2000 Forester

 

First time pulling an auto trans,

 

In my time on the forum I've heard mention of being careful to seat the torque converter correctly lest one damage the pump (I think that was the reason). Does the same consideration need to be taken to get the trans out or can I just wiggle and waggle and pry like with a manual trans?

 

Thanks!

 

Will-

Your not going to hurt anything taking it out. Just wiggle it out. But use your prybar or something to keep the TC seated on the tranny. Otherwise you'll have a hell of a mess to clean up.

I've drained the fluid, is there still a bunch in the TC?

The majority of the fluid is inside the TC. It's not pretty if it slips off.

 

Make sure that the TC stays fully seated the whole time during removal. Ideally you want to use a torque converter retainer. It's just a bent piece of metal about 3 to 6 inches long that you bolt to the bell housing. You can make one pretty easy.

Looks like this. http://www.handsontools.com/OTC-Tools-ZTSE9109-Torque-Converter-Retainer-_p_45783.html

Considerably better priced then the flywheel retaining tool. I guess not really a surprise considering what it is:rolleyes:

 

So the TC wants to stay attached to the Trans so it won't make a mess correct?

So the TC wants to stay attached to the Trans so it won't make a mess correct?

 

when draining the trans you get about 4 of 9 qts of fluid. if you jack up the front of the car you can get more out. so if the TC tips it can spill fluid even after you drained the trans. i don't remember having this problem but who knows. if this is your first auto trans, there is a long shaft, 24"?, on the inside/back side of the TC. so it won't fall off, but it will tend to stay on the motor until you get about 1/2 - 3/4 inch of seperation, then it is clear and should stay put.

 

you will want to read up on seating the 'torqueconverter' (search that). you do not want to run the risk of installing one incorrectly. and since you will have a bad one to practice on, take advantage of it. it is not really hard to do, you just need to know it has to be done. the above search string will give you great pics and a good how to.

The converter needs to stay attached and fully seated to the trans because if the dog ears for the fluid pump come out of the notches in the converter shaft and it gets put back together and attached to the engine that way it will eat the pump to pieces. It can also damage the thrust bearing in the engine. But the transmission pump is the first to go.

Before you move the transmission you should be able to lever the torque converter backwards by about a half inch. You may have to lever/rotate the torque converter around to loosen it from the small locating stub that pokes out the front of the torque converter and fits to the back of the crank by about half an inch.

 

When you put the new trans in and have the bellhousing up to the motor the torque converter should have a half inch of clearance from the flexiplate. If the torque converter touches the flexiplate first... take the trans back out and reseat the torque converter.

 

Do not attempt pulling the trans up to the bellhousing with bolts!!!

Edited December 31, 200916 yr by Log1call

exactly what Log1call just said about pulling the trans up.

 

Will - don't worry too much about the torque converter, I've never really had any fluid ever drain out. But maybe that's because I drained it first, but whatever it's just fluid and you're not reinstalling this trans anyway.

 

But even if you were reinstalling it I wouldn't care because I'd be pulling the converter to replace the torque converter seal and the ring seal around the shaft. Be careful and note the placement of the ring seal as you pull it out, some are mangled or will get knocked off when removing, note where it is to install a new one. Subaru only part but I wouldn't dare do after market for one of these anyway.

 

Good luck!

Thanks for the info everyone. Gary is right, this trans isn't going back in (nor any other auto for that matter) but it's good to be informed anyway. I don't want to destroy anything as I'll try and sell this for a few bucks.

 

Will-

Oh, well if it's not going back in strap a chain to that bad boy and drag it right out of there!

hehe, I thought about it. A come-along actually as I couldn't get that bad boy to budge. But I finally found a good pry spot between the engine cross member and the bulge at the bottom front of the trans.

 

Man that thing is a beast! I had to do some crazy Egyptian engineering to get it into the back of my truck to take to work to measure up for my adapter plate.