Hi Everyone,

  My wife's '08 Impreza is exhibiting some slippage in the first 10 minutes of driving. It is always when taking of from a stopsign, or red light. Seems to clear up after 10 or 15 minutes. Car has high mileage, about 160K. Transmission fluid relatively new, and looks good.

 Am I losing the tranny? We live in the Catskill Mountains, real hilly terrain. Doesn't seem to slip on hills. Just in the first 10 minutes, from a standing stop.

                                                                        Best Regards

                                                                          Mike 

just to be clear, and forgive me if this is obvious to you but, it isn't to everyone, the AT fluid's stick is designed to be used with the car idling. It will show a higher level if check with the engine off. It's the stick on the lekt side by the firewall. The stick on the other side is the front diff. Sometimes those have confused people as well.

 

Also, any work or wrecks to the car before this began?

Edited August 13, 201411 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Hi Lucky Texan,

  Thanks for the reply. You may have something here. I've been checking the Automatic Transmission fluid with the dipstick on the drivers side near the fire wall. Honestly, I don't know of any wrecks or serious work. She got it back in 2011. Reverse works fine, but from cold start, it doesn't go into first for. When it finally does, it slips for awhile. She just left to bring her daughter to work. I will check for another dipstick.

                                                                                                  Mike

Hi again,

  I'm pretty sure I'm checking the AT fluid. There are few small bubbles in it, however it is right up at the "hot" perforations on the stick, in park, with the engine running and after about a 15 mile drive.

                                          Mike

Hi again,

  I'm pretty sure I'm checking the AT fluid. There are few small bubbles in it, however it is right up at the "hot" perforations on the stick, in park, with the engine running and after about a 15 mile drive.

                                          Mike

OK, level seems OK. (left side is driver's side in the US) Is there a CEL or any flashing lights on the dash? Maybe some gummy deposits are causing a valve to stick until warmed up? Another fluid drain and fill or 2 might be worth trying. Also, some folks report success usingadditives in the trans. CRC Transmax or similar. I wouldn't expect miracles if something's actually broken - but the fact that it seems OK after a warm-up is kinda positive that some remedial treatment with good fluid might help. It actually takes about 3 drain/fill routines to get about 85% new fluid since so much stays in the TC.

Edited August 13, 201411 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

 Thanks again 1 Lucky Texan,

   No flashing lights in the dash. Just won't go into drive until "warmed up". Y'know, I'd heard about the additives to. Of course you're right if something actually broken, fluids and additives useless. Well,...we are bringing it to dealer where we bought it, tomorrow. I'm no longer tooled up to do any real work on it anyway. Still, I appreciate your help. I think you're right, I think the fact that it clears after warm up a good sign.

                                                   Thank you

                                                      Mike

fingers crossed