I'm working on a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT. It seems to be shifting like it's in sport mode when it's not but then when I put it in sport mode it shifts normal. I couldn't find any mention of this on the Internet and I called Subaru and they couldn't tell me anything over the phone except to bring it in and have them check it out. I have no check engine light and I've scanned the car through the transmission and engine and I'm getting zero codes. I also tried resetting everything by disconnecting the battery overnight. In drive it won't shift until redline and it stays in a high rpm when I let off the gas but when I put it in sport it drives like it should shifting around 4000 RPMs and idling properly. Any clues to what might be going on?

Did you check the fluid level? Have the fluid and filter ever been changed?

Can you manually shift it in sports mode?

Fluid is full and clean and yes I can put it in sport manually. I put it in D and it drives aggressively like its in sport mode. I move the shifter to the left and the sport light comes on the dash and it drives normal shifting around 4k rpm. I'm stumped. I have an appointment with Subaru at 2:30 today. I'll see what they think and post back.

I havent really looked into how they work, but I am going to assumer the PRND is a mechanical selector and the S side is electrical. It may be a bad switch assembly.

 

Take the service writer (preferably the mechanic) for a drive and show him the condition.

Edited February 21, 201412 yr by nipper