Buy '99 OB? Transmission options?

[msteel]

My Subaru experience to date has been with my Loyale, but I've found a '99 Outback that seems pretty cheap to me. It has about 130,000 miles with about 70,000 on the engine. Everything is reported to be in good shape (no rust either) except it has the issue where the auto transmission has delays going into drive. They have been driving it this way for some years now and say it is not getting any worse. They're asking $1000 fior it.

 

My questions for the new gen experts are:

From searching here it seems that this is a somewhat coomon problem caused by a weak. Can this seal be replaced without rebuilding the transmission (i.e. cheaper than a rebuild or replacement transmission)?

 

Is it something that will give additional warning before it fails completely? I can live with the delay but wouldn't want to get stranded by a total failure.

 

Any idea how expensive a replacement transmisison would be?

 

Thanks for your wisdom!

[elmwood22]

You say this engine has 70k on it, while the car as a whole has 130k, right? The mileage really isn't too big of a worry, I would be more concerned as to why the tranny has a delay before going into gear, it may be that it is on its way out, or it could be an electrical issue that has not been addressed causing the delays. What type of shape is the vehicle in overall? Is it clean, little cosmetic problems on the inside and out? Or is it beat to hell? What about the tires, do they match? How does it drive? Do the brakes pulse when being applied? Also, drive in figure-8's to check for torque bind,(the rear will hop/jerk if present, this can usually be fixed with a tranny flush, I would recommend per the delay already) Does the current owner have the service records? One more thing, it sounds like this engine was replaced once before, you should find out what type of replacement was used and if the engine replaced was due to head gasket failure. Most likely this was the case. All is fine and dandy with that, but if they replaced the old engine with an identical they never solved the head gasket issue, they may have just prolonged it. You need to replace the gasket itself if it fails. You'll will find that the "HG" issue is well versed in this website. If you find that the car checks out- $1000 is a great deal, even if you have to replace a tranny. If you are mechanically inclined hop at this one. I am an owner of a 99 outback, 96k and going strong, never one problem, this car has taken many a road trips and it has never once left me or my wife on the side of the road.

Good luck

[nipper]

If the delay is longer then a second (Blu's very first r-d) shift in the morning is almost that long) you need to think about it. this is a sign of a worn pump and seals. Back in the day this would cause a slipping transmission, but now with electronic transmission control, this doesnt happen any more. You have to ask yourself can you live with it, and realize thast its possible at some time in the future you will need a transmission.

For 1000.00 even if i had to push it out of the driveway i would take it. That is really way cheap. My 98 was 3900.00 just to give you an idea. Ask them why they are selling the car.

You would replace the tranny with a used one, as a rebuild is NOT cheap. As far as getting a warning before it gets worse, your getting it.

 

nipper