So on my 2000 OBS with 187k I think the trans is going out. 

 

Upon initial start up when accelerating rapidly (as in trying to get up a hill, passing etc) it will jump up 1000 rpm's, engage, and drop back down 1000 rpm's. In doing so it makes a very horrendous slamming action on the drive line and rear end, and everything else that is involved with the driveline system.  

 

It only does this type of action for about ten minutes of initial driving and then its fine. And also if I don't slam in the skinny peddle and accelerate like a grandma, everything is ok. But sometimes I need to, in order to be able to get up, or around something. 

 

Also I do think it is affecting my mpg...on my normal 4 hour road trip I take on the weekends I am down to 23mpg @ 80mph instead of 25mpg @ 80mph, but this could be we are on "winter time gas" now. Yet my regular in town mpg has not changed. 

 

I have changed the fluid, I did not like the looks of it. Very slivery/brassy looking, and was pretty dark, even though I changed the fluid 3 months ago, as regular maintenance. 

 

So if this the case then I am going to us it as an excuse to buy an AU/NZ 4EAT D/R

 

But I thought I would pick your brains first.

 

Anybody know how to get my hands on one of those D/R trans?????

 

Thanks for the help. 

I don't think they had 4eat Dual ranges.

 

Manuals with 1.44 low and AWD center diffs.

Yes I can relate. My 99 wagon is doing the exact same thing. I remember one of the moderators here was describing that issue. Something like the trans computer thinks the downshift has already happened and thus increases line pressure within the transmission causing a hard bang shift. Usually from 4 to 3.

Is it slipping, or does it seem like it's shifting at the wrong time?  How does it shift if you floor it with the lever in "1" and shift up manually?

 

It's possible the throttle position sensor is dirty/noisy which is confusing the transmission computer.  I have successfully cleaned them before by spraying contact cleaner inside them from the backside.

Hmmm? Try may try searching "4EAT hard shift" there is a wealth of info there.

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by darsdoug

TPS pops to mind- they can cause erratic shifting and downshifting.  Common H6 issue around 01-02 with an updated part from Subaru.

 

But - given the details on the fluid change it sounds like your transmission is internally exploding it's guts.