A friend of ours recently asked for help/advice on her outback. (98, EJ25 DOHC and 4EAT with about 95k)  As explained to me, the transmission wont shift into gear on it's own when it's cold. If she revs the engine a little bit, turns it off, then on again, revs a bit more, it will go into gear.

 

First order of business was the Trans-X fix. I drained 4.5 quarts of ATF out of the trans, Color was normal, smell was good. filled it back up with new ATF and a bottle of Trans-X. A few days later now, and it doesn't seem any better.

 

I'm not very experienced with automatics. Replaced a couple, but the functions of them are voodoo to me. What could be the cause of this? And then of course, what's the likely fix?

That could be the much discussed 'delayed forward engagement', give that phrase a search on the usual sube sites.

That's what I figured, but if it were that sort of issue, the trans X should make a difference right? I used trans x with great success on the old trnsmission in our 2000 Outback.

 

Or was there a difference between phase one and phase 2 transmissions that would require a different fix?

 

Or was there a difference between phase one and phase 2 transmissions that would require a different fix?

it is a different problem.

the 00 trans is a bad seal, i think.

trans-x corrects it for a time.

 

the 98 problem is obviously different.

 

time to look for a replacement trans.

 

www.car-part.com

Safe then to say this tranny is on it's way out? Shifts fine. Drives and accelerates as it should. Just doesn't like to go into gear until it's warmed up.

 

No biggie. Should be some in the pick n pulls.

 

Is there a chart for 4EATs? 98 Outback should be a 4.44 phase 1 right? Should apply at least to the outbacks with the DOHC. Any others?

And will any Phase 1 4EAT work with matching diff? Or just 95-early 99?

i would stick with the 95-99 model years & the appropriate gear ratio.

 

90-94 are more than likely going to be 4.111 ratio (no outbacks in those years) plus some minor wiring differences.