mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Hello again! We just bought a 99 Legacy Wagon, AWD, 83k miles, Auto and loaded up very nicely. Noticed today that the car doesn't like to stay in 4th gear. It will go into fourth about when you'd expect it to, but when you let off, even on level ground or going downhill, it will shift back into 3rd. In fact, I THINK it shifted down into 2nd from 3rd once at even lower speeds. It's pretty annoying, but doesn't really hurt the drivability. Any ideas on this issue? Please don't say the word 'toast'. ALSO.... while looking for info on the tranny issue, I say several comments about tranny issues and head gasket issues on 99's. What wonders do I have to look forward to with this car. We named him 'Jasper' by the way. He just looks like a Jasper. ALSO ALSO...... We will be selling our beloved 'Blubaru'... a 90 Legacy Wagon, auto, 155k miles, runs okay, lots of little stuff here and there and some fairly significant torque bind. Anyone interested? Asking $800. --Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Just ran down and double checked.... the car has the 2.2L, not the 2.5L... Does that mean something good? M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 2.2s have no headgasket issue.. its a way more reliable engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 That means it has a bad/blown HG and someone put a 2.2L in it. How are you determining the shift pattern? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 if it is an L or 30th anniversary edition, it is definetely a 2.2 as far as the tranny, hmmm if you are under 40mph that will def happen but not at 60 or 65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 oops i misse the legacy part, i thought it was an outback .... my mistake. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 As far as determining the shifting pattern.... I waited until I felt it down shift, going down a hill, and then pulled the shifter back into D3, which resulted in no change of rpm or gear. Then I pushed the shifter back into D, and it immediately shifted up into 4th and the rpm dropped as you would expect. The problem then repeated itself shortly thereafter. I have not had an opportunity to see exactly at what speeds it does what. I was on a typically twisty WV road, so I was likely not over 55 or 60 at most... but still... solidly over 40 or 45. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 yeah at 40 or 45 it will def. down shift to 3rd and if there is an incline or so at 40 it will even downshift to 2nd... i dont think there is anything worng with your tranny... but change the fluid and put some lucas trans fix in it just in case... i doubt at 83k miles the tranny is toast... let us know what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Will do... thanks for the advice! I'll let you know whether it helps or not... M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Yah that could be that somewhat silly 'hill descent assist', where if you are going downhill (ie no throttle) over a certain speed and even touch the brake, it automatically downshifts to 3rd to help you slow down. Another case of the machine thinking it's smarter than you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Do you have cruise control? (and i agree with the above) nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdecriscio Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I agree, hill descendt feature. My 99 Outback did it and it drove me to distraction till I found it was "normal" I did get it to lessen quite a bit when I drained the tranny fluid a few times and added the Lucas product. Also, try not braking when descending hills. Not being funny, I mean anticipate and slow before that feature kicks in whenever possible. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Yes... the car does have cruise control. Would that cause/add to this issue? I thought I remembered something about a decent assist. In fact, I noticed at least once or twice that the downshift occured when I tapped the brake pedal... however, it certainly happened at other times as well. That left me looking for a switch/button/magic chant to turn the damn feature off. (There's no owner's manual in the car.) Let me guess. It's a 'stay on for the life of the car' kind of feature! M... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Another case of the machine thinking it's smarter than you. Well they are, just ask your computer :-p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 if it is an L or 30th anniversary edition, it is definetely a 2.2 Hmmmm........learned something new. I thought all 99 Leggys had the 2.5 phase one motor when new. Surprised to read that your car has the 2.2 motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 if it is an L or 30th anniversary edition, it is definetely a 2.2 Hmmmm........learned something new. I thought all 99 Leggys had the 2.5 phase one motor when new. Surprised to read that your car has the 2.2 motor. :banana: i'm not the only one. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Yep.. even checked the stickers and what not around the compartment.... The L and Ann. Editions had the 2.2L... the GT's and Outbacks got the 2.5L's. From what I've read, I'm glad for the 2.2... I'm much more into longevity than speed! M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 and dont forget the brightons had 2.2s too :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 [...](There's no owner's manual in the car.) [...]See #4 on this Web page: http://www.subaru.com/common/faq/index.jsp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 and dont forget the brightons had 2.2s too :banana: 2000 was the last year for 2.2L engines in legacys and 2001 was the last year for the impreza. from there out it's all 2.5s in all the legacy / outbacks and 2.0 or 2.5 for imprezas. the 2.0L in the impreza seems like a step backwards, was that a turbo engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montana105 Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Since we are on the subject of MY's with 2.2, I have a question that I hope doesn't steal the topic of the thread.Why did Subaru ditch the 2.2? The obvious answer is the 2.5,but now that we are seeing so many issues with the 2.5 why doesn't Subaru bring back the tried and tested? Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 the answer is.. power and torque with fuel economy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Since we are on the subject of MY's with 2.2, I have a question that I hope doesn't steal the topic of the thread.Why did Subaru ditch the 2.2? The obvious answer is the 2.5,but now that we are seeing so many issues with the 2.5 why doesn't Subaru bring back the tried and tested? Any ideas? For the same reason you wont see the 1.6 or 1.8 make a comeback. We like to go fast quickly, and we als like our cars loaded down with every power gizmo you can think of, and quiet. It all adds weight. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 ............we als like our cars loaded down with every power gizmo you can think of, and quiet. It all adds weight. I don't. I hate power gizmos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeamondo Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 Quick update and a big THANK YOU! Had the tranny flushed and a new filter put on our 99 Leg. yesterday. It now drives like a different car! We had it done a Monro, fluid only, no detergent. Cost us about $120 with the new filter. The car is smooth and quiet and stays in 4th gear at speed! The mechanic said the fluid was dirty, but it smelled more "old" than "burnt". I'm hoping that's a good thing. Also... we had a belt squeal. I came back to ultimatesubaru.org and searched the archives, learning from everyone else's posts. Took a look at the car and sure enough, whoever last changed the belts forgot to re-tighten the lock nut. Tightened it all up... no squeal! So ... a great big thank you to Nipper, OB99W, njdrsubaru and everyone else who has helped a novice like me to diagnose and fix my own subaru! This forum is an AMAZING resource and I direct everyone I know who owns a soobie to check it out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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