc: Mercon LV Automatic Transmission Fluid with a pint of Trans-X Transmission fluid (found at NAPA and AutoZone stores. There are a couple of seals deep in the transmission that begin to fail, and the Trans-X seems to cure the problem! It costs around $12, and works well if you use it with every transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles. To me, I would rather pay $12 for the transmission additive, than $4500 for a new transmission, or $2100 for a transmission re-build. Your vehicle with 100K miles should have cost in the $4500-$5000 range so the cost of a new or rebuilt transmission would seem to pretty high. The transmissions are really well built, and there is nothing wrong with them except for those stupid little seals. If you do need a TCU/TCM, a new one will be around $450, but I may have a pre-owned one for the 2000 model Outback for $50, if I can find it. At any rate, good luck.
  3. I had a similar problem last year. Just finished a timing belt/water pump replacement, car would run great but overnight, I couldn't get enough juice to fire the engine in the morning. I replaced the alternator, and used three new batteries. I listen to the radio a lot, and especially enjoy the CD player. I began to notice that when I would leave a CD in, the car would not start in the morning, but if the CD player was left empty, it would start every time. So, as long as I do not leave a CD in the player, which evidently continued to drain the voltage from my battery, I no longer have the issue of the car not starting, and no longer have to waste my money buying alternators that I don't need, or wasting money on Optima and Interstate batteries. This may not be your problem at all, but, then again. . .
×
×
  • Create New...