This has been going on for a few months but would only last a minute. Today, it is lasting WAY longer.

It will shift, in that the shifter will move into gear but none of the forward gears will actually put it into gear. Reverse works fine but not Drive or the lower forward gears. It has plenty of tans fluid and no strange noises. When we initially put it into drive, it seems to pull forward very lightly but that is all we get. Any ideas what might be causing this?

symptoms may not fit well but, you might check for a broken half-axle.

and, you need to check AT fluid while idling. some folks forget that and underfill the trans.

12 hours ago, 1 Lucky Texan said:

symptoms may not fit well but, you might check for a broken half-axle.

and, you need to check AT fluid while idling. some folks forget that and underfill the trans.

and preferably fully warmed up.

 

1+

You can also jack all 4 corners and start it up and see what's moving.

When was the last service on the auto completed? 

Cheers 

Bennie

1. check for a dented trans pan.

2. Add a bottle of Auto Trans-X to the ATF, available at any auto store or Walmart not that I encourage supporting that low grade cheap-stuff-addiction machine.

*** Keep in mind additives are horrible ideas most of the time and should be avoided.  There are a *very tiny* percentage of situations where additives can address a very specific make/model/part/location issue with reasonable efficacy.  1999 automatics are one of those rare cases - like about the only (and most common) one in Subaru world. Anyway - don’t extrapolate that these money extracting desperation bottles are good ideas. Avoid reading the marketing drenched labels that prey on your desperation  

This issue has been present too long, it should have been addressed awhile ago.  Maybe add a second bottle if the first doesn’t help.

Changing the fluid is a good idea if it’s never been done. But that’s not going to fix this  

 

Edited August 14, 20214 yr by idosubaru

Zoey???

where's the OP?

Down at the transmission shop getting a rebuilt tranny.

In the case of the delay in drive engagement on late 90's and  2000 transmission's.

Trans X works perfectly to temporarily fix slow engagement.

Be sure to change fluid to synthetic  and replace the factory filter .

Transmission is DONE. Stick a fork in it. Replace with good used and maintain it this time. 

GD