Midwst

When people use the lube guard...do you go with the directions or add the whole bottle? The tranny shop I think uses more than recommended on the container. Anyone have any thoughts...otherwise will go with bottle directions. Also there are two types of lube gurad..the high friction stuff in the black bottle and the regular red stuff. Which is a better choice or can I use either? Thanks.

I wrote subaru to complain. Will let you know what they say...if they say anything. Very disappointed!!

pay close attention and if it happens again, demand that they fix it! Thats my 2 cents...have driven many subarus with only 86, 93, 110K miles all with bad trannies. Subaru should be ashamed! If you can get a new one for free, DO IT!!! If necessary, demand that the service manager drive your car for several days until the problem occurs...yes dealers do that for difficult intermitant cases.

What was the best year for subaru legacy transmissions? I was told that some 1994 and early 1995 had some problems...but the 96 seem to be lousy too. Did subaru ever make a good AWD tranny? So far, I am not impressed.

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: Was driving around a corner and the tranny grabbed/banged hard as it shifted from 1 to 2nd. I know this will get worse, because I drove a different car two days ago and it was worse...same thing but on all turns, bangs when accelerating. I know where this one is headed...down hill fast. Any thoughts? PLEASE NEED HELP VERY BADLY!!!!! May resell the car next week! MAY HAVE SCREWED UP REALLY BAD ON THIS ONE! The 96 legacy I just bought at seems to have a lot of rolling resistance. I put it in neutral, let it roll down a hill, straight, turning, doesn't matter, still there. Shut the engine off, in neutral, still there! could it still be in the transmission?

I generally avoid used fuel parts, because of resin build up and stickyness. But fuel pumps might be okay? What do you all think? Selling the car, want to spend as little as possible to fix it..if I fix it at all.

Now that I think about it, the car does shake in park too...may have a slight drivability problem...not real serious

is there any advantage/disadvantage between the filter and the screen? Is one better than the other...or just different? Just curious.

WAWalker...can you tell me more about the torque converter shudder possibility? It only does it in drive with car sitting still. don't notice any torque converter lock up problems when I hit the magic 40-45 mph. I suppose it could also be a tune up issue...but don't feel it in park, so probably not. If it is torque converter shudder...what does that mean? Is it anything to worry about? Can it be easily fixed...or is it an R&R transmisison, replace TC kind of job? Planning to decide to buy or walk away from this car tomoorrow! I've only noticed this shaking in 95 and 96 2.2L legacies...any connection?

Okay, maybe its pathetic to post on my own posts...I don't know. anyway, I am not sure that the "driving through mud" sensation is the transmission. I have driven many cars with very sick transmissions...the signs are usually obvious, lack of power, rumble strip type noise, torque binding, hard shift, grabbing shift, delayed shift, banging, jerking...this car has none of these problems. My 91 Legacy, with a very sick tranny just started feeling like it was driving through mud in the last month. It has a fuel problem, I think. So maybe the mud thing is a symptom of power loss, engine, tranny, plugs, wires, fuel, etc...just enough to notice but not enough to really slow the car down. Just my 2 cents for myself...and whoever else wants to listen.

I ordered an ATF filter for my 1991 Legacy, and wanted to use it on the 96...if I buy it. Dealer does not have a listing for a tranny filter on a 96 2.2L legacy. Doens't make sense...I hope there is a tranny filter on the 96 somewhere. any ideas? Thanks.

What is involved in replacing them? Do I have to lift the engine up? Also, when you priced the mounts, OEM, did you go with a wholesale subaru parts place? Just curious.

Regarding: "STi group n stiffened mounts will help combat most of that shaking of course, these apply to newer (1997 - on) models only" where do I find these STi group mounts? Is that a brand name? OEM? No clue, like you said, may not fit 96 anyway, but would like to know. I spoke too soon on the replacing of engine mounts. On most cars..not subarus, its an easy job. I can't even find the engine mounts on my 2.2L. Where are they!?

if thats true, maybe I will grab the mounts of my 91 legacy and put them on the 96..if I buy it. the 91 legacy engine doesnt have the same shaking in drive problem as the 96...but then I guess the rubber goes bad with time...maybe not.

btw, to move the car, turn the key to on, but do not start, put in neutral, without ER brake and roll it wherever you want. Pretty easy. I do it all the time to move my cars around a few feet this way or that..unless you live on a hill. When I was buying my house...my first requirement was a flat driveway...and a shade tree. lol

Drain the tranny with the dip stick out...that should be adequate venting. I'd stick your pinkie finger in the drain hole to see if any thing or build up is in there...have never heard of a car that still drives and has so much build up that the tranny can't be drained...so maybe a moot point

usually a diy job, but engine must be supported from above or below while mounts are off, since the mounts are obviously what hold up the engine.

I called around to tranny shops asking about sea foam and lube guard. One Aamaco says that clean transmission fluid has a detergent in it and acts as its own cleaner. They also said that the additives can cause the seals on the transmission to swell and get soft...making them mushy...based on tannies they've taken apart. This whole tranny thing sure is complicated! update: talked with another Aamaco, one I trust, they did not recommend anything that stopped transmission leaks, but said lube guard was okay. My guess is that it must be okay, because Ford recommends it for sticking problems in torque converters.

I my mad frenzy of car agony, and countless problems+questions, I often forget to say thanks to all the wonderful people on this board...who have helped me solve many problems and keep my sanity. Definately appreciate the help.

I may be selling the car. Hard to sell it with it running like crap. May pull the fuel pump and check the sock to see. Is there really a fuel filter inside the tank too? Or is the sock the fuel filter...so to speak?

Is there a product that one can put in the transmission that actually helps clean the stickyness off the clutches? I have heard some people mention sea foam here. Is that a cleaner? Lube guard I think is just a conditioner, but will do a search on both and see what I find. How long should I drive the car with the sea foam in it to get max cleaning effect? I'm thinking 50 miles...maybe that is not enough?

Think I will take a look at the mounts from now on. I think one can usually see when they are worn. Does it do any damage not to change them?

I hope I don't ruffle any feathers here...but I am not sure about doing the oil changes less often than 3K...unless synthetic oil is used. I wasn't clear on the origional post if synthetic was being used or regular oil. I have taken apart many engines, and the sludge I see in cars with 5K regualar oil changes...is scary. It also causes the rings to wear prematurely. Just my 2 cents.

Some of cars I've driven seem to shake when the tranny is in gear, but not moving. I noticed this on the 95 and 96 Legacy...but I don't remember it in the 96-97 outbacks. It is definately not present in the 97 Legacy...that engine seems to run a lot smoother than the early 2.2L. I have noticed that all early 2.2L seem to shake more at idle, in park than other engines. Just throwing it out there. Can't be engine mounts on all of them...suspect thats just the way they are?

I admit I am posting this in the wrong spot...but on purpose, due to age of the car. I know this is the place to be to find out about age deterioration problems. it is a 1991 Legacy.