I'm having some trouble with the automatic transmission shifter on my '94 Legacy 2.2L. Sometimes when I go to shift to say 1 2 or 3, it doesn't engage. I looked underneath at what is happening.

 

Sometimes the shift cable inside the rubber boot at the transmission end bends up or down like in a U shape, instead of extending out completely to move the lever on the trans.

 

What's the fix for that? Replace that cable?

 

The shifter moves OK at the trans end by hand, it's doesn't take a lot of force to move it.

 

I messed with the shifter cable like pushing on it, now much of the time it won't even go into drive before that cable bends.

Hm well I don't know how long term of a solution this will be, but I cut a piece of 1" pvc pipe lengthwise, filed it for smooth edges, and put it over the part of the cable that was bending, and used duct tape and zip ties to hold it together and in place. It actually seems to be working pretty well. I can at least get it into drive, and 3 and 2. It won't go to 1 unless you really move it fast but I just don't want to be somewhere and not be able to get it into drive. Doat!

Ok....now the shifter doesn't work at all. I think the cable broke off. Fortunately I can reach in under the hood and shift it by hand on the transmission for now.

 

Hopefully I can replace that cable without unhooking the exhaust, this thing is so rusty dropping the exhaust would not be easy.

Does anyone have a diagram of the shift cable and the other parts in that area? I can't find it even on opposedforces. All this stuff is super rusty so I'm going to need the cable and adjustment rod and nuts and any other little stuff that is in there.

Subarupartsforyou.com was nice enough to fax over the diagrams. I did find them after on opposedforces, but it was in a category called 'manipulation'.