Transmission problem

Tiny
TROYTROUP
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY

my trans mission cant decide if it want to down shift or upshift going down the road. It slips into high then slips back down.
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 2:04 PM

19 Replies

Tiny
CRZYDRVR
  • MEMBER
  • 432 POSTS
Have it hooked up to a scan tool to see if there are any codes. I have seen in the past that a turbine shaft speed sensor can cause similar issues like this. Is the speedometer working correctly? If the computer sees the wrong speed it will search for what it thinks is the correct gear

The guide below might shed some light on what is causing your problem

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems
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Sunday, March 15th, 2009 AT 9:22 PM
Tiny
JOHNMCOLLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1995 SUBARU LEGACY
Transmission problem
1995 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 230k miles

all forward gears and shifting is fine. No reverse, no clunk, nothing. Acts like shifting into neutral or park. No feel of engauging into reverse except for consol shifter click.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
How old is the transmission?

IF you are lucky you may be able to change the solenoid for the reverse. With that high of miliage, I wouldn, t be surprised if the transmission was ready for a rebuild.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNMCOLLINS
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You said it could be the reverse solenoid. I presume it is internal. If I drop the trans pan, is it visable and how can I identify it. Thankyou. Johnmcollins
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Hi John,
I apologize, I shouldn't jump into conclusions. The solenoid I was questioning was the Duty solenoid "A".

Let's go back and check for codes before anything is condemned or replaced.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_Zsub_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_Zsub1_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_Zsub2_1.jpg



If you can test the line pressure, that may also aid in what is happening.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOODAH2011
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1989 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 130,000 MILES
It will not shift into reverse but it will shift into any other gear. It is an all wheel drive wagon and is an automatic.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
This sounds like it could be one of two problems; first the transmission range sensor is not working or you have a shift solenoid the is out.

Here is a guide to show you how to tests the sensor/switch:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-neutral-safety-switch-works

Here is the location of the sensor:

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MEMJESS
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  • 0 POST
Thanks for the information. I did some testing and found the transmission was bad. :( I had to total the car.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TROYTROUP
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY
Transmission problem
1992 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

My transmission slips in and out of gear down shifting or upshifting
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TROYTROUP
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IANS4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 185,000 MILES
When I turn sharp either to the left or the right my car shakes. On gravel I notice that it looks like the rear wheels lock up in little bursts, dragging the gravel (almost like its a limited slip, which its not). I have an auto transmission with AWD. I have put my car into FWD and the issue persists. I have replaced all the fluids just to cover my bases. I think its in the transmission maybe a Duty C solenoid, but I'm no mechanic. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Why are you so sure that you don't have limited slip?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IZZYAZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1991 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 4 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 157,333 MILES
My front-right CV joint went out on me about a month ago. While it was beginning to go out, the transmission started to slip. When my CV joint broke, the transmission would not let my car go past 37mph. It seems like too much of a coincidence. If I replaced my CV joint, would that fix my transmission issue? Does the CV joint tie in with this problem or is my transmission just bad?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Have you checked the level of your tranny fluid? If you have been running around on a bad CV Axle it has most likely damaged the seal and has been leaking tranny fluid.

Post findings here in forum.

.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IZZYAZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The tranny fluid is fine, that was one of the first things I checked. The seal is good. I took out the CV joint out and put a cap on the hole in the tranny. So that cant be the problem. Anything else that could be wrong?
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Ok, when was your last transmission service with fluid and filter change. Does the fluid look brownish and smell burnt? If so change filter and fluid.

It is also possible that the CV Axle not being there is causing your problem. It could have cause some internal damage. With the axle missing it is causing more stress on the other axle by making it do more work instead of distributing the work.

You may be best off taking it to a transmission shop to find out for sure. Or call a few and see what they have to say.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IANS4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1992 SUBARU LEGACY
  • 185,000 MILES
Would a 98 Subaru outback automatic transmission work in a my 92 Subaru legacy? I installed it correctly and the electrical plugs fit. The engine starts, but none of the gears engage. When I put it into R, D, 1, 2, 3 it acts like its in neutral. Any help or suggestions to fix it would be very appreciated. Thanks

-Ian
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
No it won't work because the 98 is an obd2 andyour 92 is obd1 you don't have the correct computer to run it nor wiring.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IANS4
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks, ill get an older one.
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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 5:47 PM (Merged)

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