Problems after transmission rebuilt

[garbo88]

I pulled the trigger on a transmission rebuild a couple of months ago.  (2001 2.5 AT Outback 130K miles).  I'm happy with the results and have a 2 year warranty on the new transmission, but in the time since I've had a bunch of little things go wrong.  Hoping for opinions as to whether any of these items could be related to the rebuild.  I don't want to blame the mechanic for something coincidental and unrelated, but I also don't want to have to pay someone else for problems from the rebuild which maybe would be covered under the warranty. 

• Check engine light = knock sensor code, I replaced it myself, old one was original and was cracked. 
• Coolant leak, don't know where from, need to get it checked.  Burped it and cleaned overflow tank.  (heads were done around 90K, along w/timing belt and water pump and other belts and tensioners).  Plan on swapping new fluid, changing thermostat and adding Subie conditioner but waiting until I can find the leak.
• Oil leak from crank case, noted by oil change guy, but oil levels are fine. 
• The most disturbing one is the starter has come loose twice, both times I was able to get it working by tightening up the top bolt but I haven't been able to get to the bottom one. 

Any of these things related to the rebuild, even if just need to be re-adjusted after a shakedown period?  And if yes, is that work that ought to be covered under a warranty of the rebuilt transmission, or should I expect to have to pay for fixes?  When the check engine light came on a week or so after the rebuild, I took it back in to the guy to check the code (knock sensor) and he acted like it was not his problem.  So if I go back with problems I want to be on firm footing.

[lmdew]

The starter bolts should not be backing off if they are properly installed.  But they are pretty easy and I'd just do it myself.

 

Other things are not related at all to the trans work.

[987687]

You should be able to get the bottom starter bolt with a 14mm socket and an extension. Doing it from under the car is easier, but it's entirely possible from the top if you reach under the starter. Since the shop failed to tighten those two bolts, you should probably go and check every other bellhousing bolt and probably anything else they touched.

 

As lmdew said, everything else is just the car being old and wearing out, separate problems.

[Rooster2]

Any guarantee work is for the specific purchased part only, nothing on anything else. That being said, the knock sensor problem is unrelated to the tranny install, and "yes, not the installers problem.".

 

I have had engines and trannys replaced in the past, and seem to always run into problems with the install. Yes, the install was good, but like you, the installers were in a hurry, and failed to tighten up everything properly. I figured it wasn't going to do much good dragging the car back to the installer, so at that point, I just took it upon myself to check all their work, and fix leaks, and tighten anything loose. It did not take me long to get things right again.

[idosubaru]

Starter is the only one related.

 

The starter is bolted to the transmission and had to be essentially removed for the transmission work.

 

I would feel totally comfortable asking the mechanic. Actually I would want to ask with zero expectations just to see how they react. It's so easy to check and fix and 100% related to trans removal that they should almost want to have a look for you.

 

If they don't - then no sweat, just do it yourself or have someone else do it. Not a big deal or hard or expensive.

 

If they do agree then that gives more confidence going to them in the future.

 

Coolant leak - just find it first.

It could be related if they also pulled the engine though very few people do that and they probably didn't.

 

Oil leak - nope not related. Find out where, best bet is ask the oil change guys next time to let you take a picture when it's on the lift. Post and ask here your best next step.

 

Knock sensor super common. Replace with $8 eBay ones.