97 Impreza OBS AWD - Auto Trans Erratic Shifting

[MorganM]

1997 Impreza OBS AWD with Auto Tranny

 

Whenever the car sits for a few hours and I go drive it then it acts up for a while. For example in the morning, when I go on lunch break, or even as short as a 2 hour movie when it's not fully cooled off yet but not at operating temp either. After a few stop and goes the thing behaves its self for the most part untill I park it for a few hours again. Like a couple of stop signs or stop lights she will act up then after that it behaves itself.

 

Fire it up, sit a miniute or two to warm up, and start driving. At 1/4 throttle she starts bogging down. Let off the gas or put it in N and it idles fine. While it's bogging down if I give it 1/2 to 3/4 throttle it "kicks down" and takes off just fine. Sometimes it will be fine in off the line, shift, bog down, then I have to give it 1/2 to 3/4 throttle, "kick down" and it takes off.

 

Am I basically looking at a tranny swap in my near future? Guy I bought it from said it's been like that for the last 2 years or about 30k miles. Is there a tune up I can do on the tranny to help this problem? I've heard pros and cons for a "power flush" of an AT; some say it's great and to do it while others say they had it done and then their AT crapped out a month or week later.

 

Please advise =)

[idosubaru]

i wouldn't be surprised if it's not even trans related - so i wouldn't plan on a swap just yet.

 

a fluid flush/change is certainly in order. at least change the fluid a couple times if you're afraid of the flush. ATF is expensive and changing a few times can be a PITA, so flushes aren't bad just from a cost and convenience factor even for us wannbe "mechanics". although i've never gotten one, but i would consider it.

 

i'd make sure all the tune up items are addressed. plugs, wires, PCV at least. keep in mind EJ vehicles are much pickier than EA stuff on plugs and wires - best to use NGK plugs and subaru wires on these.

 

and for the trans shifting issues i'd pay attention to the following: clean (or replace) the EGR valve and replace that little tiny filter that's in line with a vaccuum hose on the passengers side of the engine bay (it's only $7 from subaru). i've seen that filter cause erratic transmission shifting. i have no idea why but it does.

 

that's also why i removed the EGR from my legacy, annoyingly stupid system that decreases reliability???? yeah i'll pass on that, i don't care what it does.