Hi Guys, I am new to the board.

 

My car is an 03 baja, auto, normal aspiration, 89000 miles

 

My questions involves trans or front differential. It has developed a lag of engagement when accelerating the engine, usually when accerating into a turn, from a stop ( turning right from a stop sign).

 

It does not do it every time, and is most noticeable if I have to take off quickly.

 

I checked the front diff oil (tough if your hand is bigger than a three year olds) It was ok.

 

Help me with the location of the transmission gauge/filler tube. According the the hand book, it should be adjacent to the right side of the air filter box , but I see no yellow hande, and don't if see a tube if the cap is missing.

 

Am I blind or is the book wrong?

 

 

Go easy on me, I have not had the car long and I am just getting to know it

 

Thanks

 

Sam

Edited August 20, 200916 yr by Bajamansam

See if anything from the delayed forward engagement thread looks familiar-

 

http://ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87708

 

Dave

Somewhat, but the biggest difference is taht it is not a start up problem, but happens when the car is hot. And I Still can't find the tranny dipstick!

Help me with the location of the transmission gauge/filler tube. According the the hand book, it should be adjacent to the right side of the air filter box , but I see no yellow hande, and don't if see a tube if the cap is missing.

Welcome to the forum. Look down, closer to the brake booster/master cylinder.

I Still can't find the tranny dipstick!

 

 

it's behind the engine near the fire wall driver side down low under the hoses..

 

is your problem more like this? (this is just one of many many posts on "torque bind".)

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=101613&highlight=torque+bind

Sounds like one possibility is low or tired trans fluid. Find your dipstick and check the level, since it's newer to you if you are unsure of the service then a fluid change may me all you need.

My questions involves trans or front differential. It has developed a lag of engagement when accelerating the engine, usually when accerating into a turn, from a stop ( turning right from a stop sign).

Does this happen if you come to a complete stop and wait a few seconds before making the turn?

Fairtax yes, and it seems more present on making a right turn. Under normal driving you don't notice any lags on acceleration.

Try this. When you notice it doing this. At the next intersection put the gear lever in 1st gear. Wait a few seconds, then go around the corner.

 

When was the last time you had the transmission fluid changed/flushed? (if ever)

Thanks fair tax and other responders.

 

I found the elusive tranny dipskick, it was directly under soe hoses, and with the yellow pull ring soiled, so it was difficult to see.

 

I checked the fluid cold on a nearly level driveway, less than 1% slope, sloping from the front to the rear, and observed that the dipstick show that there is to much fluid in the box. It was reading between the h/l indicator for the hot read. I will check it again hot when I get back home. Could an overfill situation cause this over time.

 

Fairtax, to answer your question. I am coming up on 90K mi so I have been completing the major service items, fluid change is due.

 

 

Sam

Is your engine on when you are checking. Is the fluid a nice red?

I checked the fluid cold on a nearly level driveway, less than 1% slope, sloping from the front to the rear, and observed that the dipstick show that there is to much fluid in the box. It was reading between the h/l indicator for the hot read. I will check it again hot when I get back home. Could an overfill situation cause this over time.

The level when cold isn't as accurate an indicator as hot, but it does seem like the trans might be overfilled. An excessively high ATF level can cause the fluid to become aerated, especially as it expands when warm. Aerated fluid won't properly transmit hydraulic pressure, leading to incorrect operation.

 

When you check the hot level, also note if there are bubbles in the fluid on the dipstick. By the way, it's a bit tricky to get an accurate reading of the level. I'll see if I can find an older thread where a technique was described to help with that.

 

EDIT: The following is from one of my previous posts.

What I'm about to describe is based on what Subaru suggests and my own experience.

 

The first step is to get the trans up to ''operating temperature''. How long a run that takes depends on whether the car is being driven or just idling, the ambient temperature, etc. It could be a few minutes of highway running, or 30 minutes idling.

 

Once the fluid is at the correct temperature, you should step the selector through the gears, and back to Park. Pull the dipstick, wipe it, and leave it out for about two minutes. That allows any fluid in the dip tube that has ''wicked'' up the dipstick to flow down, and for the fluid temperature (and excessive expansion) to normalize if the car was just driven very hard. Then insert the dipstick fully, remove it, and look at both sides of the stick -- you may find a different level indicated on each side. If there's a difference, the one indicating the lower level is probably more accurate. If you see a significant number of bubbles on the stick, the fluid has become aerated, and even if the level seems correct it may not be able to be trusted.

Edited August 21, 200916 yr by OB99W

Hey guys, I just checked it hot, following the correct procedure, and have discovered that the fluid is indeed LOW, not high. When I checked it this morning cold, I did not have it running, and it had set overnight. I checked it a couple off times and feel pretty good that it is low. From the bottm of the dipstick to the full position should require what amount of fluid? Anyone know?

 

Thanks for all your help.

 

Sam

How did the fluid look--was it rather dark? Now would be a good time to go ahead with a series of drain-and-fills (3 recommended) so you know you're driving with fresh, clean ATF.

I think changing it at this point is the right path to take, but I do wonder where the missing fluid went. It does not seem to leak.

I don't think I'd worry too much about a small loss at this point. Start getting fresh fluid in there--either one flush/fill or 3 drain-and-fills--then begin checking it on a regular schedule after that.

Hey Guys, i Topped of the tranny fluid, and problem solved.

 

I will be having it changed before long, and will keep a closer eye on it.

 

Thanks much for your advice

 

Sam