My 99 Legacy SUS has had the won't go into gear when put into drive problem for at least 3 years now and it is finally dying.  What is the best procedure for a new transmission?  Rebuilt or used?  I think used could bring the same problem.

Unless you get someone that is very very good to rebuild the transmission, I'd go with a lower mileage used trans.  There is just a lot of little stuff inside the auto's and not all mechanics are up to rebuilding them.

Don't get a 99-01 transmission, that's the year range they had the issue, after that they fixed a crappy seal or something so it doesn't have the delay issue.

Do you have the "delayed forward engagement," problem with your tranny? If so, search the archives on this forum for the solution to this problem. Adding Trans-X fixes the problem. My 99 OBW AT has been fixed with Trans-X, and so have many others of model years 99 & 00.

You need to check for the transmission code in a '99. Late '99's have a JEBA trans, and the earlier cars got a DBA trans. DBA trans is the older version, JEBA appears as a 1 year only but may swap with other years, I have just found no information on that

Don't get a 99-01 transmission,

actually i'm pretty sure it's mostly isolated to 99...a very few 98 and 00 bleedovers, but i think it's nearly entirely a 99 issue like the speedometer head too.

but as rooster said, try the Trans-X.

it is possibly a cheap solution to a potentially expensive problem.

 

do a drain and fill, add a Qt. of trans-x on the fill, and see if that helps.

if it helps, it may buy yopu time to find an affordable solution.

or as in my case, (00 lego L w/ 85k miles) keep it running fine as long as i repeat the procedure once a year.

Thanks for the replies.  Like I said this has been going on for about 3 years.  I have been using the Rooster2 solution for that length of time but I am afraid that the problem is intensifying.  I have used 3 bottles in the past 4 months and I now have a badly leaking seal. So it is about time to cash in the chips.

Thanks for the replies.  Like I said this has been going on for about 3 years.  I have been using the Rooster2 solution for that length of time but I am afraid that the problem is intensifying.  I have used 3 bottles in the past 4 months and I now have a badly leaking seal. So it is about time to cash in the chips.

Have you been doing drain an fills three times at each episode with the last fill adding Trans-X? If not, then Trans-X won't work all that well. It takes fresh ATF, with fresh Trans-X, to get Trans-X to do its magic.