I just bought a 1990 Legacy L+AWD sedan with the auto tranny yesterday. It's in beautiful condition inside and out, only problem is the tranny is broken.

 

My original plan is to just replace or rebuild it but I would like to see if anyone has any advice for me. I'm pretty dumb about autos since all my previous subies have been manuals.

 

Here is the deal: It has no reverse or second gear. It pours out ATF all over the ground from the bell housing as far as I can tell. When in park or neutral it makes a really loud grinding sound.. I mean it's loud. Sounds like the infamous 1990 bearing problem, but I'm not sure. Also the duty C solenoid is shot (code 24 and bad tourqe bind). The ATF on the dip stick is beautiful bright red. So I dunno.... If there is a easy fix let me know. If not I'm dropping the tranny next week.

 

I see the rear diff is a 4.11, sounds like a easy 5-speed swap??? Right???

 

Thanks!

 

Pic's to come soon!

Sounds like you've got some major issues with the tranny.

I'd get a tranny from a junkyard. I got mine there and its been worth it.

Yeah, just get a used one from the junkyard and put it on. The hard work is when taking the dead one out and putting the working one in. You may need a bike jack, which makes it easier to drop down the bad one and to lift the good one up to install it. I heard there is a tranny jack, but have never seen it.

I'd get a tranny from a junkyard. I got mine there and its been worth it.

Thanks everyone. Thats what I figured. I found a tranny at a junk yard for $450 so I'll drop that one in and hope for the best.