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Hard downshift into 1st gear 06 Tribeca, 5EAT


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Hey guys. I've read that this is fairly common but our Tribeca with 135,000 miles on it is exhibiting a hard downshift into 1st gear when slowing down. I paid the dealership $90 dollars to hook it up to the SSM and reprogram the trans with the newest update that is supposed to "reprogram for shift shock" but it didn't do anything. In fact, I think it may be more pronounced since it reset everything on the TCM.

 

My question is, is there any advice on what I could do to minimize this? I would like to sell the car for better gas mileage but I don't want it to be a deal breaker with a potential buyer. Also, does anyone know if there's a way to totally reset the TCM to default and erase any update that they did so I can have the car relearn its shift patterns without the software?

 

The service writer made it seem like my transmission is going to explode but I've read quite a few stories of this on both Tribecas and H6 Outbacks with this tranny. They offered to buy the car for $8500 dollars or trade for a 2001 Forester with 100k on it w/ $1500 dollars on top but the car Blue Books at $11,000 and I just couldn't do it. There was a 5800 dollar difference in value and I asked for half of that but they didn't wanna do it.

 

Any help and/or advice is much appreciated.

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Well from my experience, you arnt suppose to ************ for into first. First is the lowest gear revving up if shifting down into. My forester and my old loyale do that same thing, not allowing you to shift down into first (so someone who dosnt know anything like how to drive a manual, dosnt go say from second to first when they should be going into third.) see how that could mess something up? But at some point slowing down enough it should "unlock" and allow you to ************ into first, i think its around 5mph....

 

Good luck guy! :headbang:

 

PRWA AAE

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Just a comment on the trade-in offer. To me (in NJ) it sounds like a good deal, comparable to what you would receive from a private party. KBB is nonsense. But it sounds like they were hugely overpricing the Forester.

I recently bought a '06 Tribeca for the wife, after giving the Impreza to the son (time flies like a banana).

Edited by avk
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This is an auto, not a manual. The car gives a jarring feeling when downshifting into first gear from second when slowing down. It shakes the car pretty good some times. I don't know what to do at this point. The fluid has been changed and the reprogram didn't do anything so I'm not sure if taking a lower deal on the Tribeca is better in the long run as even a used tranny will be at least $1500 without installation.

 

This is a new sensation and I know it's not normal, I just don't know if it's the nature of the beast or something that I should run away from the car because of.

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I would say it isn't normal for the 5EAT to do this. I have one in my 2005 OBXT and it's quite smooth, even after 181,000 miles. My only complaint about that transmission is that it that it has occasional trouble deciding which gear to be in when ascending a mountain road, but in that case I put it into manual shift mode and don't let it bother me.

 

As for what the dealer is offering to do, you have to keep in mind that the dealer would be expecting to make money off of the car you trade and the car you buy. The $8,500 being offered in trade wouldn't come close to buying any Tribecca where I live.

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My girlfriend has an '06 Tribeca. The 1-2 shift was hard, especially when cold, and flashing the TCU update did help a bit. The 2-1 shift is also tight, but not uncomfortable.

 

What kind of mileage are you getting? Hers is not much better than 15 MPG around town.

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Do you have any flashing lights on startup?

 

Have you tried synthetic ATF?

 

Subarus tend to be hard shifters with the 1-2. Mine comes and goes.

 

Sometimes running an extra ground helps. There really arent any real complaints on this transmission aside fomr hard shifts when cold.

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Some K&W Trans-X, or Seafoam Trans Tune might help.

Friend of mines 99 Forester was shifting really hard between 1-2, also had the delayed forward engagement issue. Trans-X fixed the delayed engagement immediately (literally the first drive after pouring it in) and after 3 or 4 drives the hard shift smoothed out as well. This was after a shop charged her $149 for a transmission fluid flush that didn't change a thing.

 

For about $15 it's worth a small gamble to try it.

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There is a remote possibility the regular fuel caused it. If it were pulling timing the transmission would think the engine were making more power and shift firmer than it should. My 4EAT does this when I have the A/C on.

 

In any case you should always run premium fuel. These engines do fail occasionally at the ring lands, and it's said that using regular fuel and the subsequent detonation is to blame.

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thanks guys for all your input.

 

I haven't been so strict on the premium fuel thing as the manual says regular is fine for temporary situations where premium is unavailable. Well, maybe I need to heed that advice a little better. I'm trying to sell the car. It's a very nice vehicle but I only have it because a family member gave it to us for just the cost to pay off the loan, which was a couple thousand dollars. The dealership freaked my wife out by telling us the transmission is probably on the way out but I've never read anything about premature failures on these and I have never had any transmission warning lights, ever. She wants it gone ASAP but I don't want to make any hasty decisions. The plethora of TSBs is ridiculous for hard shifting, delayed engagement, and shuttering for both the TriBeCa and H6 outbacks with this transmission and I'm hoping something is just exacerbating a more common of a problem.

 

I did the trans-x deal on an older legacy that was lazy getting up and going and it worked well. The thought crossed my mind but wasn't sure if it was suitable for this situation or could possibly cause any damage. I am not sure if this transmission requires any special ATF but it was given a tune up and had all fluids changed by my aunt before she gave it to us. Anyone have any ideas on transmission fluid brands to try out???

 

Thanks guys so much. I have a family friend that's interested in buying but I would only sell it to him if I know the car isn't going to self destruct. I'll keep you all updated.

 

- Matt

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The approved ATFs are specified right there in the owner's manual, sec. 11-16. It's type HP (which is Fuji's own specification) or type J (more general Japanese standard). The text below says "Using any non-specified type <...> could result in damage inside the transmission".

Edited by avk
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