Hello, I'm new to the forum and hope someone has some advice.
I just purchased a very clean 2009 Outback Automatic/Sport Shift 4c and have only put about 600 miles on the car but have already run into an issue.
After the vehicle is to temp (IE; engine is to temp and transmission is to temp) the car makes a loud thud in the back when shifting into another gear. This could be up shifting or down shifting, doesn't matter.
Automatic or sport shift, both have same result.
Sunday I drove the car until it started doing this to see if I could nail down a time frame when the issue would begin relative to a cold start and after it started, this time I got an ATF OIL TEMP light come on. Luckily I was just pulling up to my driveway when this light came on. So I parked it.
Before the vehicle is to temp, the vehicle seems to run just fine, without issue.
There is no fluids leaking from the transmission or vehicle outside of a tiny bit of steering fluid around the base of the steering column.
The ATF seems fine but may be a hair full from the dealership - but only a hair full. I can change the fluid if need be but it looks fairly clean.
Searching around the internet leaves me with too much advice so I thought I'd reach out myself. I've seen a lot of make-sense answers but I'm not sure if they apply to me.
It seems like this may be a sensor issue with the differential, its the closest description/issue I've found to my issue, but not exact.
Any clues? If you need any other information I'll be happy to provide. Thank you!