Hi, I just joined because I was impressed by the expertise this site has drawn. I was hoping I could get some advice. My 99 Legacy Outback occasionally has a delayed and jolting shift into 1st from P, R or N. From my research the exact symptoms are experienced by several others and indicate a leaking seal for 1st gear, requiring extra hydraulic pressure to actuate the shift. I found a seal kit, and being a machinist hoped I could do the replacement and save the quoted $2000. I would hate to have the perfectly functional 99.9% scrapped by the failed seal. But recently having spoken with a friend I have more doubts that I am capable or have the tools required to do it.

 

So the question is, what are my replacement options? My mechanic says a rebuild costs as much as a replacement so I should replace instead. If I need to replace I would feel better if it were an "upgrade". I would love to use a CVT, is that remotely possible? I see on wikipedia Subaru makes a couple older cars, and a couple new cars that use CVT's, are these appropriate? I also enjoy driving a manual, how expensive would that be and what transmission is best?

 

Thanks

Mehkael

IMHO, suggest that you service trans (new ATF and filter) if you have not already done so. It may buy you some time. I am personally dubious of ATF additives... Sometimes a full flush at a transmission shop will make a difference. Where they hook a pump to the cooler lines and flush out 100 % to the old fluid.

If new clean ATF did not help, then rebuild or replace is clearly required.

You may want to consider a replacement from a salvage yard. It is a crapshoot, but some yards are better than others. I swapped a used 4EAT into my son's SVX with good success. The best local yard gave a 90 day warranty, and offered longer warranties at extra cost. Base cost of good used trans was $500. And a lot of father-son wrench work on weekends.

Search for "delayed tranny engagement fixed"' or similar here. I think it's up to 5 pages.

 

May have the info that you need.

I have not had the trans. flushed. In my research I saw it could be helpful and could delay further wear to prolong use but now is as good a time as any to find a permanent solution. But I should probably try it even as a troubleshooting step.

 

... And a lot of father-son wrench work on weekends.

 

The price sounds good and the time is not a problem, but how difficult is the replacement process? Did you need any specialized tooling? Being a machinist I feel comfortable with mechanical components but have limited Mechanic tooling and experience.

 

Thanks

Mehkael

Search for "delayed tranny engagement fixed"' or similar here. I think it's up to 5 pages.

 

May have the info that you need.

 

Thank you for directing me to that post I had seen only a couple mentions of a similar fix on a different forum. None had the extent and updates this did. Having read more about the fix I will strongly consider it. As others had mentioned I am cautious of an additive as a fix but in this case it would make sense. However, I like to find all options before choosing a course of action, so the original question still stands, what replacement options are there?

 

Thanks again

Mehkael

The 99 is a really freaky year for Subaru, i'm not sure why. They have speedometer and transmission issues in this year. I would expect the few 98 and 00's I see with the same issues are just a run over of these oddball 1999 issues.

 

I consider the first step here to do a complete flush of the old fluid.

 

An acquaintance had this issue and i was going to look into it for them. They found out that an old family friend was a retired trans shop mechanic who fixed it for them. So he managed somehow. I'd post more info but i don't know any.

 

If you're bent on replacing it, I would look into a non-99 since this problem is common to that year. Sorry, I'm not sure what swaps with these later years. I would think other 4EAT's like 00, 01, 02? would swap but I haven't done later years like that....yet.

 

Normally I say go used. Used Subaru transmissions are typically not hard to find cheap. They are normally well lived and have few issues if taken care of. Nice to get them from a wrecked car or one with a bad motor, etc - that makes it very likely the trans is good.

 

I too would vote for the additive fix, i think this is about the only time i would ever recommend it. I'm very skeptical and hesitant of any fixes in a bottle.

A magic elixer vs a replacement tranny, go for the elixer first. It can't make things worse. There is actually a bad internal seal that can be replaced, but you need a really really SMART shop to know what the problem is to do it.

 

good luck.

 

 

nipper

Well a couple of weeks ago I finally had the Transmission flushed and replaced the ATF with AMSOIL Synthetic ATF. I have not added "Stop Slip" yet, with good results so far. For my more detailed post in reply to a "Stop Slip" thread go to:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?p=835177#post835177

My reply is #70.

 

Thanks to all those that offered advice especially the in depth comments in the other thread.

Edited June 29, 200916 yr by Mehkael

Awesome, glad it's working out for you. Transmission fluid changes are definitely a good thing. You said "flushed" so I think that's what you mean, but if it was just a drain and fill then you might need to do a few to get it all out so to speak.