Hello All,

I purchased a 1996 Legacy L 2.2 AT yesterday with a slightly delayed transmission shift from 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. I found that these trannys have an O-ring issue and that Trans-X and fresh ATF can help and usually cure the issues.

Tonight I drained 3 quarts of fluid from the tranny, and added 1 quart of the trans X and 2 quarts of the max life ATF. So should be exactly same as before.

I start up the car which was on a ramp and the rear jacked up to near level for the drain. I didn't want to have the rear wheels catch the ground and pull the car off the ramp, So I ran the car from P to R to N to D slowly, then through all the forward gears SLOWLY, all while having my foot on the break. I gave it two or three minutes to warm up a bit and for the new fluid to run through the tranny.

I then put the car in R, and let my foot off the break and nothing! so I revved a bit and it engaged ever so slightly and the car rolled off the ramps. Then I put the car into D, slowly and waited for 10 seconds and let off the brake pedal... no movement. I tapped slightly on the gas and it engaged but didn't feel like it was fully engaging the gear?!?!?

So i start *****ting my self and turned the car off and checked the dipstick... its showing WAY full. So i look into the dipstick tube and can see the level up near the top of the dipstick tube????

So at that point Im wondering if there was a air pocket in the tranny not allowing fluid to move completely?!? Or maybe it needs some time with the tube vented to let the fluid move through and undo any aeration that may have occured?

I read some posts and see that I need to let the tranny heat up fully, but wont that make the fluid EXPAND and probally run out the tube?

Any help or pointers are appreciated.

PS the tranny was showing normal level prior to drain and fill.... ALSO pumped to enjoy this snow rig for snowboard season!

how long is the dip stick?

do not drive it until you answer.

you probably drained the trans and filled the front diff.

how long is the dip stick?

 

it happens.

Edited December 2, 201510 yr by johnceggleston

turned the car off and checked the dipstick.

must check level while idling

ATF dipstick is on the left, hidden under the heater hoses near the starter.

 

Short dipstick on the right is front diff gear oil. Two different systems. Two different fluids.

Need to drain the front diff now and refill with 80w-90 gear oil.

In addition to all the good points above, 4EAT phase I was not known for having that shrinking seal issue. That was moreso the first year or two or maybe three of the 4EAT Phase II. I wonder if your issue might be the brake bands?

 

Having accidentally put the ATF into the front diff will be fine just drain the front diff and put in the correct GL5 gear oil. It could probably have used a change anyway if it wasn't done recently. Fortunately it wasn't the other way around, putting the gear oil into the trans fill tube, that would be bad.

Hey John and others,

 

Thanks for the replies! For those searching in the future John was correct. I found a yellow dipstick and filled it with the ATF, but did so on the passenger side which is THE FRONT DIFF.

 

So lesson learned.... Short yellow dipstick on passenger side is the front diff (Uses Gear Oil) .   Drivers side is the Transmission dipstick and tube used to fill tranny. (ATF)

 

I got incredibly lucky and didn't cause any damage with the short area i drove it. The TransX additive worked and my tranny shifts fine.

 

I had to drain my front diff and refill with appropiate gear oil which Fairtax put above.

 

Simple mistake that could have really cost me, again thanks for the replies!

It happen pretty often. Subaru put the ATF dipstick in a terrible spot.