I think I've got a problem

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:06 am

I have a 93 Legacy L sedan AWD with 133,200 miles. I myself have put 40,000 miles on it.

Last night I gave my friend a ride home. At some point, I turned around in a street, and put it in reverse (auto trans). I give it some gas, and the revs go up, and the car slowly backs up. I must have got up to 4500 rpm in reverse, and was rolling back like if I had my foot just barely touching the pedal.

All the forward gears seem to work fine, and I haven't heard any strange noises or felt anything different until just now. It's like I have a manual and am only letting the clutch out like a 3rd of the way when in reverse. It just doesn't seem to catch.

Does anyone have any idea of what the problem could be?

I was planning on driving from LA to Arizona the weekend after next, but I suddenly don't think it's a great idea to drive much at all...

I see there about two posts in this thread that might be about the same thing, and some of the other threads seems to point towards needing a rebuild.

Still no responses? damn. Well, I checked the fluid. It seems to be clean and at the proper level.

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 3:16 pm

Well, I guess I'll go get it looked at. Can anyone recommend me a good place in Los Angeles?

Should I just go to a dealer, or some sort of a transmission repair shop?

kyledooley · Post by **kyledooley** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:59 pm

You're probably looking at a rebuild. I took mine to a shop that knows subarus (at least more than most) and they said the reverse clutch is usually the first to wear out. The rest aren't far behind. Hence, rebuild.

The fact that it is shifting normally otherwise and not making any noises probably means that you're in the same boat.

That was the story on mine. Just worn out. If you're lucky like me reverse will still work when the car is cold. Mine does. So I don't have any trouble leaving in the morning from my house or from my spot at work at the end of the day.

I won't be getting mine rebuilt. I bought two used JDM turbo trannies. They should be here in a couple of days and I'll be using them. They are 4.44 final drive, so I have to change my rear diff too, but it was still cheaper than a rebuild for me. (I just happened to get a sweetheart deal on the trannies.)

Best case, you can find a tranny shop to do your rebuild for cheap. Likely case, you'll pay 1200 or more for a rebuild. The parts are about 300 but most shops will charge you 350 or so to take it out and put it back in plus 500 minimum on the rebuild labor.

Other options... You can use pretty much any automatic transmission from 1990 to 1997 or so. You'll have to watch the final drive ratio as most will be 4.11 or 4.44. You should be okay finding one as your car is a non turbo, so I think that makes you 4.11, but you'll have to double check.

Searching the junkyards by you online, I found trannies ranging from $450 to 900. So that is a good option too. Just start calling around.

Search for the username ciper. He is a great resource too with Auto trannies.

PM or post if you have any more questions.

Kyle

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:30 pm

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks, though.
I guess I'll start looking around tomorrow.

Oh, and yeah- reverse does work better when cold, and it still rolls back at idle, it just doesn't go much faster than that.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:23 pm

I'm 4.11 auto nonturbo. you probably are too.

that sucks, sorry

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:48 pm

92-94 normally aspirated AWD autos had 3.90 gearing. 90-91 AWD normally aspirated autos had 4.111. All 91-94 turbo legacies AT & MT had 3.90 gear.

TireIron · Post by **TireIron** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:58 am

are there any other autos that were 3.90? besides the turbos? or should i not bother lookin for a 3.9 from a newer wreck at a yard and just grab a 4.11 and rear diff?

Post by **Legacy777** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:54 pm

I guess I should have clarified I was talking about normally aspirated legacies. I edited my post above.

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 2:05 am

I've been driving around this week trying to avoid having to back up as much as possible. Do you guys think this is just going to be a reverse-specific problem for awhile, or will the whole thing go soon, or is there no way of really knowing?

It might be a little while before I can spend hundreds of dollars on my car. I suppose I could start borrowing my friend's svt contour again like when I needed a new alternator...

Also, when looking for a new transmission, will pretty much all 3.90 transmissions work, or was there a change at some point? Seeing as how I'll probably put another 100k miles on the car, I'd like to get something with the lowest miles possible.

The engine's running well, at least.

SPARTUS · Post by **SPARTUS** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 7:20 pm

i had the same problem except this problem occured when the car was in "D" instead of "R." I've been driving it since, and the problem has not yet popped up again. If I were you, I'd try to put it in reverse around your house, perhaps a driveway. This problem might not re-occur again. Eitherway, I'd wait until it re-occurs again to start shopping for a new tranny b/c you might not see this problem again or atleast for a while. Also, check your fluid level in the tranny.

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:01 am

Umm, this happens every time I put it in reverse, and I did check the fluid. Correctly.

I've been driving my car around anyway, though, trying to aviod situations where I have to back up much.

A few more questions: This coming weekend I'm going to a conference 400 miles away. Of the 4 of us going, I'm the only person with a car. Think it will be alright for me to drive it there? Drive still works fine. Is there any reason the forward gears would go out in the immediate future, or is there not really any way to tell?

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:13 am

Trust in the power of Subaru to not leave you stranded. Have faith, my son, the power of Fuji runs strong in its veins...

I don't think there's a way to prdict these things. Anyone?

Steve

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:14 pm

evolutionmovement wrote:Trust in the power of Subaru to not leave you stranded. Have faith, my son, the power of Fuji runs strong in its veins...
Steve

Normally I would agree, but I'm a little hesitant after my MLK weekend ski trip: My water pump broke in South Lake Tahoe, and I had to have it towed to Carson City. At least we had AAA plus and my friend's parents, who live there, are friends with the owners of the dealership. It got there Sunday night and was fixed Monday at about 2pm.

EDIT: Yeah, what was I thinking. Car was fine on the trip, and I kept it at about 90mph.

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I think I've got a problem

I think I've got a problem