99 forester tranny question

[86subaru]

drained filled drained filled tranny changed filter, 160,000mi on it a/t , after sitting all nite it shifts good but shifts alittle hard first time after that good, should i drain fill it again but use royal purple , ansoil , or = to it , thinkin it might help ,any suggestions ?

[GeneralDisorder]

The only thing I've heard reccomended is the Trans-X that can sometimes help with torque bind. I wouldn't use anything but plain Dexron ATF myself. Some of the 4EAT's shift a little hard - just their nature I think. I've never seen that it's a sign of impending failure though.

 

GD

[86subaru]

thanks,

[porcupine73]

Do you mean it is slow to engage into drive after sitting all night?

 

And/or do you mean that first 2-3 upshift seems like it 'slips'?

[86subaru]

yes. but after that it is fine sitting 10-12 hrs at work,

[GeneralDisorder]

The '99 model year 4EAT's have a problem with delayed engagement. There's a seal you can replace, or you can try the trans-x additive and see if that helps. At any rate it's not that big of a deal.

 

GD

[86subaru]

well tried it , drained filled tranny again and seemed to help alot, will tell more in the morning, [ used x tranny stuff]

[porcupine73]

If you get the 2-3 blip on the first upshift after sitting overnight, that's a known characteristic of the phase II 4EAT. Something about the hydraulic circuit bleeding down.

 

The delayed engagement into drive can be a more serious issue as noted above.

[86subaru]

it is just the up shift delay. thanks

[Gloyale]

Castrol makes a very good ATF for "imports- Honda, Nissan, Toyota" is how it's labeled. (All of those makers and subaru's Auto trans come from same manufacturer, Unisia? I believe)

 

That is the ATF I've had the best luck with in subaru. Espescially the phase II trans. A bottle of "Trans-x stop slip" is good for them too. Get's rid of the delayed engagement/hard shift.

[porcupine73]

Now that GM doesn't license the good 'ol Dexron II/III blends anymore the 'multi vehicle' seems to be the one a lot of people are using.

 

I'm not sure who is making Subaru's transmissions, at least from that era? I know for some years Nissan and others were using what people call 'J boxes', which are made by jatco.co.jp

[86subaru]

ok, thanks

[Gloyale]

Yeah, it's Jatco.......I don't know why I thought Unisia.

 

But yeah, Jatco makes basically all the Japanese Import trannies, so fluid for say a Nissan or a Honda should and does (in my experience) work well for the Subaru trans.

 

Works well for the Power Steering pump too.