I have a 1990 Legacy LS FWD with an automatic transmission and 155K
miles. When I drove it yesterday I got about 5 miles and the
transmission stopped working (I could rev the engine, but it didn't
move forward anymore). I stopped the car, turned off the engine, and
it ran for about a quarter mile and stopped working again.
I check the transmission fluid and it was OK (I even tried draining
it and refilling it with new fluid – no change). The fluid didn't
smell burnt, and was still pink.
Any ideas other than the transmission is cooked?
Thanks.
Transmission Cooked?
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kcrisp
Transmission Cooked?
Yea i'm pretty sure thats the case. Happened to my 93 Legacy Touring wagon
with about 147k miles. I lost reverse though and not the other gears.
with about 147k miles. I lost reverse though and not the other gears.
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Josh Colombo
Transmission Cooked?
Do this before you say it's dead.
See if you have an external tranny filter. It's sorta next to the battery mounted on the frame rails. It's a little canister looking thing. They were added to the older legacies, due to transmission wear issues.
What I'm suggesting is that your filters are plugged.....the external one, and or the internal screen in the transmission. What happens is that the screens/filters are so full of muck that they can't pass any fluid through them and the tranny starves of fluid. When you shut it off and let it sit for a little bit, the fluid from the upper valve body and such back flushes through the screen and get's rid of some of the restriction, so that the next time you start the car up it'll have a little bit of pressure to drive a little.
I was told this by a friend who owns a transmission shop, and rebuilds 4EAT's in his sleep. So I trust his judgment. I'd start with the screen in the transmission, but it wouldn't hurt to replace the external one if you have it. There is a retro-fit kit that is available from subaru. It's like 13 bucks or something, it's cheaper to buy the kit then try and buy just the filter. The screen you should be able to clean out......
Give that a shot.....if that doesn't help, then ya the tranny is probably toast.
Josh
See if you have an external tranny filter. It's sorta next to the battery mounted on the frame rails. It's a little canister looking thing. They were added to the older legacies, due to transmission wear issues.
What I'm suggesting is that your filters are plugged.....the external one, and or the internal screen in the transmission. What happens is that the screens/filters are so full of muck that they can't pass any fluid through them and the tranny starves of fluid. When you shut it off and let it sit for a little bit, the fluid from the upper valve body and such back flushes through the screen and get's rid of some of the restriction, so that the next time you start the car up it'll have a little bit of pressure to drive a little.
I was told this by a friend who owns a transmission shop, and rebuilds 4EAT's in his sleep. So I trust his judgment. I'd start with the screen in the transmission, but it wouldn't hurt to replace the external one if you have it. There is a retro-fit kit that is available from subaru. It's like 13 bucks or something, it's cheaper to buy the kit then try and buy just the filter. The screen you should be able to clean out......
Give that a shot.....if that doesn't help, then ya the tranny is probably toast.
Josh