91 Legacy Automatic problem

[bratman]

Help! I purchased a 1991 Legacy 4WD sedan with an auto tranny last year to replace my Brat as a daily driver. The car was well maintained by the previous owner, and has driven fine until a few weeks ago.

 

I drove the car up a steep hill under somewhat hard acceleration. Everything was fine until I pulled off the freeway and stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp. When it was my turn to go, I pressed the accelerator, but it felt like the tranny hesitated a bit before fully engaging first gear. It's been doing this ever since, but ONLY when taking off in first gear, and ONLY after the engine has warmed up. The tranny takes about 5-10 seconds or so to engage when going from Park to Drive or Reverse as well (again, only when warm... It engages quickly when cold).

 

It feels as if the tranny is low on fluid, but I have checked the level, and it is fine. The fluid does not have a burnt smell, and there are no metal flakes in it either. The fluid was replaced about a year ago by the previous owner. The initial hesitation is the only problem the tranny has at this point... it drives just fine in all other gears, and has no problems up or downshifting.

 

After searching the web for others who have had this problem, I found a site which states the following:

 

"Automatic transmission: If the transmission is slow to engage after being parked, the torque converter is draining down and a new cooler line with a check valve must be installed. (1990-91)"

 

This sounds a lot like the problem I'm having. I'm wondering if anyone else has run into this problem... am I onto something with the cooler line and check valve, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

Thanks!

 

_________________

1982 Brat

1991 Legacy Sedan

[Steveman09]

my 3AT in my GL-10 was doing the exact same thing as you are describing, try this :

 

 

when it does this pull the shifter into 1st and see if the car goes.

 

 

Mine turned out that it was actually trying to start in 2nd instead of 1st.

 

I changed my governer and that fixed it.

 

 

Good luck!

[bratman]

I thought about that, as I had a similar problem with an 88 Loyale auto. I did try manually putting it in first after the tranny warmed up, but it still did the same thing.

 

It also does the same little trick in reverse. I'm beginning to think it might be that check valve... sure feels like the torque converter is losing fluid or something like that. Now if I could only find more info about it before I spend $$$!

[Steveman09]

the older GL 3AT's also had a bullitin like this, its very hard to find in the case of the 3AT but since I work at a Subaru Dealership I had the resources

 

This is what I thought my problem was at first, but when I took the tranny pan off and saw the modified tube allready in place I knew it wasnt the case, in the end it turned out to be the governer for me.

 

There was a Orfice Tube in the valvebody on the 3AT's that was modified and fitted with a CHECK VALVE to also fix the draining of the T/C.

 

I'll check on monday at work and see if I can find anything for you.

[speakermakers]

My 99 legacy is doing the same thing. The only difference is that it dose not matter if the car is warm or cold. When I go to drive or reverse the engine just spins like the car is in neutral, then a couple of seconds later it grabs violently. The car has always done this for the last two years that I have owned it, and since the car shifts fine otherwise I stopped being concerned about it. Until last night! I drove the car about 3 blocks and the AT oil temp light started to flash on and off. I checked the fluid level but I could not get an accurate level because the fluid had large air bubbles in it that left no definite line on the dip stick. The oil did not look or smell burned. How can the trans over heat in 3 blocks? Unfortunately I have to drive this car to work, and if the trans goes up in smoke I will be selling this car for scrap!

[ststephen]

For each 10 degrees (F) you lower your ATF temp, you about double the life of your tranny. I put auxil. tranny coolers on all my cars...$50 is sure cheap vs. a new tranny.

 

Just my recommendation....

[bg97leg]

You should open a new thread on this. Also, there are a few good Subie techs over on http://www.gartland.com/subaru/

 

Good luck.

Bill

 

My 99 legacy is doing the same thing. The only difference is that it dose not matter if the car is warm or cold. When I go to drive or reverse the engine just spins like the car is in neutral, then a couple of seconds later it grabs violently. The car has always done this for the last two years that I have owned it, and since the car shifts fine otherwise I stopped being concerned about it. Until last night! I drove the car about 3 blocks and the AT oil temp light started to flash on and off. I checked the fluid level but I could not get an accurate level because the fluid had large air bubbles in it that left no definite line on the dip stick. The oil did not look or smell burned. How can the trans over heat in 3 blocks? Unfortunately I have to drive this car to work, and if the trans goes up in smoke I will be selling this car for scrap!

[SevenSisters]

Thanks for posting a resource I was unaware of.

[cookie]

and pump are no longer as efficient, and wear on the bands requires more movement before they take up. I have driven cars like this for years before they actually failed. New fluid, filters, and the pickup tube extension are good but may not entirely fix it. Anything you do to a tired transmission to get a few more miles before you have to relace it is cheap with the price of trannies thee days.

I would keep my eye out for a good tranny to keep in the garage just in case.

[boilerman]

Have you tried insalling a fuel filter in the return line from the trans oil cooler?

 

I had an Auto gearbox that would not engage third/fourth.removing the drain plug showed metal particals!!!

Installed a standard turbo fuel filter....Problem gone in two days!!..Have done 30,000km since...Try it a filter only costs $20..And Subaru autos usually do not have one fitted.

Help! I purchased a 1991 Legacy 4WD sedan with an auto tranny last year to replace my Brat as a daily driver. The car was well maintained by the previous owner, and has driven fine until a few weeks ago.

 

I drove the car up a steep hill under somewhat hard acceleration. Everything was fine until I pulled off the freeway and stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp. When it was my turn to go, I pressed the accelerator, but it felt like the tranny hesitated a bit before fully engaging first gear. It's been doing this ever since, but ONLY when taking off in first gear, and ONLY after the engine has warmed up. The tranny takes about 5-10 seconds or so to engage when going from Park to Drive or Reverse as well (again, only when warm... It engages quickly when cold).

 

It feels as if the tranny is low on fluid, but I have checked the level, and it is fine. The fluid does not have a burnt smell, and there are no metal flakes in it either. The fluid was replaced about a year ago by the previous owner. The initial hesitation is the only problem the tranny has at this point... it drives just fine in all other gears, and has no problems up or downshifting.

 

After searching the web for others who have had this problem, I found a site which states the following:

 

"Automatic transmission: If the transmission is slow to engage after being parked, the torque converter is draining down and a new cooler line with a check valve must be installed. (1990-91)"

 

This sounds a lot like the problem I'm having. I'm wondering if anyone else has run into this problem... am I onto something with the cooler line and check valve, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

Thanks!

 

_________________

1982 Brat

1991 Legacy Sedan