Hi there.

 

I replaced my automatic transmission in my 96 legacy today with one from a pick and pull yard.  It is the same year and looks identical.  Everything went well until I drove away and heard a grinding noise from the front end of the tranny.  It sounds like a gear noise.  I haven't taken it back out yet to find out what it was but I blocked it up and let it run and I'm pretty sure the noise is coming from the front diff. 

 

I didn't check how far the pinion for the front diff stuck out compared to the old one.  Is it possible that I need to remove some shims or something to let it sit back a little?

 

Do the gears have timing marks such that you have to align specific teeth?

 

Should I replace the shaft on the new (to me) tranny with the old front output shaft and how hard is that to do?

 

Any advice would be most welcome...going to get back to it on Sunday.

 

Thanks

Looks the same doesn't mean it is the same. There are two different final drive ratios and that has to match or you'll have problems. What trim model do you have and what model did the trans come from?

 

Why did you remove the front diff housing? Did you try to swap diff housings?

Did you fill the front diff with gear oil?

Hi. I didn't remove the front diff housing. Mine is a legacy L. I didn't really look at what the other car was that I got it from, only that it was a 96 legacy auto.

Yes, I filled the front diff with gear oil.

there is a trans ID# on the bell housing near the starter, what is it?

TZ102ZABAA or or TZ102Z2ABA?

there is a difference.

The car is an hour away. I will look when I get back to it tomorrow. I wish I would have read some of these threads before i started. I might have fixed my old tranny. The problem was the AT light blinking 15 times which I think now means shift solenoid 1. It was stuck in 3rd gear. Is it easy to swap solenoids between transmissions?

 

The problem was the AT light blinking 15 (actually 16 ) times which I think now means

shift solenoid 1.

this means you had an problem with the trans electrical components the last time you drove the car.

 

 

It was stuck in 3rd gear.

you were in ''limp'' mode.

this means you had NONE of the electrical  parts of the trans operating.

you had a mechanical 3rd gear only, (and reverse)

this is so when the electronics fail,

you can limp home.

 

the problem could have been as simple as a disconnected wire harness,

or a bad TCU,

or the trans was fried.

but what ever it was, it was electronic,

it had nothing to do with the gears and clutches in the trans.

 

please define ''grinding''?

could it be the drive shaft rubbing on the heat shield?

 

did you tighten all the flex plates to torque converter bolts ?

did you drop anything down in the flex plate area, a socket perhaps?

 

is there a small, maybe mangled, cover on the bottom of the bell housing that is rubbing on the torque converter?

 

 

and I'm pretty sure the noise is coming from the front diff.

did you check, drain, fill the front diff gear oil?

how did it look?

did the trans come with the ''stub axles'' in place?

you might drain the gear oil and look in there with a flash light.

is the speed sensor seated properly?

Edited July 20, 201411 yr by johnceggleston

Hi there, thanks for taking the time to reply. The whole point is now moot. I hit a deer on the way to my shop this morning and I expect that the car will be a write off. I've never had an airbag blow up in my face before... I don't recommend it

 

I wonder what my next Subaru will look like...I've had a couple now and they are some of the best built cars on the planet in my humble opinion.

Glad your OK.

 

Could always by it back from the insurance and keep the engine and other good parts for you next one.

Well that sucks! Glad you're Ok.

 

I hear ya about those airbags. They're not exactly soft!